How was your second birth experience?

plumpous

I'm expecting my second baby and I was hoping to hear from mamas with 2 and more what I should expect the second time I give birth. A lot of people say it will be quicker. Was it like that for you? 

kfry22

Following along as a lurker from June. I'm curios about this as well. And I have a second question. If you delivered vaginally and tore in your first labor and delivery, will you tear again? 

dancegurl1118

Not necessarily. It's common to have some tearing along the same line because it's healed tissue but it's usually not as severe unless you blow a baby out in an uncontrolled manner (which can sometimes happen with unexpectedly quick 2nd+ labors). 

morgarita

I also have this question. Thanks for posting! 

JameyR

I have 2 daughters. My first I went to the hospital at 9pm and she was born at 7:47am. took 45 minutes of pushing and I had an episiotomy.

My second I went to the hospital at 8pm and she was born at 8:59 am. Took over an hour of pushing and I tore. Healing process was actually easier with the second. I didn't bleed for nearly as long after delivery. Delivery seemed much harder the second time. I had an epidural for both. 

lilyaster

My first was sort of induced with membrane stripping.  I labored over 24 hours and pushed for 3 & 1/2 hours.  Squatting, with no pain meds.  I'm sure she would have been a c/section if I'd been at a hospital, but we were in a birth center.  My second came after 5 or 6 hours of labor and just a few minutes of pushing.  It was more intense. 

ashaw512

So what kind of birth are you talking about? PP are answering for vaginal, I had CS both times. Every pregnancy and delivery is different for every person and every baby.

Let me have the UO here but I find this offensive seeing how people look down on CS b/c "it's not really birth". Well I'm here to say it is, my body was and is stretching and forming a child just like everyone else here, just because my baby won't come vaginal does NOT mean I didn't and won't give birth. I've got scars and tiger stripes to prove it. I was upset about my delivery for a long time because I felt like a failure, my body couldn't do what I was suppose to but now it really chaps my ass when a CS is not looked at as a birth. 

lamphele

Probably not the story you're looking for,  but mine is from the c/s and attempted VBAC point of view.  With my first I was induced at 39 weeks.  I went in at one cm, they broke my water and started pitocin. After 13 hours I developed a fever and and had swollen down to 1/2 cm dilation. They then rushed me for my c/s.  With my second,  I went the midwife route so that I could attempt a VBAC. I labored for 80 hours then my daughter's heart rate dropped dangerously low and was rushed to the hospital for a c/s. I had made it to 5 cm dialated.

morgarita

@ashaw512 I don't think anyone on this specific post is putting down c/s they are just not familiar with it. You are right in that some people put down a c/s but it would also be very valuable to hear your experience.  C/s are scary it's not usually sometime you become familiar with before having a baby. During pregnancy your doctor talks about vaginal birth so you get it in your mind that's the way your going to do it. Then usually a c/s is an emergency or there is some kind of issue that makes it safer for a c/s instead of vaginally. Plus ive also been told the recovery is harder and longer, maybe you can tell us about that too. The reason I think we all are curious about this is bc labor is HARD, no matter how you have baby, and we're hoping the second time is a better experience. I personally would love to hear about your experience. 

ashaw512

@morgarita I'm not flaming anyone for putting it down. I asked a question and stated an opinion. I think OP needs to be more specific since the original post didn't say and PP were explaining vaginal births, which automatically looks like she's asking about vaginal only. It just rubbed me the wrong way.

morgarita

@ashaw512 oh ok I see. I agree with you tho in that people do look down upon c/s. 

lamphele

ashaw512 said:

So what kind of birth are you talking about? PP are answering for vaginal, I had CS both times. Every pregnancy and delivery is different for every person and every baby.

Let me have the UO here but I find this offensive seeing how people look down on CS b/c "it's not really birth". Well I'm here to say it is, my body was and is stretching and forming a child just like everyone else here, just because my baby won't come vaginal does NOT mean I didn't and won't give birth. I've got scars and tiger stripes to prove it. I was upset about my delivery for a long time because I felt like a failure, my body couldn't do what I was suppose to but now it really chaps my ass when a CS is not looked at as a birth. 

I get this fully as a c/s mama. It is absolutely fine to be upset about your birth experience  (and yes it is birth). I still cry about my births because they did not happen at all like I planned. I mourned the loss of my ideal birth many time.  I wish more people were open with their feelings with birthing.  I always felt shamed about being upset with my birth since people would tell me I shouldn't be done my daughters are healthy. 

ladipale

I'll add my two cents and experience from a c/s point of view. With my first I was induced after a bad Nst at 39+3. 40 hours of induction and 3+ hrs pushing later- I developed a fever and was rushed into an emergency c/s. my daughter was presenting OP and more than 9 lbs. 

