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Second birth. Features of the second birth, important points

Second birth and postpartum

Having given birth to the first child, many are sure that the second or third time everything will go according to the already familiar scenario, and the postpartum period will be like two drops of water similar to the previous one. Is it so?

Strange harbingers

Rarely are pregnant women who consciously catch their harbingers. Usually everything that happens (for example, an unbearable desire to arrange a general cleaning or have a party with friends) for a period of 38-39 weeks is perceived as normal. You think that there are still a couple of weeks left, because the first-born was born on time. Multiparous women should be especially careful at the end of the third trimester of pregnancy. Listen to your body. Notice mood swings, unusual desires and thoughts. Mothers of many children identify several typical signs of an upcoming birth:

Increased training bouts;

The prolapse of the abdomen;

Drowsiness, distraction;

Colorful dreams about childbirth and a baby;

Unusual domesticity or, conversely, a craving for parties;

Exacerbation of characteristic features (for example, nervousness, lethargy, tearfulness, grouchiness, etc.)

If you have an unusual premonition, there is a reason to check whether the bag is packed for the hospital and whether the first aid kit for the woman in labor is prepared. All important numbers (for example, the phone of an obstetrician-gynecologist) should be at hand. Make sure your mobile is always charged. Postpone long trips and business trips. You can warn your husband, mother or best friend that there is a possibility of your early resolution. This should be done if you are sure that none of them will panic and will not spread the "good news" to all friends and relatives.

Dad and older children

Be gentle with older children. Let the last weeks before the birth, he will receive maximum attention from his mother. If you have the energy, spend the day at the zoo or museum. Go together to the theater or a children's cafe. It is important for your first child to know that after the birth of a younger brother or sister, he will remain as loved as before.

Arrange a series of romantic evenings with your loved one. Go somewhere alone with your husband without an older child. Sit in a quiet cafe on the veranda with a picturesque view.

If there are no contraindications to the doctor, do not miss the opportunity to make love more often, because after giving birth, you will have to abstain for the first month and a half.

Rapid delivery

Chances are your first labor lasted at least eight hours. While the contractions slowly increased, you managed to wash the dishes, cook dinner and do a lot of other useful things before going to the hospital. In the second birth, it may turn out that you barely have time to get from the store to the house, before everything happens. Many multiparous people say that they could give birth a little more in a bus or car. If you feel the beginning of training contractions, carefully observe the sensations in your body. If you have a suspicious feeling, contact your doctor.

In rapid labor, some hormones do not keep up with others, and you have to exert more moral strength to relax and tune in to a wave of happy childbirth. And here relaxing melodies, a warm bath with sea salt, massage come to the rescue.

And then what?

After the second birth, you should adhere to bed rest for at least three to four days. Follow the postpartum diet, drink water when thirsty. Some multiparous mothers complain of painful uterine contractions after the birth of their second and third child. Don't be scared, it's just that your "experienced" body is trying to quickly get in shape. Just in case, you can report your complaints to an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Multiparous women often do not have to worry about lactation. Usually milk comes on time and exactly as much as the newborn needs. Therefore, you can forget about the pain due to full breasts or lack of milk after the birth of your first child.

If after the first birth you easily managed without a bandage, now it is better to use it or tie up your stomach and hips with a long, wide cloth until you feel that the stomach is “gone”. In addition, a bandage or garter will support your lower back in the first weeks after childbirth.

Don't ignore Kegel exercises. Starting to actively train muscles from the first days after childbirth, you will quickly get in shape. Without any doubt, your beloved husband will appreciate your efforts.

In this article:

It may seem that all births are similar to each other, but this is not so. The second birth is easier than the first. And there are reasons for this.

So, have you decided on a second baby? Of course, you need to know how the second pregnancy goes, how long the second birth lasts - 37, 38, 39 or 40 weeks, are they really shorter than the first? So many questions!

