Tell me about your 1st birth vs 2nd birth

TheBorg7of9 · September 2013

Hello STMs (or more!)

My son is 20 months and I am due for our second son in 3 months. My first birth was not induced, but I had an epidural and a vaginal birth. I am looking for some stories about your first birth as compared to your second, whether it was med-free or not. Just wondering about how fast labor went the second time as compared to the first and any differences or similarities between the two. I am going for a natural birth this time, and I am curious about your 1st vs 2nd time experiences...

Hope this question hasn't been recently asked. Thanks!

sschwege · September 2013

Both of my babies were med-free hospital births. Both born at 40w3d (charting). My first was 17.5 hours from start to finish. I pushed for an hour. I had two second degree tears to the side. It happened when DD's shoulder got stuck briefly and my MW turned her.

My second was really fast the medical staff labeled it a 'precipitous birth'. It was 5hr10min from start to finish. Though only 2-2.5 hours of 'real contractions', before that it felt like Braxton Hicks. Pushing was infinitely easier, I only pushed twice. I ended up with a second degree tear down and a first degree tear up.

I'm not sure which labor I preferred honestly. DS's was nice because it was over really quick and pushing was a breeze, plus recovery was easier. But DD's was so calm and because of how slow it was I had a nice build up to transition and pushing. I didn't go from 0-60 like with DS.

BFing was great both times. DD was 7lb15oz with a head in the 25%, DS was 8lb12oz with a head in the 75%. Hope that answers your questions

ScorpioMum · September 2013

My first I ended up with stalled labor thanks to the phenergan that the nurses gave me to stop my vomiting. I couldn't concentrate on breathing through the contractions because I was in a daze from the drug. Our doula was worthless. Because of the stalled labor I got pitocin and I swear the nurses had it as high as they could. I begged for them to turn it down but they refused. At one point I couldn't stop my body from trying to push. I think I was at 7 cm at that point. My cervix was starting to swell so they called in the anethesiologist to convince me to get an epidural, which I did consent to. I figured that I was on my way to a c-section at that point. I was able to sleep for a few hours. When it was time to push we found out that the baby was face up. The midwife did an episiotomy. I ended up with a lot of interventions that I didn't want.

I had my 2nd when my first was 30 mo old. We hired a different doula. I told her about my first birth and she mentioned that vomiting can indicate transition. I went into labor at 42 weeks after having my membranes swept by my midwife. She wanted me to come in for an induction the next morning. I stayed at home as long as I could handle it on my own. We got to the hospital at 7PM but didn't get looked at until 8 because all the beds were full. When I was checked I was at 8cm already. I got into the tub and labored there until I needed to get out. The midwife was with me the whole time. The baby was born at 10:20PM. I had a small tear but the midwife didn't feel it needed stitches.

Night & day differences between my first & second. Third & fourth were also natural hospital births. #3 I had to go in early because I was GBS+. Got there at 3:30AM and baby born 11AM. The OB delivered as the midwife wasn't on call that day. Small tear that he did stitch up. #4 my water broke at home with meconium in it. Got to the hospital about 5:30AM. My labor did stall a bit and the midwife had them give me pitocin. Totally different than the first as it was a much lower dose. Baby born at 6PM. No stitches and I don't recall her mentioning any tear.

I'm hoping that #5 goes like #2.

CLLDLL · September 2013

My first was hospital birth with an epidural, augmented with Pitocin. Labor started with bloody show & very mild contractions at 35.5 weeks. I went to the hospital (one known to not be NB friendly) right away. Was 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Being a scared FTM, who'd been told too many horror stories by friends and family, I ordered my epi at the first contraction that wasn't "mild". That was about 2 hours into labor at 5 cm dilated. Labor basically stalled. I'm not sure if it was the epi, my stress level from having to be hooked to BP cuff & monitors, or maybe just having to be in bed. Either way, I made almost no progress over the next 16 hours. They started Pitocin at 7am (would have started it earlier, but they wanted to wait till my Dr. was in normal office hours). Contractions picked up a lot almost immediately, and I was fully dilated within 3 hours. They called the Dr., set everything up, and got me started pushing. I pushed for about an hour. I couldn't feel anything, so they had to tell me when to push and for how long. Baby was born healthy with no issues breathing or anything else after 23 hours of labor. I had an episiotomy that I think was the equivalent of a 3rd degree tear. Recovery wasn't awful, but it definitely wasn't fun. It probably took me a good 10 days before I felt anywhere near normal. Baby was very sleepy for the first few days after birth. Never did BF well, but I blame that more on him being born early than on the epi.

