BTDT+ Moms: Compare you L&D Experiences....

[saltyh2O]

There are at least 10 or so ladies on this board (and likely more) who have done this whole birthing thing at least twice, and as a STM-to-be, I'd love to hear how your experiences stack up in comparison to the first time.

I always hear things like "your second time means a bigger baby" and that, after the first time, subsequent deliveries are typically easier (or at least quicker). Was that true for you?

Also, for those of you who had complications the first time around (High BP for example), did you have a similar or different experience with #2?

As someone who presented with very low platelets for my first delivery and therefore wasn't able to get the epidural she was banking on as an "escape hatch" to a med-free birth if desired, my curiosity abounds! Thanks for sharing....

[miraclebbye]

Feb 10, 2015 9:29:21 GMT -5 saltyh2O said:

There are at least 10 or so ladies on this board (and likely more) who have done this whole birthing thing at least twice, and as a STM-to-be, I'd love to hear how your experiences stack up in comparison to the first time.

I always hear things like "your second time means a bigger baby" and that, after the first time, subsequent deliveries are typically easier (or at least quicker). Was that true for you?

Also, for those of you who had complications the first time around (High BP for example), did you have a similar or different experience with #2?

As someone who presented with very low platelets for my first delivery and therefore wasn't able to get the epidural she was banking on as an "escape hatch" to a med-free birth if desired, my curiosity abounds! Thanks for sharing....

My 2nd baby was only slightly bigger than my 1st, DS was 5-15 and DD was 6-8. My 2nd delivery was easier.

Induction with my 1st and spontaneous labor with my 2nd.

With my 2nd I arrived at the hospital already dilated to 7, I was offered the epidural and took it, DD was born 4hrs later. Because DD came on her own I was able to get up and walk around almost right after delivery, I had the epidural turned off once it was time to push. Induction had me bed ridden for 4hrs after delivery as they had the epidural up pretty high to curb the Pitocin.

[onceinlovewithamy]

I know at least three STMs who barely made it to the hospital in time with their second.
Since I only pushed for 25 minutes with Hunter, I fully expect to sneeze this baby out.

[CTri17]

My first was about about a 8.5 hour labor, water broke at 9 cm, pushed for an hour and 15 minutes had a slight shoulder dystocia (which was easily resolved and all was well) She was 8lb4oz

2nd everyone tells you it will be faster, like everyone told me, my m/w told me to call ASAP so she could be there because she said it would go so fast. So now I tell no one that it is guaranteed to be faster because mine was not. I was in early labor for 12 hours(obviously that was farily easy but it just took a while to get going) and in real labor for probably close to 10 hours. But I only pushed for 20 min (and my body did the pushing which was so different) and she was born in the caul (so I don't know if that was part of the body pushing). She was 8lb10oz

So I hoping and praying that this time it is shorter but the pushing stage would be nice to go similarly and be a little smaller

[saltyh2O]

Feb 10, 2015 10:21:17 GMT -5 onceinlovewithamy said:

I know at least three STMs who barely made it to the hospital in time with their second.
Since I only pushed for 25 minutes with Hunter, I fully expect to sneeze this baby out.

onceinlovewithamy - Right?!? May we both be so lucky. Aside from going (somewhat unexpectedly) med-free, I can't complain about my L&D with DS...it was short (6hrs total) and only 4 were hard labor. 5 pushes in 15 minutes and all 7 lbs 7oz of him was on the outside. If this time is anything close to a repeat, that'll be a gift.

[saltyh2O]

Feb 10, 2015 10:29:05 GMT -5 CTri17 said:

My first was about about a 8.5 hour labor, water broke at 9 cm, pushed for an hour and 15 minutes had a slight shoulder dystocia (which was easily resolved and all was well) She was 8lb4oz

2nd everyone tells you it will be faster, like everyone told me, my m/w told me to call ASAP so she could be there because she said it would go so fast. So now I tell no one that it is guaranteed to be faster because mine was not. I was in early labor for 12 hours(obviously that was farily easy but it just took a while to get going) and in real labor for probably close to 10 hours. But I only pushed for 20 min (and my body did the pushing which was so different) and she was born in the caul (so I don't know if that was part of the body pushing). She was 8lb10oz

So I hoping and praying that this time it is shorter but the pushing stage would be nice to go similarly and be a little smaller

Totally had to google this CTri17 since I wasn't familiar with the term....it never occurred to me that could be a thing! Learn something new every day, right? Otherwise, you story is not encouraging when it comes to my expectations for this time around....especially if my platelets start falling again and it'll be another med-free situation. For me pushing wasn't the worst part as I was READY to get that boy OUT (and he was well-positioned). It was the hard labor & transition that kicked me square in the face pain-wise (and that was only for 4hrs!)

