2Nd Labor Experience?

Hi J.,

Congratulations.

First labor the pain was unbearable and mainly in the front. Total time, I think, was 23 hours. I had an epidural which gave me great relief since I was SO exhausted. I needed help at the end to get him out. Couldn't get his big head around the bone. I was too tired.

Second labor. Pain was more bearable but it was back pain this time. I would sit on the floor and press my back into the wall. Fortunately I went to the local hospital this time instead of the one over an hour away near my previous job. Twenty minute ride, check in - she sent me up to labor and delivery and finished the paperwork herself without me since the contractions were so close together. Into the bathroom to change, out of there after a long while because I was dealing with so many contractions. The nurse checked me. I was dialated 9 or 10 centimeters. She quickly called the doctor. About 10 minutes later I delivered without any pain killers. Fortunately I didn't feel any pain (no meds this time - no time for them) with the cut (cant' remember what that's called) and no pain with the stitches. Contraction pain - definitely. It seemed like an eternity to get stitched up but my husband said it didn't take long.

As for holding onto your baby and not delivering until you're at the hospital, as someone else said, I'd question that. I've heard of plenty of mothers giving birth in vehicles on the way to the hospital. Maybe someone like me can do it because both times I had to have the water broken for me.

I've heard people talk about the "urge to push." I never had that. I had the urge to hold onto something or shove my back into a wall to deal with the incredible contractions. My contractions were so strong on my first delivery I could feel them even though I had an epidural. I would tell the nurses when they were happening so I could push.

Good luck and don't wait long to get to the hospital,
: ) M.

Well I can say my second labor was much easier thant the first. And faster.

First of all, two weeks before the actual birth, I went into false labor while at work. No one told me that was likely to happen...well it's VERY likely to happen. All preparations were made, grandparents ready to babysit, contractions every ten minutes. For five hours. Never progressed. The next morning the contractions were gone. Same thing that night. Next day I was 1cm, but I could have been like that for weeks already and could stay like that for another two weeks. I did.

When the day came, and I was asleep when the real contractions started and continued so I knew they were real, things pregressed very quickly. Within an hour or two my contractions were 10-15 min apart. Within the next half hour or so, they got to 4-5 min. No time to drop toddler off anywhere (thank goodness for neighbors), grandparents not ready, but at least the bag was ready. Elapsed time from the hospital's parking lot to daughter born in the birthing room was 17 minutes.

Please go to the hospital when you start having real contractions. Don't wait. Good luck!

Hi J.
My OB told me most of the time the 2nd is about 1/2 as long as the 1st.
My first labor was 18and 1/2 hours. I sat at home for a bit with contractions then i went to the hospital where the nurse informed me I was in "light labor" to wich I paniced and said it gets worse...lol. I got and epidural at hour 14 and they gave Pitosin (??spelling) It opened me right up I went from 4-ten cen in 3 1/2 hours. I pushed 4-5 times and she was here. My son took 7 1/2 hours My water broke at 11p and I had him at 7:30a. Significatly shorter. I got an Epidural at hour 3 and was able to sleep for a bit. When I woke up it was time to push. The contractions on my 2nd where more intense and came quicker but I had done it allready so I knew what to expect.
I was nervous untill the contractions started then it was automatic I knew what to do.
At this point I would just make sure to have a plan about things like getting to the hosptal and who is going to watch your son.
Best of luok to you.
K.

My second was much easier. My first was pretty easy too until it came to pushing. I pushed for 47 minutes and they kept moving me and had to put oxygen on because they lose the baby's heartbeat. Of course flipping me around and trying different positions I'm sure did not help with those monitors. But with my second I pushed for 10 minutes and she was here. My oldest is 3 years older than my 2nd too. I called the doctor when my contractions were 5 minutes apart. He told me to get to the hospital right away given my first was pretty fast for a first. 2 hours where I actually felt contractions. I didn't feel my contractions at all until they broke my water so I count from there. And truth be known I wasn't all that uncomfortable with my second. My husband just noticed every five minutes my face would wince so he was timing my facial changes ;). I didn't want to call the doctor, but he made me. I went in around 10 they hooked me up said I was contracting every three minutes. Nurse checked me and I was about 4-5 centimeters. She actually said they might send me home because with your second you could be like that for a while. The doctor came in and admitted me. At midnight he broke my water two hours later I was pushing and 10 minutes after that I was amazed at this hugely chubby baby that was 1 ounce shy of being 9 pounds ;). In spite of her being 3 ounces bigger than her sister I was not nearly as sore down there. I was up and about the next day. Had her on Thursday and happily went home on Friday. With my older daughter I had her on a Thursday too, but late at night not early in the morning, but I couldn't go home until Saturday. I enjoyed my 2nd birth much better. I had a better idea of what to expect and I was asking questions in the middle of it instead of just doing what I was told. For instance the doctor gave me an episiotomy and hadn't told me he was doing that. I felt something cold and I looked at him and said probably very rudely what are you doing. He told me and I was just like oh okay. It helped a lot too. I think that's why I didn't tear as bad as I did with my first. Everything will work out just fine. I know it's hard for us moms to not have control over when it happens. Especially when you have other ones at home and you have to worry about child care. Somehow it all falls into place.

