How painful is second labour?

Will my second birth be less painful? Although the sensations of the contractions are likely to be the same, most women say that they are able to cope with them more easily. Knowing what to expect and preparing beforehand play a role in this. As labour is often shorter, you won't feel so tired either (NICE, 2014).


Is labor harder the second time?

'” While most of the time the second childbirth is a much easier process, Bartos says, it's never guaranteed: There's always the possibility that baby is bigger or in the wrong position, a complication might arise, or things just don't go as expected.

How long does labor pain last for second time moms?

For first-time moms, it can last from 12 to 19 hours. It may be shorter (about 14 hours) for moms who've already had children. It's when contractions become strong and regular enough to cause your cervix to dilate (open) and thin out (efface).


Is second labour easier than first?

Now for the good news: the majority of second and subsequent labours are much quicker than the first! This only applies if you have had a previous vaginal birth, as it's this process that makes subsequent labours generally quicker and easier.

How much quicker is second labor?

The second stage of labor for a second baby

The second stage of labor (when you start pushing and deliver the baby) usually takes about one to three hours for first-time moms, but often less than an hour — and sometimes only a few minutes — for women who've had children before.


My first labor happened really fast. Does that mean my second labor will be fast also?



How long does 2nd labour take?

How long does the second stage of labour last? Usually, your baby will be born within three hours of active pushing if it's your first baby, and within two hours for second and subsequent births (NICE, 2017; Hofmeyr and Singata-Madliki, 2020). But it can be much quicker.

How long is typical second labor?

For first time mothers, the active first stage of labour (when the cervix dilates from 4 cm to 10cm) normally lasts an average of eight hours, and is unlikely to last longer than 18 hours. However, for second time birthers, this average is five hours, and is unlikely to last longer than 12 hours.

Do you tear less with second baby?

Yes. About 9 out of every 10 women tear during their first vaginal birth. It's less common for women to tear in subsequent deliveries, but it still happens. Some tears are almost like scratches that heal on their own.


Is pushing easier with second baby?

Second babies are easier to deliver than first babies. Why? Lots of reasons: Our uteruses get smarter and figure out how to do the job. All the muscles, tissues and bones have already stretched out making it easier for the baby to descend.

How is second delivery different from first?

For first-time mums, the first stage of labour (cervix dilating), lasts an average of eight hours but for women who've had a baby before, the average labour is five hours. The second stage (pushing and birth) is likely to last under two hours, compared with three hours for first-time mums.

Which delivery is more painful?

While slightly more than half said having contractions was the most painful aspect of delivery, about one in five noted pushing or post-delivery was most painful. Moms 18 to 39 were more likely to say post-delivery pain was the most painful aspect than those 40 and older.


When do second time moms usually go into labor?

The researchers found that 50% of all women giving birth for the first time gave birth by 40 weeks and 5 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks and 2 days. Meanwhile, 50% of all women who had given birth at least once before gave birth by 40 weeks and 3 days, while 75% gave birth by 41 weeks.

Are second babies always bigger?

There's evidence that second babies tend to be bigger than first babies (Bacci et al 2014). But this isn't always the case, and the difference doesn't tend to be dramatic. On average, second babies are about 100g (3.5oz) heavier than first babies (Bacci et al 2014).

Are second pregnancies more painful?

You have more aches and pains

The body very quickly begins to relax its joints, leading to more body aches with the second baby than the first.


How much earlier do second babies come?

The average delivery week for a second-time mom is roughly 40 weeks and 3 days—a whopping 2-day (average) difference. So yes, statistically, 2nd babies do come earlier by an average of 2 days (but 2 days nonetheless!).

Are second pregnancies easier or harder?

3 Reasons a Second Pregnancy May Be Easier

The average labor time for a first time mom is 8 hours. For a second pregnancy it's 5 hours. Suturing or episiotomies are less likely as your body has already stretched to accommodate the birth of a child. Testing may be easier.

Why is it harder to have a second baby?

A woman's fertility declines with age, sometimes it can be harder to get pregnant with a second child than it was with the first. When a woman has trouble getting pregnant on her own after a previously successful natural conception and birth, fertility doctors refer to this as secondary infertility.


Is it harder to get body back after 2nd baby?

Your body goes through a lot during your second pregnancy, as with the first. Weight gain, stretch marks and relaxed tummy muscles are the most common complaints. While there's no rule that says your body won't recover the second or third time, for lots of mums it's harder because there's simply less time to exercise!

Are 2nd babies usually late?

Second baby early or late statistics

Infant number two had a minimal statistical value of arriving around the same date as a first child. Anecdotally, most women will say that the second arrived a little earlier than the first.

Is normal delivery pain unbearable?

Pain is subjective and can vary greatly. This means that you may have a very different pain experience from even your mother or sister. It's important to remember that the pain of childbirth is a manageable one, and both medicated and more holistic pain relief measures like visualization and massage are available.


Can there be painless delivery?

What is Painless Delivery? Painless delivery can be achieved using a form of regional anaesthesia that provides pain relief during natural labour. Epidural anaesthesia is administered through an injection on the lower back of the mother. The drug takes about 10-15 minutes to take effect.

How can I stay calm during labor?

Ways to stay relaxed
  1. Music and relaxation recordings.
  2. Focal point.
  3. Creative imagery.
  4. Massage.
  5. Water therapy.
  6. Calming breathing patterns.
  7. Progressive relaxation.


How do I prepare for my second delivery?

Advice from second-time parents
  1. Share the news with your firstborn whenever you're ready. " ...
  2. Try to get your eldest excited about his new role. " ...
  3. Know that the extra work of raising multiple children will be worth it. " ...
  4. Trust yourself. " ...
  5. Reuse an older sibling's bottles. " ...
  6. Consider all your child care options. "


How can I be strong in labour?

Regular and reasonable exercise (that your doctor says is OK) can help strengthen your muscles and prepare your body for the stress of labor. Exercise also can increase your endurance, which will come in handy if you have a long labor.

How do you breathe during labor pushing?

As your contractions become more intense, exhale in a "pant-pant-blow" pattern, about 6 cycles per minute.
  1. As your contraction starts, take a deep breath in through your nose.
  2. Exhale in 2 short pants followed by one longer blow. ...
  3. This breathing in and panting out should take about 10 seconds.