Labor with your second child?

If you had a long labor and delivery with your first child, what was your experience the second time around?

With my DD my contractions wouldn't regulate which held things back and she was very high which resulted in hours of pushing. I have heard the second time can be quicker/easier...I this is my experience. Just curious what the consensus is here.

Message edited 2/14/2012 11:16:02 AM.

Re: Labor with your second child?

DD#2 was a walk in the park compared to DD#1 I always joke had I delivered my second 1st I would have had more kids and closer together! With my first she came down a little crooked which resulted in hours of pushing and a 4th degree tear and a very rough recovery. My 2nd I did with no drugs (yet it was less painful then my 1st) pushed for 10mins and was up and moving within an hour after delivering. As far as labor my first I labored for 14hrs my second about 8hrs.

Re: Labor with your second child?

For me it was the opposite. dd#1 was total of 7 hrs with
1-1/2 hours of pushing. DD#2 was total of 10 hours of active labor and 20 mins of pushing.

For one of my sister's it was the opposite, DD#2 came so quickly. The dr says the second can be faster but you never know. Mine were both late babies. The recovery this time around is alittle longer.

Re: Labor with your second child?

Second delivery was heaven compared to first.
DS1 labor was 29hrs, 3hrs pushing. DS2 labor was 4 hrs total, less than 15min of pushing....

Re: Labor with your second child?

first baby I labored for 12 hours with 2 hours of pushing.

Second baby was only 3 hours long from first cramps until she was in my arms. I almost didn't make it to the hospital. She came out after only a few pushes.

Re: Labor with your second child?

It was definitely faster the second time around, but harder. With my first I was induced and delivered 6 days past my due date. The induction went smoothly, I had the epidural as soon as I was in pain. Pushing was going well buthe got stuck because the cord was wrapped around his neck and they used the vacuum extractor to help things along. Pushed for maybe 30-40 minutes. DS 2 I went into labor 3 days past my due date. It came on fast and furious! I asked for the epidural when I was admitted at 5-6 cm and my water broke. I had to wait for a full bag of iv fluids before they would give me the drugs. It was about 2-3 hours of pure pain. But once I had the epidural it was smooth sailing. I pushed for maybe 20 minutes.

Re: Labor with your second child?

I had 2 very different experiences with labor and delivery. The first time was pretty textbook. I woke up around 5am with my first contraction, and they slowly progressed throughout the day. He was born at 11:06 pm that night, after an hour of pushing.
With my second, my contractions started on Friday afternoon. They were getting stronger but were in such an inconsistent pattern. He was born at 12:17 Saturday afternoon after 10 mins of pushing. But my contractions were unbelievably manageable up until the last 20 mins or so. I got the epidural at 7cm and he was born about 15 mins later.

Re: Labor with your second child?

IM interested too

Labor with DS #1 was mostly easy...lol

I woke up at 6 am with contractions. Went to the hospital 7 am and Seamus was born at 9:30 am after about 5 or 6 pushes. Im hoping this one goes as quick or quicker lol

Re: Labor with your second child?

The first time it was bad. It felt like the electric chair. The second was easy. It was longer, but I can honestly say it didn't really hurt that much. It was worse after, I think because I was BF though.

Re: Labor with your second child?

First time I labored 23.5 hours, pushed for a half hour. The contractions were brutal, I felt like my insides were being ripped to shreds.

The second time was a cake walk. I was induced bc of pregnancy induced hypertension. I was given Cervidil at 8pm Monday night, my water was broken 9am the next morning and DD was born at 12pm after 8 pushes.

Re: Labor with your second child?

With my first I pushed for 3 hours..

I pushed my DS out in 6 minutes. I had actually been in the hospital for less than 30 minutes when he was born.

Re: Labor with your second child?

Posted by eroxgirl

With my first I pushed for 3 hours..

I pushed my DS out in 6 minutes. I had actually been in the hospital for less than 30 minutes when he was born.

Re: Labor with your second child?

My first was 4 1/2 hrs from water breaking at home to birth, no epi, no drugs and an hour of pushing. I was told its usually easier/shorter the second time but dd had other plans, 12 hrs of labor, pitocin to reg contractions, TWO epis bc the first difnt work and an hour of pushing. My labor w 1 was so much easier Bc IMO everything progressed naturally and fast. I did get lucky w both that I didn't tear or need an episiotomy.

Re: Labor with your second child?

Posted by eroxgirl

With my first I pushed for 3 hours..

I pushed my DS out in 6 minutes. I had actually been in the hospital for less than 30 minutes when he was born.