Hi J.,

My second delivery was the complete opposite of my first. The first was about 39 hours from beginning to end, including 2 1/2 hours of pushing and I needed the epidural. With my second I started having contractions at around 6:00 pm, by 10:00 they were about 4 minutes apart so we got my son up and headed for the hospital. We dropped him off at his grandmothers on the way. When I got to the hospital at about 11:00, I was 4 cm. I got to my room and went into the jacuzzi tub for about 45 minutes and then I was around 8 - 9 cm. I got out and breathed through the next several contractions and started pushing. She was out in about 15 - 20 minutes. I didn't need drugs or an epidural or anything. If you can do without the epidural I highly recommend it. I found the experience to be much better without it. Maybe because we're already stretched out after the first, the second one is easier.

My water didn't break with either of them - the doctors had to do it.

I wish you all the best.

Jen

Hi J.,
I am due with baby #3 in 8wks. My 2nd labor was completely different than my first and part of that may have been becasue I was young when I had my first (19) and had no idea what to expect. I have a "slow leak" with my first where as my water broke in the Hannaford parking lot with my 2nd. :) I had "nubaine" with my first and gave birth naturally to my 2nd and also hired a birth doula. I had no idea that I could pretty much say what goes during labor and delivery with my 1st so took full advantage of knowing that with my 2nd. :) My contractions for both didn't start for me until I was given pitocin and I didn't have extremely long labors..."hard" labor was about 3 hours long with both and pushing was kept to a max of 3-4 pushes. They say to base your labor with your next children off of your first as far as timing and timing wise, both my labors were similar. With the 3rd coming, I am hoping to get an epidural, I don't think that even if I were on my 10th labor, that I would feel 100% confident that I would make it to the hospital on time, that my water won't break some where I don't want it to etc, but I suppose those are just fears that we have to learn to deal and cope with and what will be will be. :) Wishing you the best of luck and a smooth labor.

With my first I was in labor for 2.5 hours and with my second I got there just in time to deliver in the ER triage room. I delivered both w/o an epidural so don't worry about that it is not as bad as everyone says. With first I tore and needed stitches and w/ my second I didn't need a single one. They broke my water at the hospital both times. I think whether its our first or fifth I think we all worry about the same things like not making it to the hospital, water breaking in public, etc. Try not to worry. Good luck.

My water broke with my second son (and it was a surprise, born 5 weeks early) I would highly recommend carrying one of your son's diapers around with you just in case this happens! There was a lot of fluid and a diaper was perfect for soaking it up on the way to the hospital.

Contractions were just as bad as with the first, but labor was faster (5 hours vs. 17 hours) and while I spent 2 hours pushing with my first son, my second son came out in just one push! Made for a MUCH easier recovery too.

Unless extremely fast labors run in your family I wouldn't worry about not making it to the hospital. Good luck!

Just like animals giving birth in the wild if you feel like you are not in the right place to give birth you can stop your labor. Your body secretes stress hormones instead of endorphins which is the bodys natural relaxant. So be assured you can stop your labor if you want to make it to the hospital to have your birth. As for making it there in time for the epiural. Most careproviders give it as late as 8cm dilated or even later than that. My theory on that especially with second labors once you get into an active labor pattern it goes so quickly and you and your baby will benefit from a non medicated birth. Carrying pads will be beneficial if you are at work

I am the opposite of everyone! My first labor was awesome-contractions started after I had the doctors "sweep" me at my last apt. They started around 8pm-got close enough tgoether to call the doc at 10pm, got to the hospital at 11 and he was born at 3-pushing time was literally a few minutes! I couldnt believe how easy it was!! ( I did get the epidural but after six attempts to put itin the right spot they gave up and because of all the wholes in my spine I was leaking spinal fluid and had to have a blood patch...ugh) but the labor part was great so when I was pregnant again I thought-easy as pie! I did no pain meds because of my last experience. The docs swept me again and I started having contractions so I called and stopped in then said they werent close enough together so I was sent home! The continued at home for the next 10 or so hours then I went back and I had dilated a few more cm so I was a walker-the entire hospital round and round in circles!! Finally they broke my water to speed things up and I still never had contractions closer then 10 min-it was insane!! Needless to say at 8 cm I pushed him out because I couldnt wait any longer-haha I am not very patient but the doc also suggested it because the contractions were so long!! I hope your second labor and delivery is like they say it should be-faster and what not! Good luck!

