if you have had two natural births....

[Molliejo]

was your second birth easier? I am hoping that since I know what I am in for since I had a natural birth the first time that the second time won't be as bad. Am I being naive?

Giving birth wasn't that terrible for me for some reason. I thought it would be a lot more painful (iIreally had no idea what to expect, though. I guess I had been influenced by my family's horrible stories of the pain). I am scared that I just lucked out or something.

[momtoS]

yup
My first daughter I had about 12 hours of labour and that includes 2.5 hours of pushing....the worst part for me. And a tonne of stitches.....another yuck. This time (APril 07) I had 2.5 hours of very intense labour had my daughter at home and no stitches. It was very empowering and awesome...and painful....but great!

[Alyantavid]

Mine was. My labors both lasted 6 hours, but it was much much easier the second time. I did have a lot more pain after the second but I'm not sure if it was because I tore the second time vs. having an epi the first or if it was because my second was so much bigger.

[AngelaB]

My first natural birth hurt way less than the second. He was 10 lb and came out after 40 hours and 2 of that was pushing but with my second he was 6 lb 10 oz and he came out alot quicker(maybe 6-7 hours of active labor) and he hurt way worse. I think it had to do with positioning and speed of birth. I had less time to get in the groove with him.

I also didnt do my prenatal exercises and affirmations like I did with the first. I thought I didnt have to work at it since I knew what to expect but with this pregnancy, now that im feeling better, I will be doing the meditation and yoga to help with positioning and pain tolerance. I think all births are unique and dont follow a set rule.

Angela

[BrooklynDoula]

My first was harder and longer than my second for sure.

[zinemama]

Harder. With my second I had back labor.

[Novella]

Originally Posted by norajane

was your second birth easier? I am hoping that since I know what I am in for since I had a natural birth the first time that the second time won't be as bad. Am I being naive?

Definitely easier the second time around!

I thought my first birth was fantastic (in spite of quite a tear). I just felt SO GOOD immediately after, and beyond that. First very minor contraction was 5am-ish. I had to stop housework at noon and by 1pm things were somewhat painful. Started pushing shortly after 9pm and delivered DD just shy of 10lb, 45 minutes later. So that was a total of 16.5hrs of known labour - but only 9.5hrs that actually was worthy of any attention.

My second birth (two years later) was a lot quicker. First signs of labour at 4pm. Contractions starting to get to be a handful by 7pm. DD#2 born at 11:20pm after way less pushing - only 15 minutes. Baby was just over 9lbs. Tiny tear, doc questioned whether any stitches necessary, but did one or two. I did feel the "ring of fire" as in my first birth, but much more briefly. So that one was a total of 7.5hrs of known labour and 4.5hrs of that demanding my resources.

And beyond your question:
Birth number three, and then my following twins, were an absolute cakewalk in comparison - and no more "ring of fire". After #1 I totally learned the trick of how to deal with labour (I had horrid back labour every single time). #3 was apx 7.5hrs of known labour, 2.5hrs of that were demanding. I pushed once for the head and once for the body (but it was more like my body grabbing control, really). He was just over 11lb. No stitches. My twins were same ease, but "normal-sized" babes. The total known labour was 3hrs, and the first 1hr plus was barely-there labour.

Wishing you many easy births!

[shellbell]

My second was much much easier than my first. About 10 hours shorter too.

[hubris]

I'm not sure if I'd say "easier" - labor/birth #2 was faster but more intense. It required a different kind of stamina than the first one, which was long and exhausting but not as in-my-face. That said, I felt really confident in myself, and I really enjoyed the fast roller-coaster ride. I'd be happy to have another labor like my second!

[MelKnee]

My 2ndwas faster but harder. Her head wasn't straight and it hurt getting her lined up.

[dajones]

My second was shorter...

First birth was 12 hours total, but I did not even know I was in labor for the first 5 hours. (I thought I was just having braxton hicks).

Second was short and intense, it lasted 2 hours and contractions were strong intense and close together after the first 30 minutes.

[Neldavi]

My second was easier, and I think that is really common. Depending on a lot of things, of course, but the pushing at the very least is usually shorter because everything is sort of primed and stretched out already.

[Rockies5]

My second was alot harder and more painful. It was also shorter (12hrs) then my first which was basically painless.

[mom2Avi]

Each of my births have gotten easier. With DD1 I was induced but I had no pain meds so that was obviously the most painful of the 3. DS was completely natural and was much easier than #1 although the pushing stage seemed much harder and the "ring of fire" seemed to last forever and I didn't feel this with the other 2 (which seems weird as he was my smallest baby by over a pound). DD2 was an unplanned UC due to a fast labor (52 min!) that never really got intense so very easy.

[AKmoose]

My second was easier...first was 7 hours of labor, some pretty nasty tearing...second was 2 hours of labor, and I was ready to go again within 5 minutes! The third was actually harder...only 45 minutes of labor, no tears, but it was sooooo intense!! The easiest labor was my second, though the experience of the third was by far best overall (see siggy).

[momileigh]

My 2 births were practically identical. Except the first time I had people yelling at me to push, and the second time no one said a thing to me.

In my experience, if you had a rough 1st birth, the 2nd will be easier. Generally speaking. If you had an easy 1st birth, the subsequent ones will be more or less the same degree of easiness, and a bit shorter. That's my rule of thumb so far!

[RachelGS]

WAY easier.

[mwherbs]

yes
some of it has to do with knowing how it can happen- there were definate differences but just not the same quality of the "unknown" over all.
good birth

[bluegrassgirl]

I'd half to say some parts were faster and easier and other's were harder and longer. I was in labor longer with my second daughter, and had more pelvic pain (that could have been because I was sitting on the toilet or birthing stool most of the time). But, her delivery was faster and less painful.

Jessie
(single mommy to Emma, 3 years and Angela, 2 years)

[applejuice]

My first was 27+ hours of posterior labor with shoulder distocia

My second was 9+ hours of posterior labor with a deflexed head and ascyclitism. It was worse, but I got through it at home.

My third was easy, 4 hours.