2nd birth - I was physically in better shape. I gained the same amount of weight, but it was all in my belly, where as with my 1st pregnancy I didn't exercise much and the weight gain was everywhere! I felt my first "contraction" - it was really a burning sensation in my back - at 11PM. By midnight it was a constant pain in my back. Called my mom to watch DS1. Called the Dr. By 12:45 when my mom arrived, I was lying on the floor not sure if I would make it without pain meds. We got to the hospital a little after 1. My back hurt so bad I refused to ride in the wheelchair to L&D. The nurse said last time she seen that the woman was 8cm & delivered w/in an hour. She was right, I was an 8! Contractions were actually better/easier at this point because they were coming and going like you'd expect instead of constant. Got the hep-lock put in, and labored on my hands an knees on the bed. DH applied counter-pressure and talked me through them. At 2:15 my water broke, and almost immediately I felt DS2 turn from face up to face down & drop into the birth canal. I felt a lot of pressure & asked for the Dr. to check me. I was completely dilated & effaced. They let me push when I felt ready. Baby was out in three pushes (2 contractions) after less than 4 hours of labor. I tore just a little bit (1st degree). They laid baby on my chest to clean him up and do AGPAR. I BF'ed right away. Baby is still a great nurser. Recovery was super easy. I was up and walking within maybe 4 hours after birth. The stitches pain was mild & easy to control with ibuprophen. I felt back to "normal" by 3 days PP. I really think both excercising during pregnancy and having a natural birth contributed to how easy labor and recovery were for me.

Arielle27 · September 2013

Mine were both very quick and started with my water breaking, but also very different.

#1 - no contractions or anything until 39w3d when I had 'braxton hicks' every 6-7 minutes. Lasted about ten hours then spread out. Then suddenly my water broke. Very intense contractions from the get go every 2-3 minutes. Went to the hospital a few hours later - 5cm 100% effaced. 10 cm a few hours later. 45 minutes of pushing (he was 8lb 12, OP and with a nuchal hand). Or an episiotomy. Had him within 6 hours of my water breaking.

#2 - preterm labor at 33 weeks. False labor on and off for 3 weeks. Preterm labor again at 36 weeks. Left 3cm 100% effaced when things died down on their own. 37w 3d my water broke. Two hours later I had intense, close contractions. Four hours after that I wanted to push but they said I was only 7 cm. A few minutes later she popped out. The nurse delivered her. She was born within 6 hours of my water breaking.

#3 (current pregnant) - preterm labor at 31w 6d leaving me 1cm 100% effaced. Reverted to closed and long within days. Now at 39w 3d (after 8 weeks of false labor on and off), I'm only 2cm 50% effaced. Who knows what labor will be like this time?!

robyn2201 · September 2013

Both were med free, hospital births after my water broke. I had a doula for both.

DD1: 38w2d's, water broke, total labor was 8.5 hours. Of that time, I pushed for 1 hour.

DD2: 37w5d's, water broke, total labor was a little over 3.5 hours. I pushed through 2 contractions/ 4 min and she was born.

Both labors, there were no complications and I only had very minor tearing both times. BF'ing went great as well.

After DD1 was born, I felt so empowered and on this amazing high. DD2's birth was fast and furious. After she was born, I kept asking myself, what just happened?

annabelle.27 · September 2013

My first was a planned hospital birth. Contractions proessed to two minutes apart within a couple hours. Got to hospital at 4 cms. Laboured naturally in shower on birth ball. Lost MP half way through labour, and they broke my water at around 8-9 cms. Started pushing at hour 13, got a csection three hours later for failure to progress (after an excrutiating and unsuccessful attempt by the dr to reposition baby's head).