Since you have been through it before it will probably at least be less worrying, because you know at least some of what to expect. My first was 27 hours in coming since no-one knew she was upside down and her nose was stuck behind my pubic bone. She was pulled out with vacuum extraction and a huge episiotomy,ouchfor both of us! Another minute and they would have done an emergency C-section since she was in distress. My second one was born fast, at the hospital at 8, born at 10. For both my water broke at 4 AM. I would advise getting some of those foot square incontinence pads that CVS sells and keeping them on your seats just in case. I also put one under me in the bed, where my water broke both times and I awoke from sleep because of the odd trickling water feeling. We had family on stand-by and my sister showed up at 6 AM to watch our 3 year old. The only hard part was when the 3 year old visited after the birth and realized mom was not coming home that night and she wailed all the way out of the hospital. Dad of course was with her, but since I was a stay-at-home mom she had never been away from me overnight. May your labor be short and your happiness long!

Even though I was induced both times, my second labor was such a peach compared to my first. My first the epidural didn't work, I pushed for hours, etc. Second one, epidural worked perfectly. It took a few hours to get to 4 or 5 centimeters, but then I literally said "oh! the baby dropped, I'm ready to push!" and they checked me, called the doctor in, I pushed three times and there was my son! Don't even think that I broke a sweat (seriously). FYI, with my daughter, my water broke when I was on an errand in AutoZone (can you think of a place more embarrassing to have your water break?!) but I scooted out of the store lickity split and I don't think that anyone ever knew. I ended up driving myself to the hospital because I wasn't really in labor but needed to be induced. So at least if your water breaks at work there will be people there to help you!

Good luck with the second one.

I just had my second 2 months ago... I also have a 3 year old. Both boys were born at home in my bathtub... no meds. The first was very long and painful and the second was short and easy :) Good luck!

Congratulations on your imminent arrival! I'm due in 4 weeks with my third. My first labor was about 15 hours, and I pushed for about an hour. I had no pain meds or intervention. I wouldn't have even had time for any intervention if I'd wanted it with the second! I was at the hospital for less than an hour and pushed for probably 10-15 min. My midwife asked me whether I will just be taking a tent to the hospital and camping out there close to my delivery date this time, and the idea has its merits.

I know every labor is different, but typically second labors are easier and faster. Don't worry if you don't have time for the epidural. Just remember that however painful it might be, chances are it won't last very long! My best advice (which I intend to follow myself this time) is to leave for the hospital as soon as you're sure you're really in labor. With my second, I waited too long to leave and just didn't realize how quickly things would progress. A colelague's wife actually had her second child in the car on the way to the hospital because she and her husband afforded themselves the luxury of dropping their son off at a relative's house about 20 min away first! So have a childcare plan in place, and make sure it's a quick plan. Take your 3-year-old to the hospital and have someone meet you there if necessary. Good luck!

Ah, yes, one definitely can't assume the two labors are going to be the same. My first delivery was absolutely great-- in an out-of-hospital birthing center, and while it was really hard work, using painkillers never even crossed my mind. I ended up having a natural childbirth just because it didn't hurt very much and there were no complications.

For my second child, that birthing center wasn't available, so I planned a home birth. Now-- I do NOT regret this; there are many things about homebirth that are great because you get to choose exactly who is there, how often they interrupt you, there are no unnecessary devices "helping" you (like fetal monitors and "just in case" IVs), and I felt very comfortable with our emergency plan to get to the hospital in 5 minutes if we needed to-- but obviously, if you want an epidural, you have to go to a hospital, presumably moving during the worst part of labor. I didn't, and the birth was "successful," but let me tell you, if anyone had asked me if I wanted to take away the pain during that last 4 hours, I would have done it in a second. It was NOT easy.

So I guess my advice would be, refresh your own memory about what births can be, and expect a totally different experience.

At the Boston Museum of Science, the birth exhibit has three different videos of real people giving birth: a Cesarean, a vaginal in a hospital, a home birth. I found it to be fascinating (just a couple of weeks ago when my kids are much older). Just a word to the wise-- the home birth in that video is beautiful and painless and sort of glamorizes the whole process. But the exhibit is recommended.

As many other commented, my second labor was easier and faster.
First labor: 6 hours of light contractions at home, 3 hours of heavy contractions + transitioning at the hospital, 40 minutes of pushing. No pain killers, but I was just about to ask for some when I entered in transitioning phase.

Second labor: 4 hours of very light contractions at home, I walked to the hospital when the contractions got stronger (a 5 minute walk), 2 hours of stronger contractions (but nothing to do with first labor. I was waiting for the real painful contractions to come and I never had them) and about 10 minutes of pushing. So, it was fast and "nearly" pain-free.
I remember I was also quite afraid that I wouldn't make it on time (especially when added the stress of having the backup baby sitter on time at home for the first kid). But, I had really enough time during the afternoon before going to the hospital.
The time on the hospital went very fast. Going there, pass through admissions, then go to the labor room and getting undressed, having the monitor for several minutes, the coming and going of nurses and mid-wives and answering all questions and I was nearly about to push!

Now, I'll worry again for #3, as it may go even faster :-)