Is the second birth/labor different?

Question

I’ve heard the second birth is faster but MORE PAINFUL. Has anyone experienced this? Also, did you tear less the second time? I had a first degree tear the first time and am hoping for no tears this time.

Answer

I preferred my 2nd birth experience so much more than than how my 1st went.  But some of they were also different circumstances so that makes it a little harder to compare in some ways.  
1st:  water broke 37w2d but my labor didn’t start so I was put on pitocin 9 hours later to get things going.  Barely dilated when pitocin started.  It felt like a loooooong day because contractions were so strong and difficult to even get to 4cm dilated.  I ended up getting an epidural which wasn’t what I originally planned and felt guilty in the moment (although I later and currently still feel that it was the best decision and have no regrets) and that helped me to relax and the baby was born 12 hours after pitocin started.  45 minutes pushing and I had tearing, but I can’t remember the degree.  Postpartum it hurt to pee, poop, and sex hurt for 6 months til I got a prescription to help with that.  
2nd: Dilated for a few weeks leading up to waking up in mild labor 39w4d (membrane sweep 12 hours prior) at 1:00ish am.  Left for hospital around 3:00 and admitted by 4:00.  Around 5:30 asked for an epidural because I was so sleepy from taking unisom the night before and thought maybe I would be more prepared for the first days of newborn life if I had more sleep lol.   Well… it all got crazy because i dilated really fast while they tried to place the epidural and water broke and started to crown while I was still trying to sit still for the epidural, wasn’t able to have it placed and nurses were running to get my husband from the waiting room.  My baby was born within 20 minutes of that.  I had a tiny tear.  I actually didn’t think labor or pushing was that terrible.  Really being forced to try to sit perfectly still for the epidural while going through transition was the worst of it… and thus just wish I hadn’t asked for it, but I didn’t know it was all going to happen so quickly like that!  Postpartum it was mildly uncomfortable to poop initially, but nothing like my first time postpartum and sex was only mildly uncomfortable the first couple times.  So much better!  The only thing harder postpartum was that I didn’t rest as well as I should have due to doing more with my 2 year old, so I had some pelvic pain or just feeling “not right” for longer than I remember with my first.  
Takeaways for my third time around: I’m planning on not asking for an epidural because I actually preferred the natural experience of my second - but want to be able to move during the transition labor lol.  I’m taking rest postpartum much more seriously.  Lined up care for my older two kids so that I can rest more in the first couple weeks rather than trying to jump right back into routine right away.  
Sorry about such a long comment 🙈

Answer

I had worse contractions my second time but that may be because I waited longer to get my epidural. The pushing was easier, or I should say less painful, and took half the time of my first. Overall labor was about half the time of my first. I got an episiotomy with my first and with my second I tore along the episiotomy scar.

Answer

My second labour was both slower and faster in some ways…..
First: elective induction at 39w0d, cervidil inserted ~6.30pm, waters broke naturally at ~9.30pm, pushing started just before 4am, had my baby girl in my arms at 4.30am. So about 10hours from start to finish, I think my discharge papers said I was in active labour for less than 3 hours.
Second: elective induction at 38w6d, cervidil inserted 8.30/9am, irregular contractions throughout the day, ~4pm uterus was hyperactive, by 5pm cervidil was removed and they attempted to stop contractions twice, contractions continued overnight so didn’t get any sleep, was moved to birth suite just after 5am, got a 45min power nap, waters broken by midwife at ~6.15am (cervix 3-4cm dilated), OB checked me at ~7.15am and I was 5cm, had my baby boy in my arms at 8.35am. So about 24hrs from start to finish but only in active labour for 1hr 20m….
In terms of pain, both my labours were unmedicated. I felt like my second was more painful/intense but I guess that’s to be expected when you go from 5-10cm in just over 1hr and push a baby out in 10-15 min…..I also think sleep deprivation played a role in my pain perception too. I was just about to give in and ask for something for the pain, when my body started pushing baby out. 
I’m currently 35w4d pregnant and am not really sure what to expect this time around…..tbh I’m a little worried about having an unplanned unassisted home birth even though I live less than 5 min from the hospital lol
Sorry about the long post, hope this helps and doesn’t confuse you more. You got this mama xx

Answer

My 2nd was much easier and less painful than my first. He was almost 1lb smaller than my first though. Contractions weren’t that bad and I knew what to expect. I didn’t even get the epidural until I was at 8cm

Answer

My first and second were both about the same! 3 hours and very painful lol. Since I did want the epidural I made sure to ask about it right away the second time though so that it wouldn’t be too late

Is the second birth/labor different?

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