Second Delivery or More

[yummeecookee]

When I was at the hospital today for my A/S, I suddenly started getting scared remembering how painful and barbaric delivery was. I just can't believe I am going to do this again - am I effing crazy? It seems more scary this time bc now I KNOW how agonizing it can be. Mamas who've had at least 2 babes, was your second delivery better/faster/easier.... Or pretty similar to the first?

[minionkeeper]

My second was more difficult but I also held out longer before getting anything for pain. But when I finally got the epidural it was only 1.5hrs to go from a 5 to 10cm and took me 3 pushes. Recovery was a bit quicker which was nice.

Being my 3rd pregnancy I'm back to getting anxiety about it all again though tbh

[bunnyfungo]

Mine were completely different. First was spontaneous water breaking. Went from 0 to 2 min long contractions 2 mins apart in 30 minutes. Baby was sunny side up. Horrible back labor. Ended up with an epidural and pushed baby out 6 hours later.

My second labor was more normal. Slow and steady. From first contraction to baby was about 36 hours. Pain was much more manageable since my water hadn't broken. Went med-free.

My second labor was actually really enjoyable. It was painful, but I felt like the pain was doing something. If that makes sense. As soon as I had her in my arms, I was ready to do it again. So, not all labor experiences are horrible.

[jumpingpuddles]

My second was way easier. First one I started painful on/off contractions on a Friday night, barely slept that night or the next, admitted Sunday night, ended up with an epidural, 3 hours of pushing, finally had a vacuum extraction Monday around lunch. All in all, not THAT bad, but not fun.
Second baby I was induced via having my water broken (no pitocin or other meds) 10 days overdue, came in around 7:30 on a Monday morning, he was born just before 2:00. No epidural, waaaaaaaay less pushing, no assist needed.
I'm banking on this baby basically falling out? (Jk)

[anonymouseliza]

My first was hellish, for many reasons. It was unmedicated, short and wholly traumatic because it was at 21 weeks and the inevitable outcome was losing my son.

My second was an induction at 39w due to pre-e, though I'd asked to induce then anyway, and it was as opposite as you can get. Lovely, wonderful, nice drugs and I slept through most of my labor. The worst part was being stuck with a catheter and on mag sulfate for 24 hours post-delivery, and then it mostly because no one told me that was the plan. The labor bed was super uncomfortable, as was the catheter.

I think if you are feeling really worried, I would suggest that you pinpoint what is behind your fear if you can. Labor hurt? Are you planning to get drugs this time? Or try a different approach? Labor was sudden or slow? Can you discuss options for optimal baby positioning and starting labor? What preparation did you do last time? Would a different class/preparation method be useful this time? Talk to your doctor about your fears and see if they can ease them at all.

[sassypantzz]

Jun 15, 2015 21:49:45 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

Mine were completely different. First was spontaneous water breaking. Went from 0 to 2 min long contractions 2 mins apart in 30 minutes. Baby was sunny side up. Horrible back labor. Ended up with an epidural and pushed baby out 6 hours later.

My second labor was more normal. Slow and steady. From first contraction to baby was about 36 hours. Pain was much more manageable since my water hadn't broken. Went med-free.

My second labor was actually really enjoyable. It was painful, but I felt like the pain was doing something. If that makes sense. As soon as I had her in my arms, I was ready to do it again. So, not all labor experiences are horrible.

I wanted to go med free with my first so badly, but the bolded is what I was hoping for.  When it stopped doing anything is when I called the drug man. I would like to shoot for med free this time as well.

But I REALLY had a great birth experience with my first so FTMs-- I promise its not all horror and gore!

[thebanich]

My first was more difficult. I got an epidural (back labor can kiss my ass) and ended up pushing for 3 hours. I tore up and back and it took the OB so long to stitch that they had to do more pain meds. I couldn't get out of bed on my own for about 30 hours and had to get a catheter.

With #2 I didn't have time for an epi, was in labor for four hours and pushed for 17 minutes. Small tear and was able to get up and shower shortly after he was born.

The med free birth was not fun but a lot less miserable in the long run.

[Deleted]

I had the epi for both of mine. They were pretty different too.