I can do ANYTHING for a little while though, right?!

[jil]

Feb 10, 2015 9:29:21 GMT -5 saltyh2O said:

As someone who presented with very low platelets for my first delivery and therefore wasn't able to get the epidural she was banking on as an "escape hatch" to a med-free birth if desired, my curiosity abounds! Thanks for sharing....

I knew I talked to someone from the old board about gestational thrombocytopenia! Do you have it again this time? I had it in my first pregnancy and this one both times diagnosed in first trimester. I have no help with what your second labor will be late to your first, since this is my second too. But if you're thinking you won't be allowed an epidural based on your platelet count it might be a good idea to start planning for med free birth just in case.

Eta posted too early

[saltyh2O]

Feb 10, 2015 11:06:57 GMT -5 jil said:

Feb 10, 2015 9:29:21 GMT -5 saltyh2O said:

As someone who presented with very low platelets for my first delivery and therefore wasn't able to get the epidural she was banking on as an "escape hatch" to a med-free birth if desired, my curiosity abounds! Thanks for sharing....

I knew I talked to someone from the old board about gestational thrombocytopenia! Do you have it again this time? I had it in my first pregnancy and this one both times diagnosed in first trimester. I have no help with what your second labor will be late to your first, since this is my second too. But if you're thinking you won't be allowed an epidural based on your platelet count it might be a good idea to start planning for med free birth just in case.

Eta posted too early

High5 stupid-platelet-sister! So far all of my tests have come back with good counts, so its possible this time around I won't have an issue....but I totally agree that it's better to assume the worst and be ready. I figure the chances are decent that this kiddo will present herself more quickly than DS anyway (assuming the logic about your second time generally being quicker is indeed true), so if I can go med-free again, I'm happy to do that.  The first time around the pain started to feel unbearable right around the time I started to be fearful about how long it would all last...if that makes sense. I think I let one influence the other. If someone had told me it would only be a few more hours or whatever, I think I could have re-focused better, but no one can tell you that, you know?  Letting myself get scared was what made it all so much worse so this time around I plan to be more conscious of the fact that it will pass in due time and that I can make it for as long as I need to do get this little girl out safely.

[jenari]

Feb 10, 2015 10:21:17 GMT -5 onceinlovewithamy said:

I know at least three STMs who barely made it to the hospital in time with their second.
Since I only pushed for 25 minutes with Hunter, I fully expect to sneeze this baby out.

This terrifies me! I had a fairly quick labour with DD and they warned me at that time that I'd have to be aware of that for subsequent labours.

[rels09]

Feb 10, 2015 11:24:02 GMT -5 saltyh2O said:

Feb 10, 2015 11:06:57 GMT -5 jil said:

I knew I talked to someone from the old board about gestational thrombocytopenia! Do you have it again this time? I had it in my first pregnancy and this one both times diagnosed in first trimester. I have no help with what your second labor will be late to your first, since this is my second too. But if you're thinking you won't be allowed an epidural based on your platelet count it might be a good idea to start planning for med free birth just in case.

Eta posted too early

High5 stupid-platelet-sister! So far all of my tests have come back with good counts, so its possible this time around I won't have an issue....but I totally agree that it's better to assume the worst and be ready. I figure the chances are decent that this kiddo will present herself more quickly than DS anyway (assuming the logic about your second time generally being quicker is indeed true), so if I can go med-free again, I'm happy to do that.  The first time around the pain started to feel unbearable right around the time I started to be fearful about how long it would all last...if that makes sense. I think I let one influence the other. If someone had told me it would only be a few more hours or whatever, I think I could have re-focused better, but no one can tell you that, you know?  Letting myself get scared was what made it all so much worse so this time around I plan to be more conscious of the fact that it will pass in due time and that I can make it for as long as I need to do get this little girl out safely.

This fear-pain relationship was exactly what made my first med-free birth (also somewhat unintentional) kind of unpleasant. I am trying to do a better job this time of reducing panic and fear by hiring a doula and actually being willing to believe I am in transition, even if I was just 5-6 cm an hour ago. GL, salty!

[kj808]

Both deliveries were similar in that there were very few surprises, and things turned out fine.

First time in a nutshell - in labor for almost 36 hours, barely progressed, had to be induced with pitocin, got an epi, pushed for around 30 minutes, tore, baby was small but healthy.

Second time - dr stripped membranes around 2pm, contractions started around 2:30, in labor for 12 hours, progressed slowly but water broke on own, got epi, pushed for 12 minutes, had 3rd degree tear, but baby was healthy.

