How different were your 2nd/3rd etc labours compared to your 1st?

Just a random pondering really as i approach my 2nd birth...

With my first i went 10 days over and was induced. It wasnt a very nice experience at all. When i felt ready for no.2 we presumed id hopefully give birth naturally or face the prospect of another induction. Nothing else crossed my mind.

Now at nearly 35 weeks iv already narrowly avoided an early birth via c section and have a breech baby that may possibly be delivered via c section if she doesnt turn at 38/39weeks so like i say just a pondering really as its really made me think.

I've been thinking about this too.

I was induced with my first for being overdue, and I'm really hoping that this one isn't going to hang around like she did and come on his own. I keep wondering about what it's going to be like to go into labour by myself and not with the help of medicine.

Thats the thing. Thats all i focused on. Myself and H have been purely focusing on how it will be if i went on my own. Discussing how we will work it with our LO and his work etc and now we face various reasons for us possibly needing a c section.

Oh how i wish pregnancy was simple....

It's hard when life throws you a curve ball.

Me and H have been the same, and I was so determined about not being induced that I was going to decline it as and when the time came, but now, with him being away, turning down an induction on a convenient date would be foolish, so I'm seeing my mind changing...and then I think, no, I want to go through it under my own speed, and want to go to the birthing centre....It's all if''s buts and maybe's which doesn't suit my control freak tendancies! lol

im just the same!! Give me back my control!!! haha

any night time Hitchers want to share their first and second births and satisfy my nosey streak? lol

They were very similar.

1st- Born at 38+6, established labour 8.5 hours. Laboured in pool but had to get out to deliver due to long 2nd stage. 2nd degree tear and labial lacerations.

2nd- Born at 38+4, established labour 3.5 hours. Delivered in pool. 11 min 2nd stage. No tears or bruising.

Thanks HG, very interesting to read how similar they were. Right down to dates.

Matilda my first baby was breech & was delivered by elective section at 39+3 weighed 7lbs 10oz, Lucas my second baby was delivered at 40+5 after a failed VBAC, the midwife & consultant were worried about his lack of movement & position so they advised an emergancy section was the safest thing for both of us he weighed 10lbs 4oz.

My 2 labours couldn't have been more different.

Isaac was born at 40+1 I went into early labour at 40+0 about lunchtime, went into hospital to be checked over as his movements went a bit quiet. He was born at 4.00pm on 40+1. I had drugwise pracetemol, Tens, a birthing pool, Gas and air, Pethidine and finally an epidural (i got my moneys worth in drugs ). He was delivered vaginally and I had a 2nd degree tear that was stitched and healed by 14 days post birth. Isaac was 9lbs. Recorded 1st stage of 10 hours 15 minutes. 2nd stage 45 minutes. 

Oscar was born at 40+0 (7 minutes after midnight). Didn't realise I was in labour had to go in for monitoring due to previous loss and ?leaking waters. After seeing contractions every 3 minutes on the monitoring I was examined and found to be 5cm. I had a bath and just breathed through the contractions then got out because I felt like I needed to push. Tried Gas and air whilst in transition but it wasn't 'doing it' for me. Oscar was born vaginally again I had a 2nd degree tear and a small graze. Tear stitched and felt healed at about 10 days. Oscar was 7lbs 1oz. Recorded 1st stage of 1 hour 45 mins and 2nd stage 12 minutes. 

Mine were very similar, but with the second it was quicker. Second time round I felt as though my body knew what was happening - my contractions were more regular and stronger.

1. Born at 38+0. Labour started in the early hours of the morning. contractions weren't regular, waters went a little bit with each contraction. I managed to get to 9cm + anterior rim and had pethidine, G&A, syntocinin drip and then a C-section.Labour was 20 hours.

2. Born at 38+0. Waters went at 7pm night before, contractions started half an hour later and were 3 mins apart. Got to hospital at 8.30pm (had to wait for husband to get home from work) and contractions were 1.5 min apart. I was still only 1cm! Again I got to 9cm + anterior rim, this time after 12 hours. Was given another c-section as Oliver hadn't budged at all and was too high up and clearly had no intention of coming down!

Mine were practically identical except for the times - the first was 4.5 hours or so and the second was only 2 hours.  I had home births for both, sudden starts with strong painful contractions from the start in both.  First time labour was at 39+2 and second time 40+10.

hey grotbags!

my labours were totally different...thank god

my first was at 42 weeks. I hadn't slept for 2 days as I'd been having painful contractions and felt ill. The midwife who came to my house told me I wasn't in labour and I was gutted. I went  into hospital the next day at half 7 in the evening as I was in a lot of pain and was found to be 6cm.My midwife was lovely. i stayed in the birthing pool for as long as I could take the pain, but then had to get out because the pain was so bad, I wanted to try pethidine.I was only 7 cm and not progressing fast. My waters didn't break for hours so they had to do it for me. The midwife could see I was tired and the baby was too.It took until half seven in the morning for him to be born with an episiotomy for me.The cord was round him and knotted 3 times.But he was fine and lovely. I had to lay back and be stitched which was the most painful experience of my life, esp as I needed a wee,I cried and cried.It was a horrible shattering experience and I felt like I'd been in a car crash or something. He was 7lb 6oz so not huge, but the stitches and stress of it took a long time to recover from...

17 months later...

I went to bed at 37 weeks after a meal out with family. at 5am I woke with period pains and had felt some weird popping sensations, I went for a wee and saw a trickle of something on the floor as I got up...my waters had started to break. We went to the hospital at 9am, I was put in the same room as last time and my anxiety was sky high thinking it was going to be like last time, plus the hospital was full to capacity and midwives were running about like crazy and they told me i'd not be able to have an epidural because of staffing and no water birth either,I was gutted to be found at only 3 cm and the midwife soon cleared off when she thought I had hours to go.I cried and hubby did his best to comfort me. However...an hour later I was gulping gas and air and needed to push. hubby pressed the buzzer but no one came! He was yelling at me that it couldn't possibley be time to push yet. the midwife came in just in time...out popped baby ,hubby and mw  had to leap to catch him. He weighed 5lb13oz.I was fine afterwards and needed no stitches. Thank god!

I'm pregnant now so I am praying this time will be just as easy!

i love reading about peoples experiences..... im weird!  thanks all

I have been very lucky with both my births.

First time round, labour started at 39+1, arrived at the mw unit around midnight and was 6cm, Abigail arrived at 8.56am.  Spent a lot of time in the birthing pool, although got out in the end to deliver and had tens, g&a and pethidine.  Forgot had to have an episiotomy and stitches afterwards which were the worst bit, the birth was a breeze compared to the stitches!

2nd time round, a bit start/stop 3 trips to the mw unit but was only 2-3cm the twice they examined me, got sent home the last time at 10am, went back in at 1.30pm had been using tens up till then, started on g&a and Lily arrived at 2.16pm, was 39+6.  Did try for the water birth again but they didn't get the pool filled lol