All women fear to a greater or lesser extent the time of delivery, when we are supposed to be condemned to give birth in pain. And normally, it hurts. But as they say: it will not be so long if we repeat ... and the pain is soon forgotten. Further, Does the second birth hurt less than the first?
It is difficult to predict, because each woman will have had a different first birth and the same will happen with the second. But the chances of having an easier and shorter delivery to the second (and subsequent) are greater. Let's see why.
First versus second birth
A longer period of dilation is needed for the first birth because it is the first time the woman's body is preparing for a baby to cross the birth canal. This channel is now more spacious and offers less resistance to dilation.
The uterine musculature is more lax and although active dilation will not be an effortless process, it is likely that such an effort is significantly less and less painful, which is what may have traumatized some women in their first birth.
The biggest difference therefore in a second birth lies in the amount of effort that the woman has to make pushing for the baby to be born vaginally. Both the active dilation phase and the expulsion are usually faster, so the pain will be less.
Especially notable is the variation in the time of delivery at the time of expelling the baby, which is often born in a few minutes instead of taking hours as in the first birth.
What do the studies say?
There is evidence based on observation during the active phase of deliveries of women who have not had children compared to those who have already given birth once.
In the primiparas (the ones that give birth for the first time), the average duration is 8 hours and it is unlikely to exceed 18 hours.
In multiparous women (those that have already given birth at some time), the average duration is 5 hours and it is unlikely to exceed 12 hours.
In any case, remember that we speak in general terms and in what is most likely. But there may be circumstances that complicate the second deliveries and lengthen them, in that case the medical professionals will advise you on methods of pain relief in childbirth.
In Babies and more Anesthesia in childbirth: how many types exist and what advantages and disadvantages each of them haveOn the other hand, if in your case the first birth was caesarean section without a period of previous dilation in the second birth we would find ourselves in the first situation that a first one: the muscles of the uterus are not distended, nor is the birth canal more spacious.
If the first caesarean section was after a period of dilation, then we have a clear path for a less painful birth. Finally remember that, whether it is your first baby or you have a few, it is possible that a wide latent dilation helps to start labor and shorten it and do not forget the importance of breathing techniques.