With baby 2 I woke up in the middle of the night when my water broke. MP had been coming out for weeks. Contractions started half an hour later. They were excrutiating almost immediately and I totally thought I would die. Screamed my head off while my husband set up the birth tub. Got in the tub and immediately started pushing, 45 minutes after my first contraction. I am confident in hindsight that I was pretty much in transition from the first contraction. Pushed for an hour and 15 minutes, successful hbac.

ArmyQM · September 2013

39w6d- my water broke and contractions started an hour and a half later. I arrived at hospital at 7 cm, got an epidural and my son was born a few hours later with only a couple pushes through one contraction. 2 nd degree tear Total time from water breaking to birth was 6 hours (4.5 from start of contractions)

37w6d- water broke and contractions started after a little over an hour. Arrived at birth center at 7 cm but birthed my daughter within 10 minutes. Pushed for just a couple of minutes again and ended up with just a teeny tear. Total time from water breaking of birth was 5 hours (around 3.5 from start of contractions).

Hands down the med-free birth was infinitely better. I felt the post labor high and just all around fantastic even though my first birth was textbook for a medicated birth.

KateLouise · September 2013

Both were med free births. Both born at 40 weeks 5days. Both times water broke about 15mins before LO was born (with DD1 my mw broke my waters, but it was spontaneous with DD2)

DD1 was 7 hours of active labout (about a day and a half of early labour). An hour and a half pushing. Baby was 9lbs, 2 stitches needed.

DD2 was 2 1/2 hours active labour.(Around 8 hours of early labour) Pushed her out in 6 contractions. Baby was 10lbs 2 oz, no stitches required.

Haley.Beth · September 2013

My first was a hospital birth augmented with pitocin when my water broke and contractions didn't start. 22 hours from start to finish, no pain meds.

My second was a home birth. It only took 3.5 hours from the time I felt the first contraction, but I didn't realize I was in full blown labor until an hour before she was born. My midwife didn't make it because I didn't call her in time! There were only two contractions in between me saying, "I think we need to call the midwife now," and "Get your a$$ in here, she's coming NOW!" lol

Both of them took around 20 minutes of pushing. My first, I was in the lithotomy position, I had three first degree tears and a ton of "skid marks." My second, I was on my knees leaned over the bath tub and let my body push her out, I only actively pushed twice and had zero damage whatsoever.

I blame my first birth entirely on the pitocin, I think it would have been much faster and smoother without it. My second mirrored the kind of labors my grandmother had (mostly painless and unassuming until it was suddenly go time!), she is the only other living female in my family that had natural births.

ncbelle · September 2013

Both of mine were med free, midwife attended births (first was hospital; second in a BC). Really both of my labors were pretty straight forward. With Callum (my first), my water broke kinda early around 3 cm and that made things get intense. He was born about 6 hours later and I pushed for about 30 minutes I think. Although I also was on my back for pushing - by choice kinda stupidly as I didn't want to move - ha! He came the day before his due date and I never felt even a twinge until I was in labor. With E, I had light contractions for like 10 days - and she was about 10 days late - little trickster

. My "real" labor was about 7 hours total; she would have come faster but she was acynclitic and I stalled out for a few hours in the middle until she decided to line up. 3 pushes (and that was with her getting stuck - mild shoulder dystocia). Really I wouldn't call either easier or harder. They both had giant heads although E also weighed 10 pounds (but I didn't tear at all; only a 3 stitch tear the first time). I did labor in the tub with E which was amazing!

AmyRI · September 2013

They were mostly the same. Both were spontaneous labors (1st at 39w3d, second at 40w6d), med-free, low-intervention hospital births. First time began with contractions and ended <8 hours later (15 min pushing). Second time began with water breaking, contractions an hour later, birth 5 hours after that (7 minutes of pushing). The major difference was that the second time, the baby was breech. According to the MW and OB, that slowed my labor significantly. I would agree - I felt incredibly pushy for more than an hour before I was dilated enough to push because her bum was softer than her head would have been. If her head was putting pressure on my cervix, I would have been funny dilated and pushing sooner.

