Those who have given birth more than once.

abenson3 · September 2014

I am a STM, just wondering how similar your labors and deliveries were. Did you so anything mentally to prepare for the possible differences? I am worried that now I am only prepared for 1 type of birth, whereas, with my first I felt very open minded with reguard to delivery. Thanks for listening to my ramble.

[Deleted User] · September 2014

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MaineMama · September 2014

My deliveries were all very different despite being all csections.

#1- 12 hrs of labor, prolapsed cord, general anesthesia

#2- Scheduled section, super easy spinal, no issues

#3- scheduled section, spinal took 45 mins to place, then needed epinephrine for bottomed out BP

mrsrroberson · September 2014

Differences included 1st being induced, ended up with a CS and 2nd was RSC... Both at 37 because of PIH issues.

mrsrroberson · September 2014

Just realized that You probably meant vaginal birth right?! Oh well.

soulcupcake · September 2014

I didn't "do" anything with my first. I wasn't too worried or stressed (caused by the fear/tension/pain cycle). I had a fairly laid back "I'll see how it goes" approach. I was vaguely familiar with the "childbirth is godawful!" attitude, but it didn't really get to me. My only real exposure to the ins and outs of childbirth were my mom's experiences. She had a precipitous birth with me, 3 hours, her first. It came on fast and hard, and I was born quite suddenly. She had a c-section with my younger sister due to IUGR and breech presentation.

I *did* go in expecting something textbook and average, which meant knowing when I was in legit labor (not early, but active labor) and accepting it would likely be a 12-15 hour process with, on average, a two hour second stage. All normal for first time moms. So, that is what I sort of expected just based on the experiences of others and, well, statistical norms. Well, my active labor was 3 hours, and I didn't start labor until 7.5 cm, nearing transition. I expected the contractions to be godawful and excruciating, and to push for a long ass time. Nope on all accounts. Contractions felt like moderate to strong-ish menstrual cramps accompanied with constant low dull backache (she wasn't OP), but the pressure I felt as she was beginning to descend was quite intense. I started contracting regularly at 9:00 pm (I was induced), and her head was right on my perineum at a few minutes after midnight. The midwife did an episiotomy (unnecessary), and I gave a few pushes and she was out. I was more worried about the second stage, especially since she was suspected to be LGA. (I had her at 38 weeks; she was 9 lbs and 22")

With my second, I thought my first experience was "too good to be true" and wasn't convinced it would be as easy and uneventful the next time. I wanted a homebirth, but it wasn't an option, so I settled for planning a med-free hospital birth and did the Hypnobabies homestudy in the event I actually "labored" the "traditional" way where techniques or tools would be useful or needed. I love the philosophy and program, and enjoyed the scripts and was sort of prepared to use the self-hypnosis if I needed to.

I had a great experience with her with friendly and supportive staff (which surprised me considering med-free was/is not a common practice at the hospital I delivered at). My labor with her was much like it was with my first. I didn't start labor until transition (8 cm), and she came extremely fast, 47 minutes. It was intense at the very end because she was born rather quickly when no one was ready, including myself.

I planned a homebirth with my third, and had to plan/prepare for a UC due to my midwife living an hour away. We were expecting another fast birth. Active labor lasted about 1 hour 40 minutes. It took some time to begin actively contracting due to the mechanical issues related to severe polyhydramnios. But it was a smooth/easy induction.

And with my fourth, planned a home waterbirth, and expected labor to last about an hour or so. We induced, and it wasn't until very late in the evening that anything of interest happened. He pretty much fell out. I went from 6 cm to birth in about one minute. I never actually labored, and negative on the waterbirth.

With all of my pregnancies I tend to make it to 5, 6, and 7 cm before labor starts, and once "labor" began they're born very quickly. As my midwives have said, my babies have a way of just falling out. I am considering doing the Hypnobabies study again, and am planning another waterbirth. This time I have high hopes we can make it happen as the birth tub I'll be using takes about 25 minutes to fill up, as opposed to 2 hours last time.

