Baby #2 - tell me about it, please

[lizabird]

Hi, I don't normally post here, but DS #1 is about 22 mos old and we're considering trying for DC #2. I had a very easy pregnancy, labor, delivery, etc with #1. Am I pusing my luck with #2 or are 2nd births usually easier than the first? I have no idea why I'm even thinking about this yet, mostly just wondering. I guess I am hoping for everything to go just as smoothly the second time around, but there's always that uncertainly...

So, please enlighten me, how was your pregnancy/delivery of baby #2 different than #1?

Thanks!

[Raven]

My second birth was easier in the sense that I was more mentally prepared as I had gone through all the motions before.

The birth was SO different to my first - easier in some regards and harder in others - and I enjoyed the experience immensely. I felt very confident and open.

My second labour was a lot faster than my first. I tore with my first but not with my second - and my first baby was smaller. My first birth was in water where I felt really at ease while I didn't like being in the water at all with my second so I gave birth on all fours on my bed.

Involution (when the uterus returns to it's non-pregnant state after birth) was a lot more painful with my second (and then again with my third).

I think the thing I have learned with my births is that each one is SO different. I believe that going into this with an open mind and willingness to learn and grow is key to having an empowered birth.

Good luck on your journey!

[camotyka]

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[Meli65]

My second labor (at home) was pretty quick and easy (2.5 hours of active labor) -- my first labor (at a birth center) was also quick, five hours, including 1.5 hours of pushing.

But... you never know.

[Erin Pavlina]

I think each birth is different too.

My second pregnancy I had no morning sickness, but I did get pneumonia which lasted 5 months. It was hell. But babywise, all was peachy keen.

The birth was much quicker. I didn't tear with the second and I was much better at pushing.

I also noticed that because I had a toddler at the time I was pregnant with #2, I didn't notice being pregnant as much. I was still so busy wiht #1. In some ways that was great because it went really fast. But in other ways I wish I had spent more time bonding in utero with #2.

[shelbean91]

My first 2 pg's and deliveries were almost identical. My 3rd one was polar opposite.

[EmmaJean]

I didn't think I could improve on my first pregnancy, but Lily's was even better! James' birth was long and hard--24hrs (water broke early) and w/ Lily it was fast and furious!! three hrs! The only hard thing was James was 1 wk "early" and Lily was 10 days "late", so that was stressful waiting. Just an emotional roller coaster! And breastfeeding went so much better too. And Lily was an even *sleepier* baby than James! I'm not going to push my luck for a third perfect preg, birth, and newborn!!!

[starbarrett]

well, i can't say about the labor part yet, but i can say the pregnancies were alot different. I had an easy pregnancy the first time, had absolutely no issues, gained the average amount of weight, etc. My first labor was 45 hours, but I was able to have an unmedicated, unintervened, vaginal homebirth.

This time around, pregnancy has been alot different. The biggest difference being that this time I have a toddler, so impromptu naps are out as is a garunteed full night's sleep. I also spent alot less time thinking about the pregnancy because I'm just so busy with dd. I could hardly remember what week I was the whole pregnancy!

I was also in really good shape physically when I became pregnant the first time. I became pregnant when dd was only 9mo, so I was no where near the same physical condition this time around. I had more complications as a result. I had sciatica fairly early on. And I had a brief scare with polyhydrominos, which I was able to solve nutritionally.

DD was one week late and 7lbs 4oz. I'm 39weeks and my midwife thinks ds is going to be in the 9 lb range (ouch!). I'm really hoping she's wrong. :LOL My first labor was 45 hours. This time around I've been having menstrual-like cramps and light contractions on and off for a couple weeks, so I'm thinking that my body is transforming my cervix slowly this time round, so I'm hoping that means that labor will be shorter! They say it usually is!!

Since you're planning your pregancy, I'd say the best way to ensure that your second pregnancy goes as smoothly as your first would be to get in good physical shape and start taking prenatal vitamins now to ensure that your vitamin stores are replenished after prenancy and nursing the first time around.

Good-luck!