1st: contractions started on a Friday afternoon, when pain got too intense we went into hospital around 2am Sat morning. I was only about 3cm. I sat in Triage for about 3 hours & when I finally was about 4.5cm, they admitted me around 5am. I got my epi at that time. I slept a LOT. Best sleep of my life! (except for the check ins & having to flip side to side periodically) I seemed to stall around 8cm. Dr on call wanted to give me Pitocin... I was hesitant, but went with it & it worked big time. I pushed for about 40 mins, but it felt like 10. DS1 was born about 5:20pm Sat evening.

2nd: Contractions started Xmas morning. I went through making the turkey & getting that done & then sat there doing nothing else to let them slow down. They were not intense at all, but frequent, so I sat out everything else. I was on the couch pretty much the whole day. Come 9pm, I made the call that we were going into the hospital. I was 5cm when I got there. I got my epi about 11pm. After they came in to check me a couple times, the nurse went to do the catheter & was having trouble. Then she was like.. "oh well that's why.. his head is right there!" She called the Dr in & in 2 pushes he was out, born at 1:43am 12/26. (Still an Xmas baby to my Dad on the west coast )

[yummeecookee]

anonymouseliza, I am so sorry about your first baby

With my first baby, I did have an epi but it seemed to "wear off" when I was fully dilated. I never really got an explanation as to why that happened or why they didn't add more medication. I pushed for 4 hours and felt everything. As i described in my original post- just barbaric.
Being at the hospital yday, brought all those memories back and the realization that I will be doing this again in November.

[ladygray]

My second was a piece of cake. I wasn't even sure I was in labor. I went to the hospital thinking "well, I'll get checked before I go home to go to bed." And then they told me I was at 5 cm. my water broke 15 min later, my son was born 45 min after that.

Until active pushing I was walking and chatting THROUGH my contractions.

My first was so much worse that I didn't think I could possibly be in labor. So my second was a magical unicorn.

My MW says that, to stereotype: first is hard, second is fast and easy, third is a wild card and fourth on is easy.

[GoBigOrGoGnome]

[mynameiscarrie]

Reading all this makes me nervous. Not for pain or anything, but I am terrified of my water breaking anywhere but home.

Is spontaneous water breakage common? Or do most people go into labor and have their water broken at the hospital? My worst fear is to have my water break while I'm at work...

[bunnyfungo]

Jun 16, 2015 9:55:13 GMT -5 mynameiscarrie said:

Reading all this makes me nervous. Not for pain or anything, but I am terrified of my water breaking anywhere but home.

Is spontaneous water breakage common? Or do most people go into labor and have their water broken at the hospital? My worst fear is to have my water break while I'm at work...

No. It's not common. It usually happens late in the game. With some people it doesn't even break until you're pushing. It's pretty rare for that to be the start of your labor.

[mynameiscarrie]

Jun 16, 2015 9:59:22 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

Jun 16, 2015 9:55:13 GMT -5 mynameiscarrie said:

Reading all this makes me nervous. Not for pain or anything, but I am terrified of my water breaking anywhere but home.

Is spontaneous water breakage common? Or do most people go into labor and have their water broken at the hospital? My worst fear is to have my water break while I'm at work...

No. It's not common. It usually happens late in the game. With some people it doesn't even break until you're pushing. It's pretty rare for that to be the start of your labor.

This makes me feel so much better. I know every pregnancy is different and I could be the lucky one that has a spontaneous breakage, but it makes me feel better that the odds aren't in my favor. 

"Yes, excuse me, Physical Plant? I need someone to come with some carpet shampoo and a shop vac... my water just broke... thanks!" MY NIGHTMARE.

[anonymouseliza]

Jun 16, 2015 9:55:13 GMT -5 mynameiscarrie said:

Reading all this makes me nervous. Not for pain or anything, but I am terrified of my water breaking anywhere but home.

Is spontaneous water breakage common? Or do most people go into labor and have their water broken at the hospital? My worst fear is to have my water break while I'm at work...

I believe the statistic is 12% for spontaneous rupture of membranes before labor, so no. Not especially common.

My water broke with my son, causing labor (due to incompetent cervix, to be clear), and didn't break until after I'd been in labor awhile with my daughter. It was actually as the were putting in the epi. I didn't get that I was in full-blown labor, because they'd stressed over and over how long the induction would take and how I needed to rest. I had ambien and then iv drugs, but the contraction s were keeping me up, so I got the epi. I was pretty loopy at that point. My water broke while the anesthetist was putting in the line and I told the nurse how embarrassed I was that I had just need all over myself. She laughed and told me my water broke, got a new choux pad, laid me down and I was totally out for the next few hours. Glorious.