I'm expecting to get baby out in 2 pushes this time!

[chemmom1]

I'm interested to know about blood pressure issues/pre-eclampsia. If you experienced it with your first did you again with your second? I'm hoping to avoid it this time around (not that I have any control over that   )

[pinkiemo]

1st delivery - DD was sunny side up and not coming down the way she was supposed to, but even with that it was a relatively short labor and I only pushed for 30 mins. My water broke before contractions started, but I was already dilated 6cm by the time I got to the hospital so I was whisked right up to L&D.

2nd delivery - Water didn't break, but contractions were 3 mins apart when I got to the hospital. I was only dilated to 3cm. So this resident who is monitoring me in the L&D triage wants me to walk the halls for 2 hours to make sure I'm "really in labor." I was about to contract her trachea at that point as it was pretty freaking clear from the monitors that my contractions were long, hard and close together. I walk the halls and come back after 40 mins when contractions were only 1 min apart and demanded to get put in a room. Within 40 mins of being in a room I went to 7cm and my body started pushing. They told me to stop pushing or I would explode my cervix (not true btw!). So I tried to not push for 3+ hours and finally got an epi. My body continued to push, because duh. Called the nurse back in after 30 mins and told her to check me again. Surprise! He was crowning. I pushed him out 10 mins later.

So, I said it was complicated because if I had been allowed to just go into a room and push him out, delivery #2 would have been easy peasy, but hospitals and stuff.

I fully expect to wait until the last minute and have this kid in the parking lot.

ETA: Second baby was only 2 oz bigger than first and they were both the exact same length.

[saltyh2O]

Feb 10, 2015 13:42:55 GMT -5 chemmom1 said:

I'm interested to know about blood pressure issues/pre-eclampsia. If you experienced it with your first did you again with your second? I'm hoping to avoid it this time around (not that I have any control over that   )

chemmom1 - I had crazy high BP in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy with DS as well...it never presented as Pre-E or anything more, but it was the reason I was induced a day after my due date. The doc let me wait it out a bit longer than she liked so long as I promised to do absolutely nothing & keep my feet up between visits, but in the end, she was too concerned not to suggest an induction. It didn't seem to have an effect on DS, but it meant I had to work to keep myself calm (in the midst of all that new baby coming excitment!), stay on my left side a lot during labor, and quell my usual chatter in favor of staying quiet (gasp!) after he was born. That plus it was a major pain to be on BP meds after delivery as they dried out my eyes in a major way and made wearing contacts a giant pain. I was on them for 6 months before my BP stabilized back at its usual self (weird thing too is that I have always had super low pressure similar to my dad).

[saltyh2O]

Feb 10, 2015 16:42:22 GMT -5 pinkiemo said:

1st delivery - DD was sunny side up and not coming down the way she was supposed to, but even with that it was a relatively short labor and I only pushed for 30 mins. My water broke before contractions started, but I was already dilated 6cm by the time I got to the hospital so I was whisked right up to L&D.

2nd delivery - Water didn't break, but contractions were 3 mins apart when I got to the hospital. I was only dilated to 3cm. So this resident who is monitoring me in the L&D triage wants me to walk the halls for 2 hours to make sure I'm "really in labor." I was about to contract her trachea at that point as it was pretty freaking clear from the monitors that my contractions were long, hard and close together. I walk the halls and come back after 40 mins when contractions were only 1 min apart and demanded to get put in a room. Within 40 mins of being in a room I went to 7cm and my body started pushing. They told me to stop pushing or I would explode my cervix (not true btw!). So I tried to not push for 3+ hours and finally got an epi. My body continued to push, because duh. Called the nurse back in after 30 mins and told her to check me again. Surprise! He was crowning. I pushed him out 10 mins later.

So, I said it was complicated because if I had been allowed to just go into a room and push him out, delivery #2 would have been easy peasy, but hospitals and stuff.

I fully expect to wait until the last minute and have this kid in the parking lot.

ETA: Second baby was only 2 oz bigger than first and they were both the exact same length.

What the what?!?! pinkiemo I would have been a total angry mess, no doubt...and you can bet your happy ass I would send a STRONGLY WORDED, adjective-heavy response in my lil' comment from afterward. (It still makes me laugh that my hospital sends home a form to begin with...I get it, but still the idea of "Thanks patient! If you don't mind, please take a moment and a break from the abso-Fing-lute craziness of your new (non-existent) routine as a new mommy to comment and tell us how we did managing and accomodating the delivery of your kid?"