The second pregnancy and second birth, of course, will not be the same as the first. Especially if the child was not planned and was conceived "accidentally". Where to give birth, how to choose a maternity hospital and a doctor, what else is needed. The first time there were only relatives and friends, whose advice is sometimes harmful or downright stupid. But now, that is your own experience! Now there will be time and an opportunity to correct all mistakes, take into account all the nuances, and do everything perfectly! Pregnancy should be desired, and the child loved and long-awaited. After all, you will have to wait 40-38 weeks, and this is a long time.

We consider the term

It is generally accepted that pregnancy lasts 9 months, but gynecologists think differently. Obstetric term - to the first day of the last, before pregnancy, menstruation is added 280 days or 40 weeks, this is the estimated due date. Why then 9 if 40 weeks is 10 months? Doctors calculate the term in such a way as to avoid confusion. Almost every woman knows the day of the onset of menstruation, but the ovulation period is unlikely. Ovulation begins approximately two weeks after the onset of menstruation, the fetus spends in the womb for about 260-270 days, or 38 weeks, and this will be 9 months. How long the second pregnancy will last is unknown, childbirth can be expected from the 37th week. Also, the normal term of delivery is 38, 39, 40 weeks. Here are some confusing calculations.

Preparing for a second pregnancy

You need to start by giving up all bad habits. If they are not, then this is also not enough. You need to buy good ones. Healthy nutrition, physical activity, proper rest and fresh air are beneficial for a woman and an unborn child. These are common truths, but most moms and dads neglect them. Then it is advisable to take tests - both dad and mom. Inflammations, latent infections, etc. can interfere with a planned pregnancy and cause irreparable harm to the baby.

A multiparous woman needs to strengthen the pelvic muscles in order for labor to be successful. Complications, if they were in the first birth, are likely to recur in the second. If the first birth was premature - before 37 weeks, the same threatens the second time, although normal births are also possible - at 38, 39 or 40 weeks.

If a woman has had an abortion or diagnostic curettage, the second pregnancy should be postponed for at least six months. You also need to check the general indicators of health, how many chronic diseases appear after 30-40 years - tonsillitis, otitis media, sinusitis, etc., all these diseases need to be cured. Make an ECG of the heart, pelvic ultrasound, visit a dentist. Everything must be done to protect the health of the unborn child. After all, nothing can be fixed, no matter how much it hurts later. If there are hereditary diseases or parents are over 40 years old, it will not be superfluous to be checked at the medical genetic center.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is divided into trimesters, i.e. three periods. Each week of the first period brings new sensations. There is a lot of special literature that paints the entire pregnancy by week.
The course of the second pregnancy is different from the first. Much depends on age, how old a woman is. The second birth takes place differently at 20, 30, 40 years.
The uterus and abdominal muscles are already stretched by the first pregnancy, so the tummy grows faster, already at 16 weeks you can see that the woman is pregnant. Possibly faster weight gain. Fetal movement is also felt more quickly, from 18 weeks. The second child is usually born larger than the first, because the mother's body already knows what is happening and how much nutrition to give the baby.
There is an opinion that the second pregnancy is shorter than the first, but this is not always the case. A normal pregnancy lasts from the 37th completed week to the end of the 42nd. Before this period - premature birth, and more - belated. In the last weeks, you need to wait for childbirth from day to day.

childbirth

Usually the birth of a child lasts an average of 6 to 11 hours, quick births from 2 to 6 hours, and rapid births less than 4 hours. The normal duration depends on whether it is the first or repeated births. Repeated ones are all subsequent ones - second, third, etc.

Childbirth takes place in three stages:

The beginning of labor - the beginning of contractions and the opening of the cervix;
The birth of a child is the expulsion of the fetus;
Sequential - the final stage of normal childbirth.

Start of labor

A woman's uterus is, figuratively, a muscular sac. The uterus has a cervix, the narrowing of the cervix inward is the internal os, the narrowing of the cervix into the vagina is the external os. During childbirth, the uterus contracts, this is called contractions. At the first birth, contractions may begin before birth, at 38 weeks, while labor begins at 40 weeks. With repeated, immediately before childbirth, starting from 37 weeks. Childbirth can begin at 38-39 weeks, simultaneously with contractions. The entrances of the neck open - first internal, then external. In primiparous it is longer - gradually. During the second birth, everything happens at the same time, which reduces the time of delivery. In primiparas, the onset of labor lasts 10-11 hours; in multiparous, the onset of labor is reduced by several hours and lasts 6-7 hours. The onset of contractions, during the second birth, must be monitored very carefully and immediately, after their appearance, go to the hospital.

