Are second births easier?
Just as every mom-to-be experiences pregnancy differently, they also experience labor differently. That’s true for second and subsequent babies as well as for your first. The same variables that may have affected the birth of your first baby – your health and wellbeing as well as hers, her position and the type of labor you had – also impact on future deliveries. As a rule, second births are easier – but it doesn’t always go that way. Just because your first baby was in a perfect position and you had a natural birth that went smoothly doesn’t mean you won’t need strong pain relief or assistance to deliver your second baby.
Physical changes the second time
One thing that most moms having a second or subsequent baby do find, however, is that – bar unforeseen complications – the birth is much faster. During a first labor, the cervix dilates at an average rate of around 1cm per hour (although keeping upright and active can help speed this up). However, if this is your second labor you can expect it to dilate at around 1.5cm per hour, meaning your labor may take around half as long as it did with your first baby.
This is due to the fact that during your first labor your cervix (the neck of the uterus, and your baby’s exit route) is effectively starting out from scratch when it comes to effacing (thinning) and dilating (opening up). When it comes to your second baby, the cervix is already stretched and remains slightly dilated from the first time. It doesn’t have to efface as much, if at all (this depends on how long it is since you delivered your first child) – it only has to dilate. Other physical changes remain from your first delivery. Your vagina and perineum also are slightly stretched, making them less resistant than they were during your first delivery.
These factors mean that the difference between the length of labor and delivery with a first and second baby are often greater than they are between the delivery of a second and third baby, or a third and fourth. They also mean that the pushing stage is usually shorter with second and subsequent babies. With your first baby you can expect to be pushing for anything up to two hours assuming your baby doesn’t demonstrate signs of distress that mean she needs help to be born quickly. With later babies, the pushing stage may take as little as 15 minutes and your baby may be born with just two or three pushes.
How your emotions factor in
Some moms report that their birth was easier second time even if it was physically just as arduous. Often their perception that it was easier comes down to the simple fact that they know what to expect the second time. In fact, contractions will be just as forceful during a second labor as they were during a first, which means that the potential for pain is just as great.
However, the fact that you already have experienced labor means you are more likely to understand what is happening and are more likely to stay calm. Staying calm can help you concentrate on doing the things that can help things move along easier and faster – for example, moving about, staying in upright positions, using your
controlled breathing techniques to help you ride the peak of your contractions.
Another thing that can help make your second labor easier is having the same
birth partner. No matter whether it’s your baby’s father, your mom or sister, or a close friend, they will have gone through this with you before. They too will know what to expect and what to do to help you cope with any discomfort or moments when you might feel you can’t do it.
Taking precautions with your second birth
The fact that second and subsequent labors often are faster means that you may be advised to make your way to the hospital much sooner in your labor. Take your midwife or OB-GYN’s advice, because if things are moving much faster you may not realize it and could end up feeling the urge to push while you’re still at home. As a precaution, check out gurgle’s tips for
slowing labor down or coping with an
emergency home delivery.
What can make a second birth harder?
Second babies often are larger, and this can make a second birth harder although this really comes down to the size of your baby’s head and her position. A small baby in an awkward position (with her back to your back, or posterior, for example) will be more difficult to deliver than a large baby in a good position (with her back to your front, or anterior) because being in a
good position means your baby’s chin will be tucked down into her chest and the narrowest part of her skull will emerge first.
In some cases, the pushing stage can be more difficult second time because of the loss of abdominal muscle tone many women experience after their first pregnancy and birth. And if you had a
cesarean delivery for your first baby and have your second baby
vaginally, your body may not have gotten far along enough in labor for any lasting physical changes that can make a second labor easier. If your c-section was a last minute emergency after a long period of time contracting then you will likely benefit from your cervix having effaced and dilated even if you didn’t deliver your baby vaginally. But if your c-section was planned and took place before you went into labor naturally, your body won’t have experienced these changes.
If you had a c-section first time around because
complications occurred you also may be nervous that the same chain of events will happen again. And even if things proceed smoothly, the fact that you’re effectively laboring and delivering yourself for the first time could make you as tense and anxious as a first-time mom. In these cases it can help to concentrate on the reward at the end of your labor: your beautiful baby. Concentrating on how you felt when your first baby was placed in your arms can help you stay calm.
Your second baby
One thing that will likely be a pleasant surprise is how your second baby looks compared to your first! Because she’ll likely have spent less time in the birth canal, her head is much less likely to have molded in order to adjust to the birth canal. This means it’s less likely to have a pointed shape. Because she is also likely to be slightly bigger (don’t panic – she won’t be radically larger than your first baby: just a few ounces different!) she also may look more rounded and healthier.
You after the birth
Prepare yourself for the fact that after a second or subsequent delivery,
afterpains are likely to be worse. These occur as the uterus contracts back down to its pre-pregnancy size, and are particularly obvious when you breastfeed as breastfeeding releases hormones that promote contractions.
The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.
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Last Modified: 01/02/2009