2nd/ 3rd time moms- your labor/ contractions

Stephorse

This is now my second LO and I thought I had contractions on Friday,  but they were not long, and were not really timeable so I left it to stress and Braxton Hicks. I've been thinking about labor though coming up and my mom told me she had a much worse time the 2nd time and so have a few other people I've talked to. What was your experience like? The first time I didn't even know I had contractions until my water broke and then I spent only 6 hours in labor with the last two really pushing and it just seemed easy. The pain didn't even really bother me until he was crowning. Now I'm worried that I'll be in labor longer or have to have a C-section or it'll hurt more, so I guess I just want some stories to help ease my mind a little. I know that I really can't be certain of what's to come, but it will help ease my mind a little. TIA!

holly321

My first was a csection, so I can't compare. But everyone I talk to says the second is much easier. I did labor a little with my first. With my second, contractions weren't fun, but they weren't unbearable. I was being induced and once I actually started dilating, I had ds in less than an hour.

ncbelle

Statistically, you are more likely to have a faster second labor.  But certainly anything is possible!  My second labor was slightly shorter and I pushed 3 times vs. 15 minutes.

Just relax - you've done it once; you can do it again!

IrishGirl26

The contractions for me were worse the second time, but crowning and pushing were definitley not as painful as the first time. Recovery was much easier the second time as well.

iverske9

All of my friends and family just said the second one comes alot quicker, which makes sense. Your body has gone through this process before so if it comes quicker that would mean labor would be quicker hence the idea that it is more painful. It's not that it is actually more painful it's that you skip the buildup. So instead of the 6 hours labor before you will speed it up. 

rkmmore

my second labour was fast and intense was just over an hour from 1st sign to holding baby, 1st was 9 hours and lots of pushing 

PrimRoseMama

My second labor was really painful.

PrimRoseMama

iverske9 said:

All of my friends and family just said the second one comes alot quicker, which makes sense. Your body has gone through this process before so if it comes quicker that would mean labor would be quicker hence the idea that it is more painful. It's not that it is actually more painful it's that you skip the buildup. So instead of the 6 hours labor before you will speed it up. 

This is not always true. My daughter was born in 4 hours & my son took 12 hours.

TeacherVicky

With my first, my labour lasted 8h, from my first contractions - delivery. OB had to break my water.

This time, my labour lasted less than 2.5h. My contractions were irregular in timing and duration, but I was 9cm when I got to the hospital 1h30m in. Again, OB broke my water at 9.5cm and I delivered moments later.

momofmanyinthemitten

I sure hope the 2nd is easier than the first! I VBACed with DS and it was horrible-labored for 17hrs, followed by 3+hrs of pushing. Recovery was bad too, way harder than my c/s.

BuckeyeWife07

My second was a million times better than my first. I ended up having to be induced with my first, was in labor for 15-16 hours, pushed for almost three hours... which all made for loads of other not so fun stuff for me. My second, I worked all day with irregular contractions, went home, made supper, played with DD1 and put her to bed. Before I knew it contractions were 7 minutes apart, but the time we got to the hospital (about 1 1/2 later) they were two minutes apart. I only pushed 3 times for both her and the placenta... I felt awesome after! It was amazingly different for me! I just pray number three is about like DD2

MayKay12

I was induced with both. My 1st was an 18 hr labor with forceps. My 2nd was an 8 hr labor and he slid out. The second was a breeze compared to my first.