Will my second labor be easier/faster then my first? « Back to Group Discussions

[OtherSoul]

Overall my first birth went pretty well. I had my son at home. I was in labor for 13 hours total but had a 3 hour pushing phase. This was grueling for me. Can I expect a shorter second stage this time because the way has already been plowed through, so to speak?

[CookAMH]

In another natural labor, with baby in a good position, I don't see why pushing at least would not be a lot faster than 3 hours. Labor time can vary, but the trend is a reduction in a labor to an AVERAGE of 8 hours...I can't remember where I heard that. So yes, your body has done it once, and unless baby is malpositioned and needs a lot of time to get situated right, your labor should be shorter. What length of time is to be determined. I think *most* women find that to be true.

I had a c/s with my first, after laboring and pushing and getting to 9cm. All of that was about 17 hours, pretty average for a first time mom. My VBAC was 2 hours. Not as typical...pushing was an hour of those two. That makes sense since I had pushed some with my son. I personally anticipate shorter pushing than an hour with this third baby. I wouldn't mind a slightly longer labor though as it sort of rocked us, and I'd love to tear less.

[nettlesoup]

I hope it will be faster and easier. My first labour lasted 40 odd hours and they had to put me on a drip to speed things up. I would like to avoid all that this time.
 

[Bromache]

You never know for sure, but USUALLY, it's quicker and easier in subsequent births. My second birth was a LOT quicker and easier than my first. With my first, I had an hour of really, desperately wanting/needing to push but not dilated enough to do it yet, followed by another hour of pushing. With my second, I was ready to go when I felt the need to push and he was born ten minutes later! Plus, very minimal tearing (no need for stitches) compared to my first one, when it took them about an hour to properly stitch me up (ouch!). Definitely, definitely an easier birth.

I hope this one is pretty much the same as the second! 

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by Bromache 

Plus, very minimal tearing (no need for stitches) compared to my first one, when it took them about an hour to properly stitch me up (ouch!). Definitely, definitely an easier birth.

I hope this one is pretty much the same as the second! 

That's good to hear...I really hope for less tearing. That recovery was harder than recovery from the previous birth's c/s.

[Bromache]

Originally Posted by CookAMH 

That's good to hear...I really hope for less tearing. That recovery was harder than recovery from the previous birth's c/s.

Ouch! That must have been bad!

I was worried that, having torn once, it was just going to happen again. It didn't. I hope you're as lucky as I was!

[letniaLynne]

My second birth was like a whirl wind. Just crazy fast! My first was a bit more tame time wise but since I only had back labor with my first it is very hard to compare the two births since the sensations were SO different. I tore with both births, pushing was my hardest part both times I honestly did not even figure out how to push until the last 2 pushes with my second child. All other times I needed help figuring out what to do. My midwife put her fingers inside my and asked me to focus my myself at moving her fingers. It helped a bunch but my pushing was very ineffective overall. Until something clicked in mg head during those last 2 pushes . It's actually kind of funny, I had been pushing for awhile maybe 30+ mins and very slowly making a little progress then my midwife says she is going to go and get the crockpot warmed up with the peri compresses for when the babe crowns. She walks out and not more than a min later I figure it out!!! I am elated!!!! I pushed like crazy and my babe comes flying out lol!! I got way ahead of myself and tore very nicely

From my experience it seems that if you can have restraint when pushing in those last critical moments, stay relaxed in your bottom and your midwife or yourself provide good peri support you have a solid chance of avoiding stitches. That is my one goal for this birth since the last 2 times I have torn due to pushing too fast and hard at that critical time. I need to relax and listen to my body and my midwife. Anyone else have tips to avoid tearing?

[countrybound]

Mine was longer and harder the 2nd time. My first was born at 39 weeks and my 2nd was close to 41. Both labors had my boys stuck behind pelvic bone for 2.5 hours. I'm doing an elective c section this time. With the birth of my last son, since he was stuck something burst in his soft spot and created a cyst the size of an egg. I'm terrified of that happening again (it's no fun to sign waivers for your 6 month of to have surgery on his head and risk death). You can see his surgery scar in my profile pic. So yeah I figure if it happened again with my 2nd, it'll happen with my 3rd. I always had thought the 2nd birth would be easier but that was not the case for me.

[mamaw/two]

I had a shorter labor and a much shorter pushing stage the second time around:)  Also, no tearing the second time (I do attribute some of that to the use of evening primrose oil for the last 5 wks of pregnancy).

[nettlesoup]

I asked my midwife about it today and she said it'll be very different from my first and easier. So that's always a good thing!