Second time around

[redMaple]

hi

i'm new to the bub hub club, and recently found out i'm pg with baby #2.
although it's still early days (i'm only 6wks) i'm interested to know about
other mums second labour experiences - like did it differ much from the first?

i've heard, generally, first time most labours exceed 12hrs, subseq' under 12hrs
and that most first pgs are late ( 40wks+ ) was second on time?
was recovery faster?, if u tore did you again? - better/worse
just generally did u find it.. or shall i say, were u more at ease

i'm not expecting the second time to be easier - or less painfull -
just interested to know of others experiences..

thanks :)

[mama2four]

My first labour was quite intense and long. About 20 hours all up. Being new to the birth thing I let the midwives run the show. It was not good at all. Second labour much better. I think you really learn alot from the first. I knew what I wanted from the second birth and was more confident in myself. I was more in control and I think that is what made the difference. the second birth was only three hours long and it ended up being natural. I was alert and active throughout and after the birth. Best of luck with your second!

[mummyb]

hi
welcome and congratulations on your second bub.
my first was born at 34 weeks by emergncey c section he spent 10 days in the newborn intensive care unit and i spent the next the next year with ababy i had no idea what to do with.
last july i had my second baby 2 days late ,completely natural (ok gas and shot of pethadine may not be strictly natural but i felt at one with the world for a while.)
i was up an hour after to give my self ashower and my d.s never left my sight .
i was scared because i knew how much hard work having a premie baby is but it was the most beautiful experince of my life the whole 40 weeks .,birth and now.
the only thing that was still hard was the 3rd day blues and breast feeding but no where near as bad as the 1st time .we are still breast feeding and loving it .
i hope you have an amazing experince with this little bub and let us all know how your pregnancy is going much love bri

[xkwzit]

Hi Purity
One thing I was not expecting with the second pg is that back and pelvic pains were more serious throughout the pg. I think that the hormone (or whatever) that is released to soften up your ligaments works alot faster with subsequent pg and I found that I had quite serious pains as my pelvis started to destabilise with the loosening of the ligaments.

So even if you flew through your first pg (as I did) with little discomfort, really look after yourself with this one and if you start to have pain see a physio (or Chiro - whatever) specialising in pg issues. I found one visit with a physio really helped me to manage my problem. I learnt how to use my muscles to make up for the stability that ligaments usually provide.

Oh and if you have a physio visit organised by your hospital after the birth, use their time to give you a back massage instead of demonstrating exercises (they can leave a note with all those exercises that you're supposed to do - you'll remember how from last time) ;) .

Cheers

[Mumoffour]

my first labour was awful- 26 hours ending in a emerg c-section. My second one was 8 hours and I had him vaginally with only gas. It was a real buzz after having such a bad time first. I think its better because you have some practical idea of what is going on and you have a general idea of how things are going to go. Best of luck for you and bubba :)

[RuthK]

My first labour (at 36 weeks) went for 9 hours and spent 2 hours pushing!

My second labour (at 37 weeks) went for 12 hours with 2.5 hours pushing.

Watch your pelvic muscles if you 2 pregnancies have been fairly close togetehr (my 2 born 18 months apart). My muscles were still week and had me couch bound for the last 4 weeks. My BH contractions also started muche arlier, were more intense and occurred every 10 minutes for a good 1.5 months befoe labour.

2nd pregnancies are not always twice as fun!