Tell me about your 2nd birthing experience! - Page 2

[happydoulamama]

40week, 1 day. Had a textbook homebirth. Lasted as long as my first, 12 hours. Lots of time in between contractions, and short ctx duration until the transition period which lasted over an hour. Pushed for 1.5 hours, a 3 hour difference from my first. Tore a 2nd degree, as I did with my first. (my third was completely different- 4 hour from start to finish, 20 min pushing, no stitches! so you just never know!)

[wombatclay]

What an unpleasant hospital experience OP! I certainly hope things go more easily for you this time!

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dd1- 42+ wks, sPROM, big baby (9lbs 4oz). However, the hospital had no problem with no monitoring after the first 20 minute strip, I was encouraged to use the tub despite the PROM, everyone was very encouraging and helpful. Unfortuately, after roughly 32 hours of non-stop back labor I was still at 7cm (had been at 7cm for about 19 hours) and we moved to a c/s. DD1 was posterior and asynclitic.

dd2- 40 wks and a few days, sROM but just a bit before labor started, big baby (9lbs even). As a vbac I needed a heplock and intermittent monitoring with a doppler every 15 minutes during pushing but other than that I was again encouraged to use the shower/tub, everyone was again very supportive, and the entire birth took 12 hours from "was that a contraction" to "babe in arms". Now, I did push for about 4 hours, and there was shoulder dystocia and significant physical trauma for me as a result of that, so I think dd2 may have been a bit off center too... not as badly as dd1, but still maybe a bit off.

I did live the Spinning Babies/Optimal Fetal Positioning lifestyle during dd2's pregnancy and I think that helped. And I had a copy of the Labor Progress Handbook by Penny SImkin that I recommend to every mama, but especially to mamas who have had a "non-standard" birth experience in the past. Your midwives may have a copy, or the library... it's a fairly small book and you can get it through Amazon, but it's expensive for the size.

Good luck and best wishes for a happy birthing!

[emaye_to_2]

My second was, in the perspective of my first, a piece of cake, literally. My first was 16 hours of painful speechless labor including 2.5 hours pushing with complications after delivery. My second was less than 3 hours from "I think I might be in labor hun" to baby flying out after a half-push.

Good luck!

[wbg]

My second labour was fast and furious! Four hours from start to finish. My baby literally flew out! It was all a little intense and full on! She arrived on her due date! No early labour signs. Just woke up in labour and out she came. I think I was mentally unprepared for that experience so it seemed a bit more stressful. 3rd labour was shorter but I was better prepared.

OP, I would definitely try to stay home as long as possible, use the shower, bath, and mobility to cope. And if you have to birth in a less supportive environment, bring the support with you in the form of a great support team: doula, partner, friend, advocate! Whatever you need. And spend some time being kind and gentle to yourself. Nurture yourself and work on great emotional coping strategies.

You are an amazing birthing Goddess and you can do it! You pushed out your beautiful baby last time in less than ideal conditions and some ridiculous hospital staff! This time you are emotionally more equipped and hopefully the MW you see will do a fantastic job!

[Evergreen]

My second baby was by far the best birth experience! I was a surrogate for my first - it was a pitocin, epidural hospital birth. Not terrible and only 6.5 hours. My second (my oldest dd) was 29 hours- long but easily managed. I pushed twice. It was a great empowering experience and I had excellent support from an incredible midwife and her assistant. My third was the curveball- 43 hours of hell resulting in a hospital transfer 40 minutes before she flew out. :