I am due to have my second child in about two weeks. My first pregnancy the labor was horrible. I was in labor for over 17 hours, had a forcep delivery and afterwards did not recover for over a month.

I heard that having your second child is much easier and faster. Anyone have it easier with their second delivery?

First labor was 11 1/2 hrs.
Second labor was 4 1/2 hrs.
Third labor was 1 hr 45 mins.

Each was easier for me. Each was more managable than the one before. My helpful hint is to hum when you feel contractions versus do breathing exercises. I did breathing patterns with the first two and hummed the last time and it was WAY more useful.

Good luck on your upcoming labor!

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">17 hours, had a forcep delivery and afterwards did not recover for over a month </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Yikes! Not what I want to hear right now!

How are you doing?

Oh yeah....second was WAY easier. I was in labor 36 hours for my first, only 4 for my second. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> I took a shower and put on makeup after my second one and was walking down to the nursery by that evening! Take heart! *smooch*

<small>[ November 11, 2004, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: DreamingofHappiness ]</small>

I am doing ok except for the heartburn, swelling feet and stress. I have been wondering about you. Haven't seen you post anything lately. Figured you were out doing your Christmas shopping while you got a chance. I haven't done any yet. I will either end up only buying the children or doing online shopping.

I thought this thread might scare you. My first labor was so frightening because I didn't know what to expect. I know to yell epidural as soon as I can get it this time. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" /> That was like a present from Heaven.

1st child about 6 hours [with epidural]

2nd child 2 hours [no drugs]

3rd child 3 hours [with epidural]

The delivery was quicker with each. 3rd child delivery was 6 minutes. Drugs can slow you down, but they sure make for a nicer ride. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

[says Noodle, who initially was squeemish about putting a needle in her back, due to being squeemish about needles (a non-needle noodle <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="images/icons/cool.gif" /> )in general...but found that she would have willingly stuck that needle in her own EYE after the first hour or so..heck..would have smoked CRACK if she thought it might make her feel better..and who occasionally does creepily talk about herself in the third person..just for kicks <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> ]

<small>[ November 11, 2004, 07:55 PM: Message edited by: noodle ]</small>

So far it looks like the odds are in favor of a much faster delivery. Makes me feel a little better but I'm still scared. Guess once it's in there though it's gotta come out. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Yep, second was lots easier. I mean faster.

First one we got to the hospital a bit too early...
Second one..we didn't have time for the epideral cuz he was born less than one hour after we arrived.
Third one...ditto second one...

One with drugs, two without. It's not so bad without...since it was fast. But if it's gonna drag out I'd go for the drugs. (They made mine wear off towards the end so I could feel and help push better).

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Guess once it's in there though it's gotta come out.
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">The husband of a lady I worked with while awaiting my first told me this...

"They go in a lot easier than they come out"...
Crude, but true <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Anything is better that a c-section! That seems like a real hard way to have a baby. But, of course, if it's the only way I'd take it <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Congratulation and Good Luck to you 2 Pregnant Ladies! It's a wonderful time...enjoy!

Yes, congrats!!!! How exciting!

Let's see:
Number1: Baby has to get sucked out with that plunger thing after 29 hours, epidural of course. KB says she'll never have another baby.

Number 2, Baby gets stuck in birth canal for who knows how long after 14 hours labor, no one notices including KB, courtesy of another epidural. Baby's fine.

Number 3, dunno (?), KB thinks she has to go to the bathroom, Mr. KB delivers baby dressed in a $700 suit while KB is screaming her head off on the bathroom floor.

Number 4, KB decides no more epidurals, signs on for a water birth and pulls it off in about 7 hours.

Noodle, I noticed there's something kinda cool about talking in the third person especially when the subject is labor..sort of like it didn't really happen to me, lol. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

Yup, same here.

1st child, 24 hrs, high forceps, no epidural, lots of stiches.

2nd child, just sort of popped out. LOL.