MeganK81410 · September 2014

Initially mine were different, as I went into labor naturally with DD and was induced with DS. Otherwise, they were very similar. Labor with DS lasted a little longer but transition and active labor (pushing) was significantly shorter. With DD it took a few hours to get from 5 cm to 10 cm and 20 minutes of pushing. With DS I went from 5 to 10 in roughly half an hour and pushed for 10 minutes.

bowlwoman · September 2014

Mine were almost identical, honestly, down to the girls being born in the same room.

DD1: induced at 40w2d due to GD. I wanted a natural birth, but the contractions were horrible from the get-go. I gave DH the safe word to get the epidural, and they had to stick me twice. I so didn't care at that point. After the epi, I took a nap, watched some Maury and Star Trek DS9 and generally had a good afternoon. By the time I was ready to push, I could feel the pressure from the contractions but no pain, so I had the best if both worlds, being able to direct my pushing but it not hurting. She was born just after 5 pm, so just over 10 hours from pitocin to baby.

DD2: induced at 38w5d due to GD. This time, the contractions were pretty textbook, progressing normally without the same pain as with DD1. I elected to get the epi around 5-6 cm. I had a trainee nurse and the head nurse during labor, which was fine. However, when the head nurse went to lunch around 1pm, the trainee was there alone, monitoring the output of contractions. Around 1:20 I told her that I was getting some pain, and she said that I needed to up the epi. She plunged it and went back to her chair. DH got back from lunch about 1:30, and head nurse got back about 1:40. She checked me first off, and asked if I felt an urge to push. I said no, because trainee had pushed the epi and I felt nothing. I was crowning. The pain had been transition. She told me not to push/move, called the doctor, and he got there just after 2 pm. DD2 was born about 15 min later, after 3-4 pushes. Moral of the story: make them check you instead if just plunging the epi again.

I would love to go into labor on my own this time, but we'll see. Also, I would love for him to be born in room 4 too.

chicorojo · September 2014

Mine were pretty similar. Both very fast, my water had to be broken because both started coming out with bag of water intact, and pushed only twice. Second baby was a little bigger so I tore just a bit.
After delivery was what was way different (thankfully). I hemmorhaged and had to be rushed into surgery with my first, so I didn't get to see him for a couple hours.

BabyRN2009 · September 2014

Started out differently, but overall very similar.

DD1: Water broke at home @39w3d, quickly followed by start of mild contractions every 2-3 minutes. Went right to hospital and was 2cm, walked for almost an hour, contractions quickly escalated and were too miserable to walk anymore so got epidural. Still 2cm. Low dose pitocin. She was born 6 hours later after pushing for 20-30 minutes. Easy delivery, 10 hour labor from time water broke to delivery.

DD2: Had membranes stripped in office at 38w exactly (~9am), mild contractions started right away and continued all day. Contractions very gradually got closer and stronger until by 8-9pm I knew it was labor. Headed to hospital, was 4cm. Made me walk an hour to see if I progressed, I did and was 5cm. Got an epidural. Was 6cm and Dr broke my water. Low dose pitocin. She was born 4 hours later after 5 pushes. Another easy delivery, 9 hour labor total (from start of consistent strong contractions to delivery...not counting mild contractions earlier in the day).

The girls' births were so drama free that I'm a little nervous of what this boy may have in store for me!! :-P

Spartanmama722 · September 2014

Mine were very different in when and why labor started (#1 induced at 36w for pre-e, #2 spontaneous labor at 38w3d). But labor progressed the same way both times. It took forever for me to get past 4-5 cm, but then I dilated the rest of the way within an hour. Both times pushing was very quick (20 minutes with #1, 2 pushes with #2). And both labors were similar lengths (17 hrs start to finish).

I expect this one to follow the same pattern, although since I expect it he'll probably decide to be totally different to throw me off

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