pregnant with #2 and scared about the labour etc :(

[greeneyes81]

hi all I am 17 weeks pregnant with #2 and I am scared that this will be the same as my first labour..I had dd at 38.5weeks,she was born just over 2.5 kilos and healthy(no special care needed). She had a short cord and was posterior which caused me to have a long painful labour with an epi,vacum,foreceps..I developed pnd afterwards as the birth wasnt ideal and I was also shocked at how small she was. I am hoping that this second birth will be alot more successful..Would love to hear from you all thanks for reading

[confusd]

Try not to worry about it just yet! you have a while to go till your due and and this baby might be the "right" way around.

[dreadlockfairy]

Hi Greeneyes,

I'm worrying also! I'm 16 weeks and already stressing about the birth. I had a posterior labour also. I think most of us 2nd time mums must be stressin - we know what labour is like, & we're not going into it with that 'ignorance is bliss' frame of mind that you have when you've never had a kid.

I don't have ay advice, just I know I tell myself that worrying won't help. And I'm going into this birth with my mind open to ANYTHING happening, but also having a positive outlook and frame of mind. That way I won't get dissapointed.

I'm sth east suburbs like yourself also. Introduced myself on the forum but never heard from anyone. So hi again

Blessings,

Dreadlock Fairy

[IndigoJ]

I had a 22hr labour, 3.5hrs pushing, 9pd12oz baby, episiotomy and 4th degree tears, and reconstructive surgery for my first birth.

My second was a 3hr labour (was in silent labour for 10hrs prior), 19min pushing, 9pd9.5oz baby, 2nd degree tears due to compound presentation, for my second birth.

Have faith that your 2nd may not be as bad as your first.I really enjoyed my 2nd birth. One, because it only hit a 8.5/10 on the pain scale and two, i was told i wouldnt have another vaginal birth without tearing extensively and id need a colostomy bag, i was told i needed a csec. Which clearly wasnt the case

Best of luck for a smooth pregnancy and a fabulous birth.

[OurLittleBlessing]

Google optimal fetal positioning!

My first labour was posterior, and yep, it was horrific!

My second labour was anterior, and I was still waiting for the bad pain to start and was told I was a good 8cms. It was no way near as painful as my first. I did have some complications at the end, but it was something really rare, that I'm sure you won't encounter so I won't bother you with the details.

It's like real estate: position, position, position!

Also, the other thing that I 100% believe helped me, is I didn't have any drugs, not even gas (at least not while I was labouring IYKWIM). I think having a clear head helped me stay mentally on top of the pain.

One last tip.... Read Birth Skills by Juju Sundin. I loved that book so much. My motto during DD2's labour was 'labour pain is healthy pain, it's just my body working'. I found that really helpful.

Good luck!!

[greeneyes81]

Thanks ladies for your reply I guess I am more worrying about the size of this bub than anything..With dd I didnt have any pain relief till I was nearly 8cm,no screaming (I pretty much meditated the whole way thru)...then they had to give me an epidural due to the episiotomy(sp) So pain to me isnt the biggest issue as I know all those happy hormones do kick in once you see bubs, just hope and Im trying to have faith that it will be easier because my body has done it before....

[IndigoJ]

I was worried about size too DS1 was 9pd12oz(4.41kg), head circ of 36.5cm, 52cm length. I was told 30min after he was born that my next baby would be over 10pd, that id tear worse and wouldnt be able to VB.

DS2 was born 9pd9.5oz(4.35kg), head circ of 37cm, length of 52cm.

You can do it

[greeneyes81]

dreadlockfairy- Hi hunCant find your post anywhere which is weird because I swear earlier during the day I saw it?

[Mumma29]

Green Eyes,

I understand completely, my DD was posterior, had epidural, episiotomy and vacuum. When I found out i was expecting #2 i was terrified. DS was born posterior, episiotomy and vacuum and he was a whole KG bigger than DD. Having said that I really enjoyed his birth. Once it started I went into sort of been there done that mode, I understood so much more of what was going on and much more confident. In hindsight the physicality of the labours were pretty much identical (despite following every tip to turn bub to anterior with no luck) but phsychologically I was in a much much better place for bub #2. And now to see what happens with bub #3......

[Babymay]

With my first bub I was induced, posterior, anterior lip, episiotomy and bad tear, epidural, vacuum, thirteen hour labour, catheter for days and later on repair surgery for my broken down episiotomy. Generally an AWFUL experience.

My second, I went into labour naturally (at 40+10 so don't give up!) and my bub was born two and a half hours later after an 'easy' labour and I had a first degree tear.

There isn't really any point I'm making apart from passing on a positive second labour story! Good luck, I hope it goes just as well for you.