When the cervix opens completely, i.e. it is not detected during vaginal examination, the second stage of labor begins - birth.

Birth of a child

Attempts are added to contractions - contraction of the abdominal muscles. After the amniotic fluid pressure rises, the body unbends and translational movement begins along the birth canal. "Body memory" after the first birth helps a woman - attempts are faster, the fetus moves faster through the birth canal. The time of the second stage in multiparous women is reduced to 15-30 minutes, in contrast to primiparas, in which the second period of birth lasts from one and a half to two and a half hours. During the second birth, a weakening of labor activity may occur, which is associated with weakness of the muscles that move the birth. Most often this happens after the second birth. So, having passed the birth canal, the child is born. He is in caring hands, the very first, most long-awaited cry is heard. Mom is happy, at this moment in the body there is a powerful release of the hormone oxytocin - the “hormone of love”, this hormone takes an active part in labor, and is also responsible for the “maternal instinct”. A woman immediately after the birth of a child feels tremendous relief, euphoria. But that's not all, the third stage of childbirth is coming.

Departure of the placenta

The final stage of childbirth, there is a separation from the uterus and membranes, the so-called child's place and the exit of the placenta through the birth canal. This period should be very short, how long it lasts depends on many reasons, on average 30 minutes. This time is the same for the first and second births. During the birth of the placenta, a woman can lose up to 0.30 liters of blood. With repeated births, the risk of atonic uterine bleeding increases, because. uterine tissue may contract poorly after multiple births.

When to plan a second pregnancy

After the first child, some mothers begin to think about a brother or sister for their baby - after all, children of the weather are great! But it's better to wait a bit.

The body must gain strength and replenish reserves, “calm the nerves” and correct the hormonal background. Especially if a woman gives birth after 39-40 years. In a couple of years after childbirth, the reserves of important microelements - iron and calcium - are completely restored, the woman has time to relax and is already mentally ready for the second child.

According to the recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organization), a certain time must pass for a woman to fully recover after childbirth. The rehabilitation period after the first birth is at least 2-3 years. During this period of time, a woman feeds her child with breast milk - preferably at least a year, restores her health - a year, at least. This is very important for the normal development of the second pregnancy and the bearing of a healthy baby. And 38-40 weeks for the second pregnancy. That's almost three years! A shorter interval between births is fraught with adverse consequences for both mom and baby.

If the period between births is short

The short period between the first and second pregnancy is the risk of miscarriage until 38-39 weeks, complications or premature birth. But if everything, the pregnancy came earlier than planned, then you need to be careful: caution, moderation and common sense, constant monitoring by a doctor.

To conceive, bear and give birth to a child, the mother needs to restore the hormonal background and, accordingly, the menstrual cycle. It also takes time to strengthen the muscles of the pelvis and organs of the reproductive system.

A short pause, less than 2 years, does not make it possible to compensate for the lack of vitamins and microelements, and this is a possible pathology of development, slow growth and the possibility of abortion. Natural blood loss in previous births is sometimes complicated by anemia - a lack of iron, and the lack of time "for yourself" after the birth of a child often prevents a woman from carefully treating her health.

“Yeah, when I do. I just have time to spin, I don’t even have time to sleep, it’s possible to take a nap for about 30 minutes, ”that’s what gynecologists hear from every second mom. So the second pregnancy in this case is complicated by iron deficiency, and this in turn leads to underdevelopment, early childbirth, weak labor, bleeding, and after childbirth - inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system.
What else threatens a multiparous mother if little time has passed between births? The blood supply to the placenta may be insufficient - accordingly, there is little oxygen for the child, and this is hypoxia, as a result of which the development and growth of the fetus slows down. If the uterus has not fully recovered, there are internal damage and structural changes, then this can cause bleeding during pregnancy, and even miscarriage.