headgear03 · October 2013

All four of my births were nutrual .
My first was born at 42 weeks 1 day at a free standing birth center after I had about given up on labor ever starting . I went into labor the night before my midwife was going to start with nutrual induction methods . I was in a daze for pretty much the entire things . I labored in the water for about 6 hours of my 10 1/2 hour labor . I pushed for 1 1/2 hours and my daughter was born ( water birth) with her head tilted sideways . I had a horrible PP experience. Within an hour of the birth we realized the placenta detached from the cord so my midwife had to scrape the placenta out ( worst pain ever) then I was transferred to the hospital where I was ignored for four hours while I hemorrhaged . The next day I ended up with a blood transfusion .
My second was born at 41 weeks 3 days after only four hours of labor . It was super quick I made it to the birth center 15 minutes before she was born . The tub wasnt even half full but I still have birth in it lol! This birth was such a healing experience . I had no issues after and was even able to take a shower an hour after her birth.
My third was born at 36 weeks 5 days after 29 hours of labor . 9 active hours and only around 2 hard labor hours . He was born in the water with no issues .
Fourth was born at 40 weeks 3 days after 4 1/2 hours of labor . This time I had to go to the hospital ( no my choice my midwife was busy with another client ) and got their 45 minutes before she was born. I ended up delivering on my hands an knees on the bed because I couldn't get up to get into the tub . No immediate pp issues . A week pp I ended up in the ER with pp hemmoraghing and received a D&C and blood transfusion . I have been tolled not to have anymore children since my uterus seems to not like me .

Luv2Run1st · October 2013

Both were med free and on the due dates but 1st was hospital and second was a home birth water birth.

1st was 11 hours with spontaneous rupture of membranes right before I started pushing. I had no urge to push and took 45 mins. I had some tearing and a pressure sore which hurt a lot to sit following.

2nd birth was 17 hours. My water broke and was in early labor for 15.5 hours very comfortably then 1.5 hours of active labor and transition with strong urge to push and just let my body push baby out in 4 mins. No tears the second time and absolutely no pain peeing after and easily could walk around right after the birth no light headedness.

HannahsHope · October 2013

My first birth was a 31-hour medicated (non-induced) hospital birth, with an epidural. My second was a 15-hour non-medicated hospital birth, that I self-induced with castor oil. Although both labors/births had their challenges, I much preferred the experience of a non-medicated birth. It is definiately a challenge, but with good support and a good mind-frame, you can do it. Also, the post-birth "high" of my non-medicated birth was in-cred-ible, and lasted a whole week. I think I had a much more powerful oxytocin rush during and post-delivery.

stahlop · October 2013

I had both my kids at home but very different birth experiences.

With my son I was having major contractions for about 3 days before he was born. I thought I would have him the first day, but then my MW gave me some Tylenol PM to help me sleep and then contractions slowed down. I had kind of a day off with spaced out contractions and then a full day of contractions before I finally had DS. He was posterior with a military presentation and acynclitic (sunny side up, chin up instead of tucked and to the side). I also had him practically on my back I'm my bed because of the intense back labor. I consider the real work of my labor to be about 25 hours with 2 1/2 hours of pushing.

With DD, I had a peaceful water birth. It was about 7 hours (from when I called the MW) and I pushed for about half and hour to an hour, tops. I basically squatted her out in the tub. Much nicer and more relaxing in the water.

erb82 · October 2013

I've had 3 unmedicated hospital births.
First: 37w 6d. Started spontaneously, total 9 hours. My OB broke my water at about 8 cms. 20 minutes of pushing, 2nd degree tear.
Second: 17 months after the first. 39w 4d. Started spontaneously, total 3 hours. Water broke when I started pushing. 2 pushes and she was out, 2nd degree tear.
Third: 14 months after the second. 39w, 2 days. Started spontaneously, total 2 hours 45 minutes. Water broke when I started pushing. Pushed about 10 minutes, second degree tear.
My labors were remarkably similar to each other, except that the first was much longer. All three I woke up in the middle of the night in full blown active labor- never had early labor.

aimlessone · October 2013

First was with an epi. Water broke around 3pm and I delivered at 930 the next morning after two hours of pushing. I couldn't feel a single thing so I didn't know if I was pushing correctly or not. I was going to try natural, but by the time I got to 5cm dilated, I just couldn't take it anymore.

Second was with no epi. I started feeling contractions around 4am, went to the hospital around 630am, pushed it out at 830am. They were setting me up for an epi because my husband wanted me to get one, but by the time they got the labs back, it was too late. It wasn't THAT bad. If the first delivery was as short as the second, doing it without an epi would've been ok with me.

