is a 2nd delivery quicker easier than the 1st.

Louise
I am currently pregnant with my second child and I am 34 weeks. I am a high risk pregnancy and will be included in around 3 weeks.
I am starting to get nervous about the labour, as i didn't have the best experience. It took 4 days to get me into active labour and I tore quite badly. 
My son is now 8 years old, and I have heard that a second labour is a lot quicker and easier than the first. But it has been 8 years now since I was in labour. Is this still true? Would be really grateful for people's experiences.