So, from the first to the second birth, at least 2.5 years should pass. And what about the long gap between the first and second child? A long pause, more than 10 years or more, especially after 30-40 years of age, also does not have a very favorable effect on the second birth. With age, extragenital diseases are acquired - hypertension, hormonal diseases. As a result, the risk of underbearing a child up to 38-39 weeks, the formation of fetal defects, early birth - up to 37 weeks, weak labor activity increases. The condition of the uterus also worsens, structural changes occur. And this can lead to complications with the placenta, so there are often complications such as improper attachment and the placenta adheres to the tissues of the uterus, which leads to pregnancy complications, fetal hypoxia and usually ends with an operation. And of course, the general condition of mommy is that at 40 years old it’s much harder not to sleep all night long than at 30. Although if the baby is long-awaited, then this is only a joy!

Second birth - yes!

From the point of view of physiology, the second birth is the most favorable for a woman. The body is prepared by the first childbirth, pain is felt less, childbirth is faster, the woman is psychologically ready - she fully understands what awaits her and is not afraid of it. The third and subsequent births, unfortunately, can be much more difficult - mothers do not get younger, pregnancy and childbirth is a huge stress, the body wears out. However, the incomparable happiness of motherhood will help mothers twice cope with any difficulties. Take care of yourself and the health of your children.

22.00. My husband and I are drinking tea in the kitchen ... And suddenly, without saying a word, we look at the clock, and then at each other. We smile! Is that really true? At 10 pm the two of us, alone, calmly drink tea in our own kitchen. Where are the children? Think grandma? No! They are sleeping! 🙂

It turns out that after a crazy race of 7 months, this day has finally come: both daughters have entered the regimen and by 10 p.m. they are already sleeping sweetly in their beds, and my husband and I have the opportunity to spend the evening together again, and not in attempts to calm down our treasures .

So, I hasten to reassure mothers of the weather (or a year and a half, like ours), there is life after the second birth, you just have to live to see it. 🙂 In our case, we had to hold out for 7 months. By this time, the youngest daughter had matured enough to enter the daily routine, and the eldest fell in love with bedtime stories, and now we were able to share the process of putting the children to bed: dad reads fairy tales to the eldest at night, and at this time I feed and put the youngest.

So, what are the biggest dangers for parents of children with a small age difference?

The biggest problem is probably just putting both children to bed in the evening. Because by the evening all the children begin to behave worse, act up more, stick to their mother. The younger one agrees to sleep only in his mother’s arms, when he tries to put him in the crib he immediately wakes up, and the older one (who is actually still small himself!) Also claims to be his mother and wants only her, and not his father, to put him to bed, grandmother , and even more so, does not want to fall asleep on its own.

If you walk around the room with a baby in your arms, then the older child squeaks plaintively “Mom, mom, dad!”, Which means: “Mom, lie next to me on the pillow, hug, kiss and belong only to me, at least for half an hour!” And of course, this sound accompaniment does not at all contribute to falling asleep younger.

If you give the younger dad, then she yells at the top of her voice in his arms, and of course, this also prevents the older one from falling asleep.

If you lie down on a large bed and surround yourself with children on both sides, then the older one wakes up with a desire to communicate with the younger one, help her mother calm her down, stroke, touch, command: “Tasya, pee! Pi, Tasha! Pack no!” What a dream! J

What to do in such a seemingly hopeless situation?

1. Be patient and calm no matter what happens.

2. Try to spread the process of putting the children to bed in time. For example, let dad play with the younger one and bathe him while you lie down with the older child for 15-20 minutes.

3. Come up with a fairy game for the elder: put something tasty under the pillow - a banana, raisins, an apple - and say that the fairy brought him a gift. In a couple of days he will be happy to run to bed, I guarantee you. 🙂

4. Teach your elder to read before bed and ask dad to do it. Ask dad to read fairy tales with great expression, in faces, portraying the voice of animals. Then the child will quickly get a taste and gladly let you put the baby to bed. "Mom bye! Tasya yum yum!” - as my eldest daughter says. 🙂

Usually, after a year, children sleep already once a day, which cannot be said about the baby. Therefore, if in the first couple of months there is still a chance to combine one dream in children, then the shift method often begins to work: as soon as one falls asleep, the other immediately wakes up. 🙂 Is it good or bad?