Also, so far, recovery has been faster this time around, but I'm not sure if that's because my body knows what to do this time or if it was because of the epi.

wintersong · October 2013

By the way, everyone, thanks for sharing your stories! I love reading them all, good and bad. Having never gone through ANY of this before, I am eating it all up!

Verstej2 · October 2013

Totally new to the bump and this is my first post but I thought I would share my past experiences. Both of mine were fairly quick.

My 1st started sometime during the night. I didn't look at the clock but just lay in bed breathing through the contractions and dozing between them. When they became too strong I got up and went into the shower. I didn't want to wake DH up since it was around 2 or 3 am I think. I laboured by myself until about 4am when I needed some support so I woke DH up. He helped me until about 5 when my contractions were about 3 min apart. I called my Mom and she came over to help out and see if I needed to go into the hospital yet (without her I would have gone). As soon as she arrived I got out of the shower and the contractions slowed down. We stayed home and laboured until about 11am when my Mom said she thought it was time to head in. It took about an hour for them to finally check me and determine that I was actually in labour and could be admitted. I laboured in the birthing tub for the next little while and finally was begging to have my water broken. It was bulging and such and intense uncomfortable feeling. As soon as my water broke (which took them 3 tries and they later told me I had a double bag) I stared pushing and DD was born about 15 minutes later at 3:50pm. Overall I was very happy with the birth and it was drug free and intervention free (perhaps because I was only admited to hospital about 2.5 hours before she was born).

Second I decided to have at home. A couple of days past my due date the midwife checked me and I was 6 cm. She left it at that and figured I would be in labour within the next 24 hours. A week and two sweeps later I was still going to my midwife appointments and I was a stretchy 7cm. Throughout this time I just kept walking everyday, tons and tons of walking. This would bring on strong contractions that would end as soon as I stopped walking. Obviously they were doing the job though since I was 8 cm. Finally at 9 days overdue the midwife suggested she break my water. I agreed and she did so at 9:05am. I had just put my DD down for a nap (right before the midwives got there). The contractions started about 5 minutes later and I laboured on the toilet for awhile while the midwife and my Mom cooled the birthing tub down. When it was ready i got in there and laboured for a bit longer until I wanted to push. The second midwife hadn't arrived yet and so I needed to get out to deliver which was fine with me anyway. I pushed for 11 minutes and my little DS was born at 10:11am. All in all a 65 minute labour. Not to shabby at all!

I am now pregnant with our third and I am hoping for a similar experience again but you never know! My biggest fear is that my labour will be so fast that I could have the baby without the midwife getting there or god forbid without even being at home (in the car or mall or something).

Thanks for sharing all your stories they are so inspiring and fun to read!

ash484 · October 2013

I had an epidural with my first, wasn't induced either. I thought it went well, but never did my research on epidurals until I was in my 2nd trimester of my 2nd pregnancy. Looking back I realized that the heart rate problems my son had during L&D was most likely a side effect of the epidural. It was still a pretty quick labor 9 hours from the 1st timed contraction. I also had problems breastfeeding since he was a little traumatized when he came out. So my main reasons for choosing to do pain med free were: the benefits for the baby (being able to come out alert, and ready to nurse), the quick recovery, and the amazing feeling everyone says they get from it. I got all of those! I didn't take any classes, just put a list together of what I could do to help me relax, relieve pain etc. I didn't use any of it. I should also note that I had to be induced. So I did have the lowest amount of Pitocin they could give me. It was a 3 hour labor, and was amazing! I progressed gradually, baby was healthy the whole time, and I was able to control the pain with my mind! Just sat in one position the whole time, closed my eyes, slowed my breathing, and relaxed my entire body! I just let myself go limp so that my body could just do it's thing - pretty amazing. I only pushed 2 times, didn't tear (that's the plus of not having an epidural - you can listen to the dr when he says to back off a little to avoid tearing since you can feel more), I was walking around almost right after, and was back to exercising lightly at 2 weeks post partum. I couldn't have been happier!!

mAnYaSha · October 2013

DS#1 (hospital) born around the EDD, water broke just before midnight, Dr ordered pitocin even though I was having contractions. DS born a bit over 12 hours after water broke, 30 min of pushing, tore in 5 places+got cut. Healing over 8 weeks, lots of ice, motrin and pain spray.

