Labor the second time around....

BabyCampbell312 · February 2013

I was induced with my first child, long story short.... but, I personally thought the contractions were horrible and oh so painful. I begged for an epidural. Then I was in love with the anesthesiologist . Haha.

Ok, so I have heard/read, that the contractions with pitocin or when induced are much worse than without. I also heard/read and believe it must be easier to push without the epidural.

So, I am wondering if anyone out there maybe was induced or has an epidural the first time around and then went natural the second time around....

I'd love to hear your experiences.

Thanks a bunch!

shotzie · February 2013

I was induced both times and had an epi both times. I pushed for close to 2 hrs with DD1 [she was sunny side up], but DD2 came flying out in about 15 min of pushing. I was able to feel when I needed to push, and the epi didn't keep me from pushing effectively. I also felt the pressure you feel when you're complete and ready to push.

I know you asked for responses from people who had different birth experiences, but I thought I'd share since I don't feel like the epi had any negative effects on my ability to push effectively.

memali26 · February 2013

I also had two inductions and two epidurals. With DD1, the nurses turned the epidural off when I was about 9 cm, and it wore off enough that the pain was dulled but I could feel everything, and I pushed less than 20 minutes. With DD2, my epidural failed and I went through the last 4 hours of labor without pain meds. I pushed less than 5 minutes.

Like shotzie, I don't feel my epi had a negative effect on pushing effectively, and I honestly didn't notice a difference in pushing with the working epi vs the failed epi.

KaraBoBara18 · February 2013

My good friend delivered 2 weeks before me and was induced. I, on the other hand went naturally. No one can really compare labor pains with each other, but she seemed to be in so much more pain than I was while going through contractions. I can tell you that pushing and crowning without an epidural was extremely painful, but I think it was easier to push since I could feel everything.

coadyk01 · February 2013

I was not induced, but after my water broke, I begged for an epi. I got it and immediately started pushing. I pushed for 15 minutes and she was out. I could very easily push with the epi. I had to have my epi turned back on after she was out to stitch up an area internally that was still bleeding, and I realized that the first epi was not nearly as strong as the second. So if you have a good anesthesiologist, you should be able to push without a problem, because they don't have it flowing at full force.

Jacqui105 · February 2013

I have spine issues and so because of where they had to place my epidural both times, I was so numb I was worried the baby would plop right out and I wouldn't even know. I could not move my legs at all, I was beyond numb. That said, DD1 came out in 6 pushes/15 min, DD2 came out in 3 pushes/4 min. I think it is just one of those every body & situation is different. I was induced the second time and the pitocin contractions were soooo much worse.

mamarazzi528 · February 2013

I had pitocin both times with an epi the first time (loved it!) and no epi the second (people thought I was crazy!). I wanted to try without an epi the second time because I had also heard it was easier to push without one and that generally your second birth is faster so I'd be in pain less time anyway. . Of course the contractions during labor got pretty intense especially near the end, but it's mind over matter. Then the pushing part -- I pushed for almost 2 hours with my first (and couldn't feel a thing), and only pushed for 8 minutes the second birth. I agree the pushing was much easier the second time around. More painful yes, but it was easier to make more progress quicker when I could feel what was going on.

I also felt that recovery after the birth went much easier and faster. Not sure if that was due to no epi or just because it was the second time around. For one thing, I could walk right away after the delivery and didn't have to wait for the numbness to go away! Also had less pain during the following weeks.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably wouldn't do an epi.

Good luck!

Yellow79 · February 2013

I was induced w/ cervadil and had an epi the first time around...I felt like an ineffective "pusher" b/c while I could feel the contraction slightly to push I could not feel myself pushing. The contractions were very painful and I tried so hard to skip the epi that I eventually asked and then begged for it after 17 hours. I too was in love w/ my anesthesiologist!

My second birth was a natural water birth and it was the best delivery I could ever hope for. There was only 1 contraction prior to pushing and 2 while pushing that I wanted to throw in the towel and doubted that I could get through it. Otherwise, yes, it hurt but the water was wonderful and I felt the pain was completely manageable in the water with deep breathing. It was also a much faster delivery in every way but that is common with a 2nd birth and may not have had anything to do w/ not being induced.

BabyCampbell312 · February 2013

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with me!

Merried_2008 · February 2013

Induced first time. Did epi. 1.5 hours of pushing.

Went into labor naturally 11 days early the 2nd time. Dd came out in about half a push. No meds! About an hour and a half of active labor.

I think it's just "easier" the second time around. Sorta been there, done that. If that makes sense.

skyejo · February 2013

I went natural both times and let me tell you, the first time was effing hell. I'm pretty sure that being stabbed with a knife in my abdomen and back would be a vacation compared to contractions. I pushed for about 40 minutes and found that to be even worse on the pain scale.

Second time? Total breeze. So easy to the point that I didn't even know how close I was to delivering. I made it to the hospital a mere 21 minutes before DD2 was born and she came out with only one push! It hurt towards the end but that's about it.

LollyBug18 · February 2013

With my first, she came on her own 3 wk early. I made it to 8 cm before getting the epi. With my second, I was induced at 40w2d and barely made it to 4 before asking for the epi. I had a MUCH harder time pushing with my second than with my first.

norbert5 · February 2013

I was not induced with my first and my epidural did not work. I found it to be painful but tolerable. I spent a lot of time in the shower and walking.

With my second my water broke and then no contractions so they had me on pitocin. It was awful. AWFUL! The contractions were so terrible I thought I was being stabbed. Then I had my epidural and it was amazing.

Not the exact story you asked for but I did notice a difference in the contraction pain with pitocin.

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Labor the second time around....

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