1st vs 2nd labor (question for THIRD time moms!!)

ameliabedelia-2 · October 2017

I loved the thread about labor/delivery surprises. I'd like to know what surprises are in store for us second time moms! DD came almost 2 weeks early (had my membranes swept at 38, and she came 2 days later). I have convinced myself this baby will come no later than that, probably setting myself up for huge disappointment. So questions for moms that have been around the block a few times..

- when did your second (or third...fourth) baby come compared to previous?
-did the intensity/duration of your labor change?
-what about recovery, same/different?

Marley629 · October 2017

Can I also ask if you had an emergency c-section with 1st and then a RCS the 2nd, what were the differences?

oldersis · October 2017

Oh man. My 1st was 9 days late (according to LMP, 6 by my chart), but she was a textbook labor. 14 hours start to finish, 10 of them at home, gradually increasing in length and frequency. I lost my mucus plug a couple of hours in. My midwife broke my water at 13.5 hours and then 20 minutes of pushing and she was out.

My 2nd was crazy. ELEVEN days late. Never lost my mucus plug or had bloody show. I knew I was in labor, but my contractions were all over the place. I'd have one, then nothing for 10 minutes, then 3 or 4 right on top of each other, and they were all different lengths of time. I had no idea what was going on. I called our childcare for our daughter after 2 hours and I was in transition by the time they got there. DH packed up and I realized I was trying not to push. I walked out my front door to head to the car and my water didn't break - it exploded. My husband could hear the pop from the street. I live a mile from the hospital and almost didn't make it. My husband ran down the l&d hallway pushing me in a wheelchair, I climbed on the bed and pushed twice. Done. I didn't even get checked in. Moral of the story - your first labor doesn't necessarily predict anything about subsequent labors.

oldersis · October 2017

Oh, my recovery was pretty similar both times, probably because I didn't push for long with either one. I think I had one stitch for dd and none for ds. I did bleed a LOT immediately after delivery with ds.

flowerpower5838 · October 2017

I had a SUPER shitty recovery for DS. I think I started pushing too early/soon because I was starting to be "threatened" with a c-section (not really, but it was mentioned a few times). Obviously I can't be sure this was the cause, but it's what my very unexpert opinion believes lol. I was tore up from the floor up. Anyone have that with #1 and not with #2? I had wound care issues that I would like to avoid this time if possible. Induced due to gestational hypertention and my BP is starting to creep up so I am starting to think I'm going to find myself in a similar position again.

ngarciabyu · October 2017

Both of my labors were relatively easy. DS1 came 8 days late, DS2 3 days early. Both I went in to labor on my own and both born vaginally. With DS1 I pushed for 3 hours, and had major tearing and pelvic floor damage, so @flowerpower5838 maybe this answers your question from my experience. I could barely walk or put any pressure on my feet, it was awful. With DS2 they had checked me and I was at a 6. Maybe 30 min or so later I felt something pop out in between my legs, I thought it was his head. Turns out it was my bag of water bulging out, and he was right behind it. Two contractions later and he was out. I had 1 stitch and recovery was a breeze. Was up walking around and showering very soon after, and never had any issues after.

eazybreezy225 · October 2017

DD1 was born at 39 weeks via emergency c-section, DD2 was born at 39 weeks via RCS, and DD3 was born at 40 weeks via emergency c-section.
The difference was I knew what to expect. I knew what I could and couldn't do physically the first few weeks, I knew how much pain I was supposed to feel, I knew how to care for the incision site, etc.
With DD1 it was very different in that they used staples to close the incision and I had to go back to the hospital 48 hours after going home to have them removed, and that sucked... with DD2 they used surgical tape, and with DD3 they used surgical glue.
The tape falls off on its own or you can remove it yourself in the shower after so many days. The doctor can even do it for you at your post partum checkup if you prefer. I just let most of it come off on its own. There were some pieces that were stubborn and I had to remove myself.
With the glue it was the best, because I didn't have to do anything, it just eventually dissolved.

I didn't know there were other options available until i had my other kids, so I'm discussing with my doctor this week and I'm going to request the surgical glue.

eazybreezy225 · October 2017

Marley629 said:

Can I also ask if you had an emergency c-section with 1st and then a RCS the 2nd, what were the differences?