[pinkiemo]

saltyh2O They sent me the comment form too, I wrote them a novel on the back. In all, it's hard to be mad because both I and my DS were fine and healthy, but at the same time it was just a lot of unnecessary pain and hassle. I hate the fear mongering that some hospitals and OBs do (not all but I happened to get it a lot). With DD it was, if you don't get a section you will hemorrhage and die. With DS it was, if you don't stop pushing you will rupture your cervix, then hemorrhage and die. I wish I wasn't high risk so I could deliver somewhere else.

Not all hospitals are like this, I just happened to get two that were.

[honeylemon]

I was fully prepared to have DD in the car because my first birth was so fast. I also thought she would be earlier than my first. Nope.

My first, I was in transition on the way to the hospital. My entire labor and delivery was 4.5 hours from start to finish, and I pushed through only like 3-4 contractions. He was 7 lb 6 oz, born at 38w4d.

With DD I had regular "early labor" contractions starting at 38 weeks. She wasn't born until her EDD after 16 hours of real labor. She was 8 lb 2 oz.

I do think most of the time second babies come faster than first babies. Mine just decided to defy all odds.

[la79al]

DD1 total labor lasted 4 hours.  She was born 6p15o.  Transition was the worst pain ever, I was crying.  Turns out she was sunny side up and no one knew.  Ended up with an internal and external tear and an episiotomy.  Oh and hemorroids, yay.  DD1 total labor was 6 hours.  She was born 7p14o.  I didn't even feel transition.  I think I pushed like 3 times.  No tears, no episiotomy, no hemorroids.  Both were med free. Oh and with DD1 I pretty much passed out the first time I got up to go to the bathroom.  Looking at this, I'm amazed I was brave enough to have a second child....

[maggiet19]

I have only done it once but have always heard that your subsequent children come quicker and are bigger as well.

With DD, I was in labor from start to finish for only 8 hours. Transition and active labor was very short. Due to complications with me (hemorrhaging), I got a third degree (very close to fourth degree) episiotomy and DD popped out at 8lb14oz and 21.5" long.

My doctor did note in my chart that I am a fast laborer and my hemorrhaging issue. There is no guarantee it won't happen again. They will have blood ready for transfusion if necessary. At least the issues were with me and not the baby. I am trying not to formulate in my mind what I *think* will happen this time because I don't want to give myself anxiety or be disappointed if it doesn't happen how I *think* it should happen. Every pregnancy and birth is different.

[honeylemon]

saltyh2O your hospital sends you home with a survey? LMAO. That is some funny shit right there.

I actually don't know if I ever got a survey. If I did, it's probably shoved in the top of DD's closet somewhere.

[honeylemon]

maggiet19 that's a wise thought process. I tried to think that with DD but I was so sure she'd be born a little early like DS, that it was even more difficult to make it through those last two weeks. I'm really trying to not allow myself to think that way this time!

[yianna]

So my first was 7lbs, 12 ounces and 20 inches, born at 39w4d. My second was 8lbs, 5 ounces and 19.25 inches long, born at 39 weeks. So for me, the second baby was larger, and I only gained about 5 pounds more the second time around.

I tend to have prodormal labor for weeks before birth, so it's easier if I describe from when my water was broken to give you an idea.. plus with my second I had really high fluid so my labor came and went and stalled out.

My first, my water broke at 10pm, when I arrived at the hospital, I was 4cm and it was around 11:30pm and he was born at 4:52am - I pushed for 30 minutes. My second, they broke my water at 8:15 (I was 5cm) and he was born at 10:30am. I pushed for 10 minutes.

I did not have any issues with my first - text book pregnancy at the end. With my second, I had high fluid, a transverse lie at 36 weeks, he went head down at around 37w, but the high fluid was scary because he was able to flip around easily. Also, we were worried about cord prolapse. So, no, the first and second were totally different.

[snapdragon]

SS: While the total labor was shorter with DD2, and the pushing was DRAMATICALLY shorter (like 15 minutes compared to 2 hours), the labor as a whole was much more painful starting much earlier. With DD1 I didn't feel any pain until 5 cm, and with DD2 I was already in plenty by 3 and felt like I was going to pass out in that 15 minutes of pushing. The reason for the difference I don't know exactly, but I did have a bladder infection and a bad cold when I was in labor with DD2, and her water didn't break until I started pushing, unlike DD1's which broke before I got to the hospital. The nurses also told me that her head was down low, which can make labor feel more intense, whereas I remember DD1 being up pretty high.

[scattered]

My first baby was born in under three hours, was 6.3 lbs and 19.5 inches.

My second baby was born in under four hours, was 5.3 lbs and 17.75 inches.

Both were sunny side up, except Jack turned almost immediately after my water broke. Ava took her sweet time and made labor fun (said no one).