DS#2 (home) born around the EDD, started contractions/stomach upset. DS born less that 4 hours after first contraction, water broke after I started pushing, pushed for 10 minutes, 2nd degree tear. Healed very fast, no pain management at all.

Loved the high after DS#2 birth

stever · October 2013

DS1 - Labored for 18 hours at home before going to hospital, labored 7 more hours at the hospital, pushed for 3 hours, had a baby. Very long but med-free and manageable.

DS2 - Water broke at home and baby was born 4 hours later. Fast and med-free but exponentially more painful.

KrisM86 · October 2013

My daughter was born after 29 hours of labor, in a hospital with my midwife and I had an epidural. I had planned for a med free birth center birth, but after 22 hours of labor and stuck at 4cm despite walking, showering, stairs, etc. I was screaming through contractions every two minutes and my MW said we should transfer to the hospital for an epidural so I could rest. We did, I got the epi, slept for 4 hours, woke up at 10cm and pushed DD out in 35 minutes.

My son was born med free, in the birth center after 6 hours of labor. He was out in 2 pushes! It was awesome, and going med free was relatively easy after the 24 or so hours I labored med free with my DD.

Sawyerplus1 · October 2013

#1: Membranes stripped at 40w 5d at 2-3 cms. Started cramping after but was able to ignore through the night. Woke up with painful contractions at 5 am next day. For a long time it was early labor as contractions wouldn't regulate. They were strong but inconsistent. Spent all day at home laboring, going for walks, eating, etc. Headed to birth center around 10 pm, and was 6 cms. Contractions were still strong and more regular. Got in the birth tub around 2 am at 8 cms and things stalled. Still consistent, strong contractions but no dilation. Midwife broke my water at 9 am and still 8 cms (I refused the first few times they offered). Was fully dilated by 10 am and pushed for 1 hour. So it was 30 hours from that first strong contraction at 5 am the previous day, but wasn't active labor until much later. The tub made a HUGE difference in how I coped (I was in it for 9 hours!), and also depended on DH doing counter pressure.

#2: Went for a walk around a mall the evening before my EDD. Had had some braxton hicks but nothing indicating labor was imminent. Just as I was headed to the car after my walk I had a strong contraction (right around 8 pm). Went home, put DS to bed, bounced on my birth ball, and timed them. They were very strong and regular right away. One of the biggest differences between my 2 labors was that with #1 if I moved my contractions would slow right down. This time if I moved they were right on top of each other and strong! Called my mom to come watch DS by about 11 pm and headed to hospital. Upon admission was, again, 6 cms. Labored on the bed until I, again, got stuck at 6 cms. I asked if they would break my waters for fear of stalling for hours and hours again. They broke my water at 4 am and DD was born by 4:30. The last 4 cms and delivery went very fast! This time the contractions were much stronger and I coped by lying still and vocalizing through contractions.

mrsblueeyes · October 2013

#1 Preterm rupture of membranes at 35 weeks. Went to the hospital, but no contractions for 16 hours after my water broke, amazingly my OB never pushed pitocin since the baby and I looked good. Finally after 16 hours contractions began, got an epidural a few hours later. Slowly, but surely progressed and 14 hours after contractions started it was time to push. He was out on the second push with an episiotomy.

#2 Problems with preterm labor at 31 and 33 weeks leading to modified bedrest, at 39w1d contractions started after about 10 days of prodromal labor. Labored at home for a few hours then went to the hospital, I was 4 cm at the time. An hour later got an epidural and they broke my water, which had meconium in it. Was complete in 45 minutes and pushed for 20 minutes with a second degree tear. 7 hour labor start to finish, 3 hours spent at the hospital.

