STMs on here...how was second labour compared to your first?

KatieKim0815 · December 2012

I am getting induced tmmw and need encouragement! What things were better?

emd79 · December 2012

I was not induced either time but both of my labors were about 12 hours long. My second was much easier though since I was only in the hospital 3 of those hours and I did not have to push nearly as much.

Good luck!

emd79 · December 2012

I should also add that the second time around was much better because I did not tear nearly as much. With my first baby, the doctor used forceps and I ended up with a nasty 4th degree tear. I barely needed stitches the second time. Also, breastfeeding was soooooo much easier the second time :-)

itsmevkb · December 2012

My second labor was way quicker (maybe 2 hours compared to 27 hours), I tore just a little bit instead of a ton and my recovery was a lot quicker as well. Oh, and the baby didn't get stuck and end up in the NICU like my first did so overall my second was a far better birth than my first.

Good luck!

rmaxim · December 2012

Everything was easier! For me, this baby was smaller than the first by 1lb, so that probably helped too. But I felt I was better at handling contractions up until I got my epidural, labor lasted 9 hours instead of 12, I pushed for about 10 minutes instead of 1 1/2 hours. I still tore, 2nd degree, but not quite as bad as the first time.

Recovery has also been a million times better. My pain was not nearly as bad, I never needed anything but Ibuprofen for the first couple days. We left the hospital a day early because everyone was healthy and home is way more relaxing. Postpartum bleeding has been drastically less, not quite 1 week pp and I'm at about what I was after a month with my first.

Nursing-wise, my nipples are doing much better than with my first although still sore and I have some small blood blisters. But nothing like the splitting and searing pain of the first time!

I only hope that everyone else's situation is as much improved as mine has been! I feel a million times better than I did with my first and it makes a huge difference.

ShellShockedMama · December 2012

the second was a lot easier. i mean, in the moment it sucked and hurt and im all "i dont want to do this anymore" but when you compare the numbers, #2 was way easier

DS1 - 24 hours labor 4 hours pushing

DS2- 8 hours labor 16 minutes pushing

recovery is also going a lot smoother

mjs_pmk · December 2012

I was induced with my first. I was supposed to be induced with my second, but basically went into labor that morning (though the doctor did have to break my water before things really kicked in). I thought my second was so much easier. I don't know if it was because I knew what I wanted the second time around or if it was just easier because I was threw it all before.

This time around we did have a doula present, which was a huge help. I was also a lot more vocal about what I wanted or didn't want. I also made a point of trying to get around more in the hospital and actually changing into comfy clothes instead of the hospital gown. I think that being more active right away really helped me get back to feeling more normal faster.

sschwege · December 2012

This is all very encouraging to read!

robyn2201 · December 2012

Much quicker labor and pushing stage but it was more painful. Recovery wise, I have felt really great this time.

Overall though, there were positives and negatives to each one. This time around we have had a rougher first week due to jaundice.

pamiva1 · December 2012

My first labor was about 18 hours. My second was about 10 hours and my third was 4 hours! My third child was my only induction and it went so much faster than my DR though it would. I started the induction at 1:30am, by 5am I was 5cm, my water broke at 5:30 and by 5:44 she was here! There was not even time for pain meds or the DR to arrive to the hospital because things happen so fast in the last hour. I'm sure this is faster than most, but it happens. Best of luck

mama2many · December 2012

I was induced with my first and it was not the most positive experience to say the least - some of the worst 18 hours. I let my second go until she came on her own at 41wk, 6 days - it was so straight forward and simple (still about 12 hours all together) but only 30 min of intense labor, 3 pushes, and baby. My 4th & 5th were even shorter and easier - 4 hrs and 2 hrs respectively.

peacelove&mama · December 2012

I have to say, all you ladies saying your second labor was faster and involved less pushing really have me feeling a lot less terrified of doing it again!

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