Subsequent births can be way different from your first birthing experience. For example- my first birth (7and a half pound twins born at home) was radically different from any of my other births. I felt it was rough (my midwife induced me by breaking my water) and even though it was pretty quick (4.5 hour labor) I had horrible back labor (both babies were posterior and first one even came out posterior) I felt that ring of fire burning when I pushed them out, the second one I pushed out without contractions because my uterus was atonic and I ended up with what my midwife said was the most swollen vulva she had seen (luckily I never tore). I felt like I had been hit by a truck afterwards and it took me a long time to recover.
But it was worth it in the end........my next birth, labor was very quick and when my midwife told me I was 10 and ready to push I didn't believe her, my son then slid out like butter and I announced to her how easy that was and I was ready to do it again. So it was night and day from the first birth.
Next 2 births were an in between as far as pain, I did feel pain during labor (I am really a pain wimp who has a high pain tolerance) and when I pushed my fourth baby out I felt that ring of fire which I hadn't felt with my third child. Still it was not a long labor (4.5 hours) or a difficult birth so I was game to do it again LOL only the next time I was in labor with my 5th for over 2 days........a stubborn posterior boy and I was at my wits end trying to get him to turn etc; in the end active labor kicked in- it was 3.5 hours long and he was born after one push but I remember telling my midwife the last few contrax were a real mother fu**er and was not looking forward to ever doing that again.
I expected a painful birth with this new baby and secretly hoped for a fast/ painless one like my 3rd (thinking that was a fluke). I got it and have to wonder whether it was the homeopathics, acupuncture , the hypnosis CD I listened to daily since week 16 or a combo so yeah I'd be game to do it all over again if it's meant to happen (I'm 45) and I'd rather go through birth than any dental procedure.
I do remember what the contractions felt like this time and I vocalized it to my 20 year old exactly what they felt like which felt like a burning band that emanated from the back towards the front, as they reached the front it dissipated and I just felt pressure of the head coming down- my first labor with the twins I felt like I had 50 knives stabbing me in the back and that felt intense and the only relief I had was running hot water over my back and then our hot water ran out and I had to save it for the birth so I just had to cope as best as I could which I did by rocking my body.
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