3 years later I was pregnant again and had moved so with a new doc- she is known to be very vbac friendly and I was determined to have a trial of labor and vaginal birth. Unfortunately I developed GD that needed insulin to control so I became too high risk so was scheduled for a repeat CS. The hole experience was so different and better in many ways. Sure- it's still major surgery. But knowing what to expect helped so much. And healing from only the surgery was easier than healing from the labor and pushing and surgery. 

Ill be be having another scheduled CS for this pregnancy. 

ashaw512

@lamphele same feelings here. And I think I always took it really hard b/c my mom had 3 CS and even my Mamaw would say "she didn't really give birth" and when my nephew was born she said shit like "this is the first baby we've had that was actually birthed for a looong time". It really hurt me since I'm so close to her, she's never said anything to me specifically though. I couldn't handle it if she did, I would definitely lose it.

dancegurl1118

Cesarean birth is birth. DAS IT. 

yellow1daisy

It's interesting to hear from the VBAC moms. Hope we hear of a successful one. I'm hoping to be able to attempt one with this baby. My first was a cs delivery that I have zero regrets about but it would be nice to be able to experience a vaginal delivery. Fully prepared for a repeat section if it comes to it though--I'm in the mindset of just giving it a try at this point without putting too much pressure on myself. 

cssme13

My first was a C/S because my son was breech. Recovery sucked because I could barely move, my husband had to help me shower and pull up my underwear for a couple of days. But I still bled just like you would from a vaginal birth and that made things suck even more because I had to have help with that. 

With my daughter I attempted a VBAC but sometime during my 14 hour labor I had a placental abruption and ended up with an emergency c/s. My recovery for that was cake. I was walking and peeing on my own as soon as the epidural wore off. 

Please don't rule out c/s and make sure you research it as well as vaginal birth because you never know what will happen. I was prepared both times and had sort of an idea of what to expect. I think one thing that helped my recovery with DD is that I walked around, I was moving constantly so that my muscles didn't get too weak and I was walking as much as I could. I will say that I never was upset that I didn't give birth vaginally because both of my kids got here healthy and happy. 

supermom83

First birth was a planned c/s. I was 41w1d and had a zero bishop score, no dilating, they refused to induce me because they said it would only cause stress and end in a c/s anyway. So my planned c/s was pretty breezy and awesome. Walked into the hospital at 11am, had my c/s at 2:30. Very quick recovery and healing. 

Second was an attempted vbac. Labored at home for 5 days. Prodomal labor, went to hospital on day 5 completely exhausted because I hadn't slept the whole time, got an epidural, got to 8.5cm but babies heart rate dropped and I was rushed for an emergency c/s. And let me say, the emergency c/s was a million times worse than the planned one. I got really really bad shakes from the epidural, I had a panic attack right in the middle of the c/s and tried to pull out all the IVs and get off the table!! I was cut open and was like, "I'm good. I'm done here. See you later everybody, I'm outie..." lol Eventually recovery was just as quick, but the whole experience was a lot worse. I'm still proud of myself for attempting my vbac and don't regret it. 

mslynn2012

Another c/s mama here. 

1st water broke at 5am. Contractions started around 9am. Got my epidural at noon. Baby wouldn't drop, wasn't progressing (got to a 5) did pitocin till heartrate kept dropping. C/s at 5pm.  

2nd, contractions started at 10am. Went to hospital at 6, water broke on its own at 7. Got epidural at midnight. REALLY wanted a VBAC. Once again baby wouldn't drop, wasn't progressing. Started pit at 1am, by 5 it was decided baby wasn't tolerating (again) and still no progression. Repeat c/s at 6am. 

This time we will schedule the c/s for end of June. 

plumpous

@ashaw512 sorry for not specifying. While I was personally interested in vaginal due to how it went for me, I think many mamas are definitely interested in the experience of CS heros, so in a way, I'm glad I didn't narrow the discussion. I'm sorry if it made you upset. I hope this discussion will still benefit curious moms of all kinds. 

fstluv95

I have delivered 4 babies vaginally and had 2 inductions.  My first delivery was my smallest baby (7 lbs 6 oz), I tore required 2-3 stitches, and was pretty uncomfortable after.  All of my other babies (8 lb 7 oz, 9 lb 13 oz, and 8 lb 2 oz) seemed like a breeze, I didn't tear at all, and I was walking to use the bathroom and such before I got to recovery.  My labors were shorter but not drastically... I have several friends who's second babies came much quicker then they had anticipated... so I guess it all depend on your body and baby !  