On the one hand, it is, of course, easier to manage with one awake child than with two at the same time, but on the other hand, sometimes a mother just like a breath of fresh air needs a piece of time spent alone: to recover, regain strength, so as not to completely forget about yourself-beloved and not to kill everyone around you within a radius of 100 meters.

What to do?

Use the services of a nanny, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, if possible. Send, for example, them to walk with the older child during the sleep of the younger, and you yourself belong a little to yourself. Just do not rush to do household chores at this moment! This small piece of time is given to you to restore peace of mind and rest. All the same, you will not redo all the cases in this hour, but you will have time to recover completely. And household chores can be done with children: at the same time they will learn to be independent, entertaining themselves at this moment, or learn to communicate with each other, or join in housekeeping. My eldest daughter loves to help me dust, mop the floor or bake charlotte. And with pleasure she lays out toys in front of her younger sister, teaches her to build turrets from cubes and runs faster than me to get a towel if she suddenly burped.

Take more walks with the children so that they sleep more and better, and establish a strict daily routine for children in all possible and impossible ways! The kids' rigid daily routine is the only way for you to survive this turmoil of diaper-washing-pop-walks-porridge-toys-whims-sleepless nights that lies in wait for you on the very first day you are left alone with your children.

What else interesting happens in the life of a twice-mom?

Joint walks. Here, too, the interests of children are still very different - one to run, the other - to sleep in the fresh air. And if we add to the walk the process of picking up both for a walk (the older one runs away from you, turning the dressing process into a game “Come on, mom, catch up!”, And the younger one at this time screams and sweats in 2 overalls, lying on the couch) and undressing after (the older one is naughty because she wants to open the lock herself - but she still lacks strength !, and with her whims she wakes up the younger one, while you planned to take her to the balcony and calmly feed and put the older one to bed, while the younger one fills up on the balcony), it turns out quite a picturesque picture!

Also consider getting a double stroller if your older child is not yet very comfortable walking. Or, on the other hand, it may be worth getting a lighter, more compact stroller for the youngest, even if it is less functional, but it will be easier for you to take your brood out for a walk without risking losing your back.

Take a friend with a child for a walk so that she can either look after the elders (if she has an older child) if they started a game of catch-up, or stand with two strollers (if she has a baby) while you catch your older toddler.

What else awaits you on the thorny path of twice-mom, and then, perhaps, thrice-mom? 🙂

Morning... When for some reason everyone at the same time poops, at the same time wants to eat, at the same time they ask for pens...

Crises ... Which also like to happen to both children at the same time: teeth are climbing at the same time, jumps in development occur at the same time, accompanied by increased capriciousness and stickiness to their mother, both do not sleep at night, or rather wake up in turn crying every hour or two, and as a result you practically don't sleep at all.

But the most important thing that awaits you is a sea of love, smiles and happiness! And believe me, problems with two, and then three 🙂 children are added several times, but happiness becomes more squared, cubed ..! J

And one more little bonus - after going through such a school, you will become at least 2-3 times more effective in any other business and undertakings! And this skill will be very useful to you in your future life.

So keep it up! You will succeed!

Ideally, every pregnancy should end in childbirth. In life, everything is much more complicated: desired pregnancies sometimes end in arbitrary termination, unwanted ones in abortion; childbirth is safe and complicated; babies are born healthy and sick...

Many families deliberately plan the birth of only one child, and, fortunately, there are those who are ready to give birth to several. Be that as it may, you need to prepare for childbirth both physically and psychologically, regardless of whether it is the first, second or tenth birth in a row. With the first, everything is clear to everyone:. Why prepare for the second and subsequent births? It turns out that multiparous women have as many questions about childbirth as primiparas, if not a little more. Let's figure everything out.

At what time does the second birth occur?