The difference the second time was that I wasn't recovering from both being in labor AND having surgery. The RCS was a lot smoother and I felt like recovery went a bit faster.
With DD1 I labored for 25 hours and pushed for 4 hours and nothing was happening. She was stuck in my pelvic bone. So after the ECS, i was recovering from surgery but I also was recovering from the labor, i was very swollen and bruised down there. So I felt the recovery took a lot longer.
The RCS was by far a better experience.

Marley629 · October 2017

@eazybreezy225 I hope this isn't a dumb question but with my emergency c-section, I couldn't move at all; my hands were immobilized. Is it the same for scheduled c-sections too or did you have use of your hands/arms?

Idk why but this is one thing that I'm freaked out about lol

eazybreezy225 · October 2017

@Marley629 not a dumb question!
With all 3 of my c-sections I had full function of my arms. The numbness started at the chest below the armpits. If I had to guess, I'm thinking maybe the spinal was placed a bit higher on you and that's why you couldn't use your arms. But I'm not a doctor and I don't really know. If it was an emergency c-section it's possible there was a reason for it or maybe things were really rushed.
If I were you I'd talk to my doctor about it and let them know you are concerned about this and would really like to have the use of your arms.

Bailey1823A · October 2017

First was born at 38+6 weeks after almost 24 hours of labor (about 7 hours of hard labor)
second was born at 41+1 weeks after 9.5 hours of labor (4 hours of hard labor). Second one was a much better recovery since I barely tore. I had a 3rd degree with my first.

cait5413 · October 2017

@Marley629 They had me spread my arms straight out for my c-section, and maybe strapped them down? SO I could feel them, but I didn't have use of them. I assume it'll be the same this time, though I don't know why it's necessary...

tmk0325 · October 2017

cait5413 said:

@Marley629 They had me spread my arms straight out for my c-section, and maybe strapped them down? SO I could feel them, but I didn't have use of them. I assume it'll be the same this time, though I don't know why it's necessary...

Same here... Mine was not an emergency either.

KayLee77 · November 2017

1st labor was about 5 hours. He was on his due date. Got an epidural. I had a really hard time with it, I was just so tired so I don't remember much of it. Recovery wasn't bad buy I didn't have much to compare it to at the time.

2nd labor was super fast. He was 3 days early. Had my membranes stripped the day before I had him. From first contractions to him being delivered was 2 hours. I thought I was going to have him in the car. Didn't have time for any medication. But at that point I was ok with it, it's crazy how my body just knew what to do and it's like it just took over. Recovery was amazing after. I felt great, not as exhausted as I did with my first. I don't know if it's becuase of the medication or not. But this one I will attempt no epidural again in hopes that the labor will be similar or I will feel similar after. But who knows we will see.

ameliabedelia-2 · November 2017

@KayLee77, this horrifies me, lol. My greatest fear is having this one too fast and not getting pain meds. My daughter came after about 5 hours of labor and just a few pushes, so my guess is that this one will probably be short as well. We are close to the hospital, but my plan is to go at my first contraction and hopefully make it in time for an epidural.

KayLee77 · November 2017

@ameliabedelia-2 Part of my problem was that I live 45 mins from my hospital that I'm delivering at. And it was also thanksgiving traffic at 5pm. So that didn't help with us getting to the hospital fast. Ive been joking with dh that he should watch some videos on how to deliver a baby just in case we don't make it to the hospital this time. He was not amused.

failuretofly · November 2017

@KayLee77 my midwife gives all her clients an instruction sheet on what to do if they baby is coming and they're not there/not at the hospital!

carolinefriesen · November 2017

My first was 42 hrs with a rough recovery. My second was 20 hrs, and he flew out with two pushes. The recovery was much better, but I didn’t need stitches, and his delivery was completely med free, which I’m convinced made the recovery better.

anewadventure · November 2017

carolinefriesen said:

My first was 42 hrs with a rough recovery. My second was 20 hrs, and he flew out with two pushes. The recovery was much better, but I didn’t need stitches, and his delivery was completely med free, which I’m convinced made the recovery better.

yeah, it being half as long with little pushing effort had nothing to do with it being better.

carolinefriesen · November 2017

My epidural and everything else caused me to puff up like a marshmallow man for about 4 days, so swollen I could hardly walk. The catheter caused incontinence issues as well for several days. It was rough. A shorter labor is part of it, but every woman and experience is different.

casace · November 2017

@carolinefriesen you handled that response much better than I would have

carolinefriesen · November 2017

Why thank you. I deleted my initial, hormonal response

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