[yummeecookee]

mynameiscarrie, I think I read that water breaking occurs in 10-15% of women (before contractions etc). Thankfully I was home when it it happened to me. It had never even occurred to me that "this could happen anywhere, anytime, I better be ready."

[thebanich]

My water has never broken of it's own accord. A nurse did both times and... Ouch.

[sonpetitlapin]

All three of my previous births I had the option and took it for an epi. This birth I may not have that option. That scares me.

[tarheelmom]

Jun 16, 2015 10:01:39 GMT -5 mynameiscarrie said:

Jun 16, 2015 9:59:22 GMT -5 bunnyfungo said:

No. It's not common. It usually happens late in the game. With some people it doesn't even break until you're pushing. It's pretty rare for that to be the start of your labor.

This makes me feel so much better. I know every pregnancy is different and I could be the lucky one that has a spontaneous breakage, but it makes me feel better that the odds aren't in my favor. 

"Yes, excuse me, Physical Plant? I need someone to come with some carpet shampoo and a shop vac... my water just broke... thanks!" MY NIGHTMARE.

Mine broke at 4:30am -- I think I read somewhere that it usually happens in the middle of the night if it does happen spontaneously.  Usually labor in general starts at night, so maybe that's the reasoning.  

[somerandomchick]

My second delivery was WAY easier. I was induced with both kids--with my first at 42 wks, with my second at 41wk 1 day. My second induction went SO much faster (<12 hours from check in to pushing, vs almost 24 hours with my first). My first baby, my daughter, was 10 lb 13 oz and took FIVE HOURS to push out. I had heard second deliveries were easier and thought maybe it wouldn't be as long--maybe only three hours of pushing?! Seriously, he almost fell out. The nurse waited for the midwife to scrub up and stand by before emptying my bladder, afraid my son would just slide right out without a full bladder keeping him in. It was 15 minutes of pushing. (He was only 9 lb 3 oz which made me glad I'd opted for inducing at 41 weeks, I think that helped). Some parts of recovery were way easier because I hadn't had the same kind of intense ab workout marathon of pushing.

[Deleted]

I had a fairly similar experience to ladygray, My first was actually very nice, but got epi at 8 and then had to push for several hours as the meds didn't have a chance to wear off
2nd was about 8 hours, pushed about ?15 minutes
my 3rd was the wild card as he was frank breach and very luckily for me my third and small(ish) 5.9oz so I was able to vaginally deliver but had back labor and that is not fun

labors 4 and 5 were amazing. No medication and actually thankfully made it to hospital on time with my last as he was making his entry very quicly (2hour active labor)

Best wishes yummeecookee, for a wonderful pregnancy. Of course you get a littler nervous thinking about it- that is normal and natural. My mantra for my labors has always been that my body can do this, it was made to. I hope you find the coping skills you need to prepare yourself.

e2a  haha jokes on me!  I thought I was posting on parenting!  opps sorry for my intrusion ladies

happy pregnancies!

[harvestmoon]

Jun 16, 2015 9:43:46 GMT -5 ladygray said:

My MW says that, to stereotype: first is hard, second is fast and easy, third is a wild card and fourth on is easy.

This is what I'm afraid of. My water broke at home with DD (although after a few hours of relatively manageable contractions), and then I was ready to push immediately and we had to rush to the hospital that was luckily only about 1.5 miles away. I pushed maybe 3-4 times. DNW it to happen any faster this time! Especially because we now live farther from the hospital!

[maroongolf]

My second labor started with my water breaking. I was at the mall, so that was fun.

Both of my labors were pretty quick and med free, but the second was much easier and less painful. I had 2nd degree tears with both. Recovery was a little easier the second time, but I definitely bruised or broke my tailbone the first time.

[Sparkly]

I have only had one baby, so I won't tell my whole story (unless anyone wants to ask), but I had a wonderful, short, textbook labor (med-free) as a FTM. I only say that to make you la-la-la-la-ers feel better...it is possible!

I was very fortunate it went so well, and like Bunny said, basically as soon as I had her in my arms I was ready to do it again! It was certainly hard and painful, but that pain did what it was supposed to do and was well worth it in the end.