November 2013 Moms

Moms of multiple kids (not at once)

I've tried searching some for this, but I mobile bump, so its quite hard to find specific things. So if their is a post or board about this already, please feel free to ignore this and just send me the link :)


I've heard from a few people now that on the second (or third, fourth, etc.) pregnancy/child birth, that laboring and, more specifically, healing post child birth is/was easier than the first kid.

I'm curious about this because I always wanted multiple kids, but after having my first this past November I'm not sure if I can go through that again. I had severe PPD and PPA which led me to have to stop breast feeding so I could get on anxiety medication. I also (TMI) tore so bad (child had 90 percentile head) and swelled so much that I couldn't walk or sit for almost 2 months. Nurses had to help me out of the bed and to the toilet just to go pee, then at home it was even worse because I was by myself all day long while DH worked.

I love my kid, and I so want him to have the experience I had of siblings (I'm one of six), but I am still having some reoccurring pain in the areas that I tore, and I just don't know if it would get even worse the second time around...

Thanks ladies, I know its very opinion based on the answers, but I just want to see the gist of what everyone thought!

Re: Moms of multiple kids (not at once)

  • My second delivery was way worse than my first.  So much so, that I'm glad that it was my second as if it had happened the first time around, I probably wouldn't have had a second child.  Also, I bled for a lot longer the second time around. 

    For my sister with 3 kids, her 3rd was a super easy delivery, but I know her second was pretty difficult.
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  • edited March 2014
    My second was easier as far as actual labor, but I was in more pain and more uncomfortable the second time.
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  • Kim22Kim22 member
    I had 3 c sections so I can't really help but I thought each c section got easier. For me each baby also got easier as far as eating, sleeping, fussiness etc.
  • My first birth was dramatically different than my second. My daughters birth I labored for 15 hours, but only hours of hard labor. It was a beautiful labor until I started pushing. ((TMI)) I ended up with a labial hematoma the size of a grapefruit, 4th degree tearing, and an episiotomy. I was really beat up. My MW said it was one of the worst cases she had seen in a long time. I was miserable and recovery was long and hard. DD was 8lbs 2oz so she wasn't even a big baby.

    With DS I worked extensively with my MW to come up with a game plan to avoid some of the issues we had with DD. I also did lots of research and tried numerous things to hopeful avoid another traumatic birth.

    With DS I was in labor for 7 hours and only 6 min. of pushing. He was over 10lbs. His height, weight, and head circumference were all in the 97th percentile. The only damage I had was a small skid mark. I was up and moving around a couple hours after DS was born and felt almost completely back to normal before we even left the hospital.

    So for me my second was incredibly easier.
  • 3Dewdrops3Dewdrops member
    edited March 2014
    I imagine it's impossible to predict what a second labor/delivery will be like since they are so different from one to the next.

    My first labor was 6 hours and super mild. No need for pain meds. Second and third labors were two hours and really painful.  

    I had episiotomies for all. The first two felt fine after a week. I ripped to shreds up the front with the third and was still using dermoplast spray six weeks pp.

    My tailbone broke first time around and took months to feel better. It took a monthish to feel "okay" after 2nd and 3rd deliveries.

    Bottom line...babies are sooooo worth it. ;)

    ETA: I should probably add that I tore so bad with the 3rd because he came out way too fast. DH commented that he was impressed the dr caught LO. They couldn't find his heartbeat with the monitor at all so I think that's why the dr didn't have me slow down to ease him out. (he was just fine btw) I don't think it had anything to do with me already having delivered two. 
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  • Why did I read this? FML.

    Ditto.
  • Thank you ladies (sorry I only mobile bump and my phone went nuts-o and I had to get a new one, new app, and so on ... FML).

    I figured it would be a case of my friends just being lucky the second time around. My fear is the second time will be just as bad; but I'm glad to see the common consensus that the babies made it worth it :)

    In the beginning my bad depression and anxiety had me feeling otherwise, but now that things have calmed down I really can barely remember all the pain (eh, maybe I can, but its more easily forgettable) ;)
  • I had an easy recovery with DD1, and even more so with DD2.  I did bleed for 6+w after DD2, but I was definitely overdoing it since DD1 was only 20 months old at the time.  I had a second degree tear but felt fine within 2-3w.

    I did have PPA after DD1 (or maybe even some form of PPD) but haven't had any of those feelings this time around.  It could be that I knew what to expect, or that DD2 is much easier than DD1.  I also did placenta encapsulation and I swear that it helped hugely with not only emotions but also with my healing.

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  • My second labor was shorter and he was easier to push and a shorter time.

    It took me longer to recover, but I was honestly walking around too much.

    I was in a lot less pain after this birth. That's also why I over did it sometimes. It just disinterested hurt to stand or walk around like it did with the first.
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  • edited March 2014
    Labor & recovery was considerably better the second time around for me.

    Everyone is different and each pregnancy/delivery/recovery can vary with each child, but I would think that a fair amount of women have an easier time with their second due to the fact that things are a bit more loosened up down there.

    ETA: First delivery I had an epidural and pushed for almost 3 hours. Second delivery I had no pain meds and pushed for maybe a minute.

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