Did the second time giving birth hurt as much as the first time?

Question

First time I gave birth I was a teenager, and it was horrific. I had severe preeclampsia and was induced, and was in labor for 30 something hours. The contractions were so bad I felt like I was being sawed in half and I didn’t get an epidural until I was 10 cm. Then it was a breeze but it wore off during the ring of Fire, then I felt delivering the placenta (hurt horribly) and felt when they stitched me up where I tore. It was horrible.
Now I’m pregnant with baby #2, and I’m a lot older and in my twenties. I am very nervous about the second time giving birth. Did it hurt less with the second?

Answer

Labor & Delivery nurse here 🙋🏽‍♀️ Consecutive births are almost always easier for mamas, so don't over-worry. Your first experience sounds awful! Poor thing😵  PreE, ineffective epidural, over-long labor, and a perineal laceration to top it off, I am sorry mama! PreE is a possibility for you again, but a bad laceration is unlikely this time as long as baby measures average. Try to time your epidural insertion better this time (maybe when you get to about a 5/6 or so?? If possible). And yes labor should be much shorter overall too🤞
I strongly suggest birthing classes (online or anything). The power of preparation, the mind, and a woman's body is uhhmazing ❤

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My second birth was way easier and better than my first. Maybe just coincidence though? I also felt I healed faster after. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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My first was traumatic but I had my second five years later and it was a relatively easy process right up until the actual birth. (I was induced but I elected for an epidural). She came faster than my first and we did have complications but she’s healthy now

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With my first I was induced and contractions were terrible😖 but with my second I started labor on my own and they weren’t nearly as bad. All pitocin and stuff makes contractions worse from everything I’ve read and from what everyone else has told me

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I’ve never given birth but my mom always told my sister and I that my birth was a terrible process (first born) while my sisters was very easy and almost painless. I’m sure it depends but my moms second birth was a lot easier and shorter

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I think going in the second time you’re more prepared for the overall experience - every birth is still going to be different but the first time having never experience child birth or knowing what your body is going to do and go through, I was a terrible judge the first time around. I didn’t speak up for myself and just assumed the doctors knew what they were doing for one thing. For another I won’t allow them to talk me into waiting “just a few more hours” for a csection. My body was in a state of failed progression for 90% of my 50 hour labor a significant amount amount of pain in my recovery after birth was caused by things that were preventable had I spoken up for myself earlier in the process.

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Not from experience, just from what I've heard from others that being induced tends to lead to a longer labor and stronger contractions. Thats not to say next time would be easier if you arent induced but I dont have direct experience in this!

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Birth is not a painless process. Both of my labors have been excruciating. Of course my first babt was 6lbs 10oz and my second was a whopping 9lbs 7oz so I'd say the actual pushing and vaginal tearing of the second baby hurt a lot worse, as well as the recovery.

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Following

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Yes, the contractions still hurt! 😝 The births were both easy for me though.

Did the second time giving birth hurt as much as the first time?

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