JAM85

Wow some of these VBAC attempts, none successful I see yet, don't make me feel hopeful and in fact make me feel scared to have an emergency c section! I am still going in trying for a VBAC but I won't be as desperate as I was the first time for a natural birth although I hated my c section 

lamphele

JAM85 said:

Wow some of these VBAC attempts, none successful I see yet, don't make me feel hopeful and in fact make me feel scared to have an emergency c section! I am still going in trying for a VBAC but I won't be as desperate as I was the first time for a natural birth although I hated my c section 

I found out while in labor with my second that my VBAC wasn't possible.  My first c/s had severed my nerves and the bottom of my belly was unable to contract. They told me there is no point in attempting with any other births because my body will not be able to bring a baby down.  Unfortunately, that's not something they can tell you before you go into labor. 

lamphele

That being said,  my friend had a successful VBA2C the work before my second daughter was born.

JAM85

@lamphele I really wish they could tell you how frustrating. I went into labor after a routine cervical check I started bleeding after with my first who was breech at 37.5 and my water even broke walking to the OR but my contractions were not productive. They never felt painful just my stomach tightening and stretching and expanding and then contracting it was the oddest sensation. But I'm sure would have gone no where she was frank breech and still super high when I went into labor. I meet with my midwife Wednesday and plan to discuss everything with them then and just plan on staying flexible 

kghusker1003

Both my girls were c-sections.  I was induced with DD1 because of blood pressure. I labored for 12 hours, only dilated to a 4, developed a fever and got sent for a c-section. Turns out she turned her head and got stuck. My recovery was a piece of cake. I was up walking 12 hours after her birth, didn't take any pain pills once home. 

I had planned a vbac with DD2. Unfortunately She was frank breech and I developed pre-e. Her c-section was 110% different. I had to be put under general anesthesia, I had to be on a morphine drip for quite awhile afterwards. Recovery with that one was downright terrible. 

My OB has already said I'm not a candidate for vbac at all. So I will be having a third and final c-section. I have a lot of scar tissue, and because of my high risk, it's just not a priority for me to have a vaginal birth. 

abmommy15

@JAM85 I can't speak from personal experience but a good friend of mine has a very traumatic emergency c/s with her first (emergency had to get baby out right now) and went on to have 3 successful VBACs.  Her second was looking like it was heading to another section but she had a very supportive doctor that gave her every chance to VBAC and she did.  From the stories I have heard from friends a doctor supportive of VBACs goes a long way.  Sometimes it's just not possible and there is nothing wrong with that but if you really want to try make sure you have a doctor that will support your attempt not just go along with it to humour you.

Dcwtada

I had two c-sections, my first was an emergency with general anthesia after 14 hours of labor and the second was a planned c-section. There was a night and day difference between the two c-sections. This baby will also be a c-section, apparently I have a manly pelvis and the babies cannot pass through. My first started getting a cone head at negative 3 station - my doctor would not attempt a natural delivery after that. She was pretty confident going into my first labor I would end up a c-section but she said that you never really know until your body goes into labor how it will progress.

I have absolutely no issues having to have c-sections, honestly the labor experience was never something I focused on or cared about - the baby was my only interest. Frankly I am so grateful I live in a day and age where I have access to these medical advancements - who knows what would have happened to me and the babies 100+ years ago. 

yellow1daisy

@kghusker1003 did you find that the general anasthesia is what made recovery worse? I also had to have general due to premature rupture of membranes and a prolapsed cord (very time sensitive and if there was no anesthesiologist present immediately I may have had to go without anasthesia---yikes). My recovery was ROUGH. The nurses told me that general makes recovery worse but I couldn't really understand why. 

My daughters birth was extremely traumatic. I hope for a VBAC just to have as different of an experience as possible. 

JAM85

@abmommy15 thank you for that! I have a supportive office that's why I choose my practice it is midwives and OBs and I mostly see the midwives and has a whole section on VBACs on their site. My main worry is they will be breech again and we have daily "talks" about being "healthy and head down"

michelle04us

I have had 3 c-sections. My first was emergency. I was induced at 41w1d and was in labor for 43 1/2 hours. I was finally able to get my epidural but then my pressure dropped along with babys heartbeat. They got me stabilized and took me into OR. I was awake for the section but as soon as my boy was out they gave me something and I was out for the next 5 hours. That recovery was the worst of all 3.

My other 2 were planned. My last was probably the easiest recovery even with having a newborn and 11 month old to care for.