#3 At 38w2d I had bloody show in the morning but no contractions. At 5pm contractions started. Labored at home till 8:30 then DH, me and the doula headed to the hospital. After I got through registration and to a room I was 4.5cm around 9:40pm. Had my mandatory monitoring for 20 minutes and got a heplock placed. Nurse left us alone after that, and after another 30 minutes I moved to the tub. Lost track of time, but started pushing in the tub and they quickly moved me back to the bed. Once I got to the bed, I felt the urge to push and pushed the baby out and my water broke at the same time, no OB around for the birth. She did show up to stich up my 2cd degree tear a few minutes later. So total labor from contractions starting to baby was about 6.5 hours (pretty similar to my second)

headgear03 · October 2013

#1 I went into labor at 42 weeks exactly . I labored at home till I got nauseous and decided to head the two miles down the road to my midwifes birth center . I labored there sometimes in the tub and sometimes on the bed till it was time to push. I pushed for an hour and a half . I ended up tearing because my daughter crowned sideways ( she looked like Gumby for a few weeks ) . She was born in the tub and my husband was able to catch her . Shortly after her birth we realized something wasn't right . Turns out I had retained placenta which my midwife had to remove manually the pain from her pretty much scraping if of my uterus made labor feel like a walk in the park . I was then transferred to the hospital where I spent two hours in the emergency room before anyone actually looked at me . They tried to send me home at one point until they sat my bed up one notched and my blood pressure plummeted . I was kept overnight and ended up with a blood transfusion . Pp was terrible . My milk never did come in and my daughter never did latch . I also couldn't stand up straight for the first week because I had bruised my tail bone during pushing .
#2 was totally different . I went at 42 weeks 2 days . I labored at home for a few hours before heading to the birth center . We got there 15 minutes before the birth. The tub wasn't even half full when I got in . I pushed twice and my husband caught her . I'm pretty sure she didn't even touch the water . Because of my fear of bruising my tailbone I refused to sit down so I was on my hands a knees . She was born 15 minutes after midnight at 42 weeks 3 days. Pp was better but breastfeeding was excoriating and I couldn't do it .
# 3 I went into labor at 36 weeks 4 days . I woke up with my water leaking then contractions started shortly after . For 20 hours my contractions were only 30 minutes apart and not to painful . I was able to rest and at times sleep. At 5 the next morning the contractions got more painful and went from 30 minutes to 15 minutes apart . At around noon I decided I wanted to leave for the birth center . At around 1 pm things got more intense . My contractions never did become consistent . I was very frustrated since I could never get into a good labor pattern . Despite not having constant contraction I delivered again in the tub at almost three that afternoon . My husband caught our baby yet again. Pp was easy just like my second however breastfeeding again was way to painful so yet again I was unsuccessful .
# 3 I went into labor at 40 weeks 3 days . After being in a good labor pattern for a few hours I decided to call my midwife when my contractions were about 10 minutes apart . When she answered she tolled me she had another client currently at the birth center who had been pushing for awhile . She hopes she would have the baby soon and she would come over however I wasn't going to be able to have my water birth at the birth center like all my other babies . I was quite devastated . Having that thrown at me in the middle of active labor was terrible and made the pain from the contractions horrific . I was tense . About twenty minutes after I had hung up with my midwife my contractions went from 10 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart . I tried calling my
Midwife and she didn't answer so I made the decision to go to the hospital which isn't known for being natural friendly ( or had not been ). When we got there we went to the ER . We must have been a sight . We walked to the check in where the gal called labor and delivery without even calling me back to the ER ( thankfully) . Labor and deliver asked what number of baby this was and we said four. Apparently when you are in labor with your fourth they take you seriously because we were tolled to go straight to labor and delivery . When I got there I was checked and was 8 cm . I labored for maybe 20 minutes before I was checked again and was a nine with a lip . Knowing what I needed to do I just flipped myself on the bed onto my hands a knees where just a few contractions later I was ready to push. I pushed for maybe five minutes and my daughter was born. I didn't get to wait till the cord completely turned white like my other babies and my husband didn't get to catch her but overall it was very nice and they were pretty ok with my wishes . Pp was pretty good for the first week but again breastfeeding was unsuccessful. A week after her birth I ended up back in the ER with pp hemmoraghing due to my uterus being filled with clots . Because of this I had to have a D&C and a blood transfusion . I was also tolled it would be a very very bad idea to have more children ( which is fine because we were done anyway) since I had two bad pp issues. Each of my labors and deliveries have been so different .

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