Jen

KB,
YIKES!!!!! Not good!! Not good!!!! Guess my fear right now is going into labor here by myself. Everyone says there will be enough time to get to the hospital but you never know. Especially since I have to wait for atleast a hour for my mom or WH to get here.

No, actually it was my very favorite labor. There is nothing like having your husband deliver his own baby in the world! I don't think I could have loved him more, he was my hero. It also showed me that I could do it all by myself, and I used to think I was such a wimp before that.

The reason I didn't recognize I was in labor to the point of delivery is because of the previous epidurals. I hate those things and the demerol too. UGH. I had a friend who swore by them until she watched me get the needle on number 2. She had her next two au naturale! Either way the gift of the baby is so worth all of it! Don't worry you'll be okay, after all you did this before and made it through. It will most likely be easier, the odds are in your favor. Let us know how it went and who your little one turns out to be! KB

Don't worry about it. Your doctor should be able to let you know ahead of time. If you are already dilated several centimeters towards the end, you should probably go straight to the hospital when labor starts.

With my second, I was like that. I went in for a checkup and the doc thought the baby might be under stress. So they induced me right there. The baby came out in about 20 minutes in the hallway on the way to the delivery room. The doctor still had his suit on. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

My turn to say yikes, your WH is one hour away?? I'm so sorry I missed that, how insensitive of me. {{{SML}}} I doubt very much that you are going to have this baby all by yourself, don't stress about it. You are going to be noticing every little twinge, believe me!

We had a very quick emergency response, it's just that I was a little quicker. It was quite possibly one of the most humiliating moments in my life. Every uniform in the area showed up, probably 8 or 9 huge guys in my bedroom staring at me half naked on the floor. Not one of my best moments, I'll tell ya! Anyway it's NOT going to happen to YOU!!! Keep us posted. KB

Well as of Tuesday I was 70% effaced and -2 dilated. The doc thinks I may have that Thanksgiving Day baby yet. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> I was hoping sooner but nothing I can do about it. Unless anyone knows any ideas how to start labor... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

My first was horrible....I was "super woman" denied all drugs and was in ACTIVE labor for 16 hours. He was 8.5 lbs. Ow (and I was an Idiot - God let them create those wonderful drugs for a REASON, IMO).

Cut to 6 years later.

My 2nd was FAR easier, tho labor was 2 hours longer. I had an epi at about hour 5, which I'm certain slowed things down a bit. I didn't dialate hardly at all. At hour 17 the nurse comes in and says the doc said if I'd not dialated to at least a 7 by then, they were prepping me for c-sec. LMAO. Imagine the look on her face when she said, "OMG! You're crowning....DON'T DO ANYTHING." I looked at her like she was high....I hadn't been DOING anything as far as I was concerned. She had to RUN to get the doc. 1 push and our came my tinest baby at 7.11 lbs.

Dear smallest son was the hardest on me physically (VERY HIGH BP) and his labor was the quickest and most intense. I had an epi, but still felt EVERYTHING. I was only in labor 8 hours with him, tho....only pushed 3 or 4 times. He was my biggest at 8.14 lbs (and I was induced 2 weeks early b/c HBP sometimes causes high birth weight babies - duh).

SML - It'll be over before you know it. Remind me to ask you to sniff your baby's hair after his/her bath....that's my fav, you know.

((((((((SML)))))))))

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> Unless anyone knows any ideas how to start labor... </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Raspberry tea makes contractions stronger once you start labor - but you don't want xtrations till you dialate some more so don't drink it till you're already in labor (if your doc allows you to have liquids - if you have an epi, they tend to make you 'uke, so a lot of docs only allow ice chips once labor starts).

I'd recommend a few Tums and a big bowl of TX chili <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> !

Chili sounds good but the way my heartburn/acid reflux is right now the whole bottle of tums wouldn't help.

Well, my water broke with both of my pregnancies.

1st daughter: Labor 7 hours, pushed 40 minutes

2nd Daughter: Labor 4 hours, pushed 10 minutes

For me, my second delivery was more violent in it's expediency. For 10 minutes I knew eternity. Does anyone understand that?