[EmmaJean]

Amber, just wanted to say that a bigger baby does NOT necessarily equal more pain. My dd was almost 2# heavier than ds and her birth was fast, I healed fast, etc. It was awesome! I'm sure you can check other "big baby" threads here, (don't want to hijack this one!) but just had to chime in on that. )

[AutumnMama]

Going to make this quick cause I'm really tired, but I wanted to respond

First birth (DD) was 20+ hrs, 2 1/2 hrs of pushing (hospital birth with a spinal), I tore a fair amount, and took about 3 months to recover. She weighed 8 lbs 6 ozs.

Second birth (DS) I had a Midwife attended homebirth. I had read alot more about natural childbirth and really felt alot more secure in my body being able to give birth without interventions.
I had about 1 hour of 'false labor' a week before I gave birth and was dialated to about 3 cm's at my last prenatal appt.
My labor lasted 3 1/2 hours from the first contraction that woke me up. I pushed for 25 minutes, and only took about 3-4 weeks to recover. He weighed 7 lbs 10 ozs.

I was so totally surprised at how short his labor/birth was...I had figured I'd be lucky to get a 10 hour labor :LOL

It was great

[2+twins]

My 2nd birth was a lot quicker than my first and the pushing stage was soooo much easier. I pushed for approx. 4 hours the first time - her positioning I'm certain had the most (if not everything) to do with this. But for my 2nd birth the baby just kinda shot right out of me on her own, w/o any real help from me. So it was a very different (and welcomed) experience. Pregnancy was a little harder the 2nd time around but really only b/c I had a toddler to take car of so there wasn't a lot of opportunity to baby myself (like with naps, etc.) the way I could the first time.

[melissa_honeybee]

First pregnancy wernt really smooth, no problems. I started going into labor around midnight and my son was born at 1:06 the next day. No tearing, no episimotomy very few stretch marks. For my second, I had really bad morning sickness, and now I have more lower back pain. Don't know how labor will be yet!!

[Eman'smom]

1st pregnancy was a dream, labor was fast and out of control.

2nd pregnancy was miserable (I still loved being pregnant but I was as sick as a dog, and chasing a toddler) Labor was an amazing empower experience truely wonderful. But due to her position, longer and more painful.

[Kerlowyn]

First baby: planned a home birth, but after 72 hours of labor, and ruptured membranes for 24 hours, we decided to transport to the back up hospital midwives. Baby came 14 hours later. The labor was long, hard and the baby was big (10 lbs 2 oz) but I never thought the pain was bad at all.

Baby #2 was a planned hospital birth. I got there, I went from 3 cm to birth in 1 hour He was posterior, the pain was freaking unbelievable

Both pregnancies went very well.

Good luck to you!!

[lizabird]

I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to get back here to read responses until now. Thanks so much to those who have responded. I talked with a lady at the park today who had 2 boys, ages 3.5 yrs and about 7 mos. She said it was actually quite nice and she was really enjoying the two of them at that age difference. It was interesting because I am thinking that would be about the age difference we'd have too (about 3 yrs apart) -- of course that's subject to the stars and my hormones being in alignment. :LOL

I loved the diversity of experience posted. It's humbling to know just how random the Universe seems to be. Thanks so much for sharing all of your experiences. It's also nice to know there are others out there who are wondering the same things I am...

-lizabird

[Mom2baldie]

All of my pregnancies have been fabulous, no differences really except that I had a bit of morning sickness with the 1st that didn't occur with the other 2.

With my 1st vaginal birth I labored for around 10 hours, pushed for about 20 minutes. The labor was hard, but always manageable. She was 8 lbs 1 oz and I tore quite a bit during the birth.

With the 2nd vaginal birth my labor was shorter and easier - I slept through much of it, however, I pushed for a couple of hours this time and found it horribly painful - much more so than with the previous birth. This baby was 9 lbs 10 oz and even though I gave birth on my hands and knees in the bathtub I still tore again, my MW said 2nd degree. The recovery was FAST this time though and besides being really tired, I felt fine (not sore) by the time the baby was 3 days old.