I will say for moms on their 2nd baby after a c-section. You need to make sure your doctor AND hospital will even allow VBAC. The hospital I was delivering at wouldnt due to insurance reasons. I loved my dr so didnt want to find another just for the chance of VBAC. 

kghusker1003

@yellow1daisy  I don't know if it was the anesthesia or the fact that I spent 9 hours on a morphine drip,or a combination of both. I had a VERY hard time waking up, and I felt very sick/groggy the rest of the day.  She was born at 7:45 am, and they weren't able to get me up out of bed for quite a while afterwards. It was just a super rough recovery, that I was not expecting.  My OB has said that there is a chance it could happen again, but the plan this time is to not get morphine after and just stick with the Percocet. 

OperaSingerMommy

Just wanted to say that all of these stories are so helpful to hear!

ashaw512

@michelle04us This will be my 3rd and I'm terrified. I know risks increase with each surgery, last time I was more scared of having another baby. This time I'm more scared of having another another CS

megandchase

My first I induced and was in labor about 20hours, pushed for 3 and ended in a very scary csection where my uterus tore and I almost bled out. Because of that I can only have csection as the amount of scar tissue and thinning would be dangerous during labor. My second I actually went into labor 2 weeks early and went in for a very quick and easy csection. The planned csection was so smooth and I was able to enjoy my birth experience. 

skybyknight1

I'm a c/s momma twice. My first dd was breech and 2nd they said it was safer to do a repeat. That was fine. The whole pushing a watermelon out of a lemon scares me. Kudos to you mommas that have been there done that. With my first it was a longer painful recovery. I didn't know you recover faster by getting up and moving. I was in so much pain. I just didn't do it. With my 2nd I got up and walked circles on the maternity floor. It hurt like hell I'm not going to lie. My recovery was so much faster. I was back at work painting an exterior of a house 5 weeks postpartum. If I didn't need the money so bad I would've waited to go back to work. I'm rambling now but yea that's my story

mars8k

ashaw512  personally i had a vaginal birth with my first, i needed stitches and they were so difficult to deal with i kept imagining what it would be like they were on my belly! how sitting up and breastfeeding would work. I've seen my mother and sister deal with the aftermath of a cs and i think it's way more difficult than what i went through in recovery so even though i never had one i get upset as well when people say stupid things like "pain free delivery" because it really isn't. i don't think this is an uo.

mrsdrmatney

1st: I was 19. But I checked in to be induced at 730am and had my ds 4:58 and pushed 3x no joke it was a breeze. he was 7lbs7oz (42w2d)
2nd: I was 29. Checked in for induction - a +2 protein in my urine (39w1d) around 11am. 554pm my ds was born. Very little pushing maybe 5x.
3rd: checked in for overnight stay for an induction. Pitocin started around 900am (pill did nothing). DD arrived 3 hours later at noon. She was big and I pushed for a half an hour. 8lbs3oz! (39w)

LimeKrazy

@yellow1daisy @kghusker1003 In my experience morphine absolutely makes recovery worse.  This time around will be just my second delivery but I have had general anesthesia several times both with and without morphine and my spinal for my c section had morphine.  

With my c section I came out of surgery a mess.  I was groggy and loopy.  I don't remember things that my mom said that I asked/said/did.  I don't remember seeing one of my girls or talking to the NICU doctor.  It took a good 24 hours before I could sit up without being dizzy or vomiting.   

10 days later I had to have my incision reopened due to clotting issues (I have a clotting disorder).  I went under general anesthesia, no morphine.  I woke up within about 45 minutes and left the hospital a couple of hours later.  No grogginess, no nausea, no loopiness.  (I had had 2 other procedures under general in the past with the same recovery experience)

This past Feb I had a cyst removed and went under general.  This time they did use morphine and once again, it took me longer to come out, I was groggy and nauseated and couldn't sit up without feeling dizzy.  And though I was released that day I didn't feel 'right' until the next day.   

I will have a repeat section for this baby and will definitely be refusing morphine.  

Creedon778

Second was definitely quicker for me! First time was 6 hours including about 45 minutes of pushing and I did tear.

Second time was 2 hours, two pushes, and no tear! My water broke the night before so I went to the hospital right away knowing how relatively fast my first labor was, but contractions didn't start until 6am and baby was here 2 hours later.

I had the epidural both times and despite not being as long in duration as others they were very intense! Both boys came two days before their due dates.

TRobinetteter

I didn't read all the responses yet, but I did have a successful VBAC.  
My first was a c/s after a 71 HR induction and 5 hrs of pushing.  I was exhausted and ready to have my baby.  Everything was good, recovery was rough, but not awful.  
My second was a successful VBAC.  My water broke, and I went into labor on my own around 9 am.  I had her at 2:30am after about 20 minutes of pushing.  She had some decels during contractions, so they rushed me to an OR, and I delivered her vaginally at the last minute.  Easier recovery for me with the VBAC, and I'll be trying for another this time around.