XP: If you have already done this at least once before...

sunkissed7804

I am planning a non-medicated birth again this time around. 

Was your second (third, fourth, etc.) labor and delivery easier than the first? More or less painful? Quicker?

wifeofadam

My second was much easier than my first, but my third was the worst of all.  But it had to do with positioning - #1 and #3 were posterior and #2 was not.  I'm praying this baby isn't posterior and if it isn't my MWs have assured me it will be just as quick and easy as #2 was.

annabelle.27

Every labour is different, or so I am told.

My second was faster than the first, two hours from first contraction to birth compared to 16. It was definitely more painful, due to that rapid speed I am sure. I started pushing after just 45 minutes of labour and I am pretty confident that I was in transition from pretty much the first contraction and being thrown into that point with no early labour to prepare me was like being hit by a truck. The second was more successful, if natural birth is the goal, as I got a csection with my first after three hours of pushing.

KateLouise

My second was much quicker, and easier. Easier because I didn't have time to get really tired. Also the pushing phase was really quick, I think it was 6 contractions and some of those I was trying to keep her in.

I found it a little harder in that because it was faster it got really intense really quickly. What made that hard was I assumed I still had hours ahead of me so I kept thinking, "I can't do this for hours" If I'd known, when I thought that, that I had around 20minutes, to go it woudn't have been an issue at all. 

And recovery was also much easier too. Not sure if that's because labour itself was easier or if it's common for 2+ Mums to recover easily. 

sschwege

My first was definitely longer, I was in labor for 17.5 hours with DD.  With DS it was just over 5 hours.  Pushing was infinitely easier the second time, I pushed for an hour with DD and 2 minutes with DS.  

In terms of the actual contractions I would say DS's was more uncomfortable.  I think it had to do with the fact that it all happened so fast.  I was in labor with him for 5 hours, but the first 3 felt like braxton hicks and then seemingly out of no where, it turned into extremely intense contractions that were very close together.  There was no gradual build-up like with my first.  

It's funny that you posted this because just yesterday I was wondering which labor I would prefer if I had to do it all over again and honestly I couldn't decide.  DD's was challenging because of how long it was and how much harder it was to push, but it was so calm and I always felt in control.  But DS's was harder just because of what pp said, it was like being hit with a mac truck.

Recovery and BFing were easier the second time though.  Although I attribute the easier recovery partly due to the fact that we couldn't 'room in' with DS because he had to be in the special care nursery the two nights we were in the hospital.  So I got a lot more sleep. 

barnwife

With both kiddos I woke up in the morning with contractions. With J., they got longer, stronger, and closer together. Eventually, I started back labor. Much later, I got to push for over 3 hours. He was born not long before midnight. Recovery was awful. I couldn't go from standing to sitting or vice versa or walk without wanting to cry from the pain for 2 weeks. 

With A., contractions weren't falling into a pattern, so I wasn't sure it was the real thing. At 3 pm, contractions became back labor and I said to DH, "this is it. Get everyone here now." 

And started mentally complaining when J.'s sitter wasn't here immediately nor was the midwife because I knew this was happening. My midwife checked me at 4 pm, at which point I was 4 cm, getting closer to 5. 1 hour later, after 15 minutes of pushing, I was holding A. So I had only 2 hours of serious contractions with her, but those 2 hours were rough!

Recovery was much better with A. I had less bruising and tearing. And less mastitis/thrush/nursing issues. So even with a toddler running around too, the second time was waaaay better. 

LaurelBee

My labor with Ds was 4 hrs, about 40mins of pushing (med free in hospial). My labor with DD (HB) was 40mins from when we broke my water, with 7mins of pushing. 

I agree with PPs that my 2nd birth was faster, but WAY more intense. It all just happened so fast, my brain couldn't keep up with what was happening with my body. (Does that make any sense??) It wasn't until about an hour after her birth did I process what actually happened! But my recovery has been a breeze compared and I feel a lot better mentally too. BFing was difficult with her at first, but after meeting with a LC, we have a great rhythm going.  

Celyn

#2 was easier, faster (but still not fast, per se), and painless.  That's not everyone's experience, but I was happy to have it

drpayne

1 was a hospital transfer after 5 hours of pushing at a birthing center... with 2 more hours of pushing after an epi, fluids and rest. 2 was born 6 hours from the first contraction. We got to the birthing center at midnight and he was born at 1 AM after one push. Totally different!

abell77

My second was faster and easier.  

robyn2201

First labor was 8 and half hours long. 1 hour of that was pushing.

My second labor was fast and furious. Just under 4 hours. I pushed twice, one contraction. Pushing was way easier but labor in general was way more painful. I felt very out of control. I am sure it didn't help that DH almost missed the birth due to being out of town for work.

kegallagh

Much longer, less painful, but harder. It was 60something hours so just mentally/emotionally more difficult but very slow and "easy" in terms of physical discomfort. 

kxp004

KateLouise:

My second was much quicker, and easier. Easier because I didn't have time to get really tired. Also the pushing phase was really quick, I think it was 6 contractions and some of those I was trying to keep her in.

I found it a little harder in that because it was faster it got really intense really quickly. What made that hard was I assumed I still had hours ahead of me so I kept thinking, "I can't do this for hours" If I'd known, when I thought that, that I had around 20minutes, to go it woudn't have been an issue at all. 

And recovery was also much easier too. Not sure if that's because labour itself was easier or if it's common for 2+ Mums to recover easily. 

this... 

beachcomberbride

My first two were born in a hospital via induction and with epidurals. They were very long, very painful (even with the epidural) and incredibly traumatic. My third was born at home (not planned that way) with no medication and no professional help, and it was the quickest (5 hours of active labor, 10 minutes of pushing), most painless, and most wonderful birth of the three. 

AmyRI

Quicker (LO1 = 8 hours, LO2 = 5), easier at the time, and equally painful.

After #2, I was much more sore. My hips still crack and ache. But my 2nd was a breech delivery, and she was 9lbs as opposed to my 8 lb DS the first time. 

stever

1st labor and delivery - very long but not particularly painful; only had one or two contractions that I felt were getting away from me.

2nd labor and delivery - lightening fast and super painful.

Totally different from each other but both manageable.

superned

First labor was 15 hours.  All but the 3-4 hours of transition was manageable for me.  I pushed for 50 minutes.

Second labor was 78 minutes from first contraction to birth.  I was basically in transition for the entire time and while it was way shorter, it was so much more intense.

The pushing phase with #1 almost seemed like a relief, like I was actually doing something and working with my contractions.  With #2 pushing was so overwhelmingly painful I felt like I had no control over my body.  It was so fast and I remember feeling kind of afraid that I wasn't going to be able to handle it.