Was your 2nd L&D easier than the 1st?

Question

I had a bad experience with my first L&D. I am currently expecting baby #2, and I just want to know is it really easier the second time around? (I am aware that every pregnancy is different). I'm just curious to hear real stories. TIA!

Answer

My first- I was induced at 39 weeks. I was on pitocin and labored for 22-23 hours. I got my water broke at 5cm and had an epidural done. It failed, so they had to do another one. After that, I went from 5 to 10, in about an hour and a half give or take. It took about 20mins of “practice” pushes and about 10mins of “real” pushes to have him. 
My second- I was 36weeks even. I had contractions for two weeks and went into preterm labor once at 34weeks. The day I hit 36weeks, I started having contractions at about 9:30am every 7 minutes. This went on until about 4:15pm when I decided to take a shower so I could go into the hospital per my doctors orders (I had called her). They felt like they stopped after the shower. I didn’t have another one for almost an hour. Then, I had only had like 3 before I made it to the hospital (an hour away). I got there at roughly 7:15pm. I was checked and monitored. I was dilated to 6cm, 100% effaced. Contractions were 3-4mins apart. By 7:30pm I was admitted. I gave birth just after midnight at 12:34am and only pushed 3 times.

Answer

I found they were both “easy”. My first felt like it went faster as I had back labour. My second was all belly contractions and I had to work her down a little longer. They were about the same time though.

Answer

My second was definitely easier. And she just poped right out in 3 short pushes verses an hour and a half of pushing with my first. Also she was bigger but no problem.

Answer

Yep easier for me

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It was faster but not really easier. Mine were both super fast and both times baby’s heart rate dropped really low, with the first he needed the vacuum to get him out quick and safe, with the second the vacuum was being set up when I pushed him out myself. My second the contractions were much more painful.

Answer

My labor was easier but the delivery was harder because she was over a pound bigger than my first and my contractions didn’t feel like they were strong enough to help me out so her head got a little stuck so I had to work that much harder to get her out. I didn’t have pain meds because my labor was a lot faster than my first, the recovery was alittle harder also, she had been sitting so low for so long that the nerves in my hips felt like they were dead for almost 2 weeks after.

Answer

I got induced both labors and I’d say they both had pros and cons.
With my first my labor was longer, but my epidural had time to kick in. I hemorrhaged while delivering my placenta so that was odd, but I recovered fast. Baby was healthy.
With my second I got induced again but didn’t need pitocin thankfully. The cervidil put me into labor and I was able to progress on my own after removing it. But that labor was very quick and intense and didn’t have time for the epidural to kick in as I went from 4-10 within 2 hours and didn’t get the epidural until right before I hit 10. My child also had shoulder dystocia but no nerve damage and she was other wise healthy. I didn’t hemorrhage this time.
So I’d say yes my 2nd was easier but still had some issues. Not every woman will experience such issues. Labors are so unpredictable.

Answer

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Was your 2nd L&D easier than the 1st?

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