The opinion is firmly rooted in society that the second and subsequent births occur earlier than the first. Naturally, such a scenario is quite probable (especially since the fetus is no longer held by the cervix as firmly by its weight as it was for the first time), but it is not at all necessary! The number of pregnancies in the past or their absence does not have a significant impact on the duration of the gestation of the baby.

Your second baby can be born when it is ready. But it is also possible that he will linger in the womb: there are many cases when the second birth took place after 40 weeks, and through stimulation. So do not set yourself up to give birth at 37 weeks. However, as you know, this may well work: often the birth occurs exactly at the time for which the mother “programmed” herself: by the husband’s vacation, after the parents arrive to visit, by the father’s birthday or on New Year’s Eve.

It is perfectly normal to give birth to a second child on time or with a difference of several days from the expected date of birth. So necessarily a premature second birth is a pure myth!

How long does the second birth last?

Doctors say that the second birth is faster and easier. The birth of the first child takes an average of 11-12 hours, the second - only 7-8. During the second birth, the time is reduced at all stages: the cervix during repeated births is softer, more elastic, easier to stretch, which means it will open earlier, because during repeated births it both contracts and opens at the same time; the second stage - attempts - takes place much more energetically, since the body "remembers" previous births and easily enters the phase of expulsion of the fetus. A multiparous woman breathes and pushes more competently, and can “push out” the baby in just a few minutes.

At the same time, doctors state: each birth is unique and individual, no matter what they are in a row. Moms themselves agree with this opinion: many of them gave birth for the second time much longer than the first. Therefore, each birth is treated with all responsibility, carefully prepared and, of course, worried.

The psychological aspect of the second birth

At first glance, there can be no nuances here. The second pregnancy is conscious, which means that the woman is psychologically ready for the upcoming birth. But it is not always the case. Even the second and subsequent pregnancies, like the first, are planned or “accidental”. In both cases, the woman will again have to face the process of childbirth, which in any case is quite painful. Sometimes a woman is not ready to give birth to a second child precisely because of the fear of the birth itself. This usually happens if the first birth was difficult enough. But even those women who gave birth to the first baby easily and quickly are afraid of the next ones.

However, statistics still state that, from the psychological side, a woman is more ready for a second birth, and in the process of delivery she behaves confidently and calmly under any circumstances.

But how to force yourself to overcome the fear of the upcoming birth? First of all, you need to get out of your head all the bad thoughts about previous births, erase from memory and not discuss the difficult births of friends and acquaintances. It is easy for a multiparous woman to switch, because she has so many worries with her first child. Indeed, you do not need to be afraid of childbirth, but to prepare the first child for the appearance of a brother or sister in the house. And then, you clearly realize that no one can give birth instead of you, and you certainly remember how for the first time it was ignorance that prevented you from breathing and pushing properly: what will happen next? Now you are no longer a beginner, which means that you will be more experienced in childbirth. Believe me, at the right moment you can easily figure out what and how.

How is the second birth going? Physiological aspect

Nothing new will happen here. Like the first, the second birth has three stages: the opening of the cervix (contractions), the period of expulsion of the fetus and the birth of the placenta:

contractions. Already after the first fight, the body itself will remember how painful and painful it is. In this state, a woman may require anesthesia for childbirth, but you simply need to calm down and switch to properly experiencing contractions, thanks to which you will give birth to your baby. We'll have to remember about comfortable positions, just now a husband with an effective massage can come in handy. During the fight, you need to relax by taking deep breaths and exhalations.
Attempts. Listen to the advice of obstetricians and gynecologists and trust them completely. In order for attempts to be as effective as possible, it is important to be able to hold your breath and properly release air through the tension of the abdominal muscles. Practice shows that during the second birth, most women push correctly and efficiently, so be calm for yourself.
birth of the placenta. If during the first birth a woman felt discomfort at the birth of the placenta, then during the second, no attention is usually paid to this procedure. All emotions are directed to the baby, who reflexively searches for the mother's breasts with her lips, and the mother herself, joyful and tired, mentally prepares for the postpartum period, for returning home, where she can fully feel her true maternal happiness, being close to both children.

Twice mother. What needs to be remembered?

Preparing for childbirth. Children's room, "dowry" for the baby, things to the hospital - all this should be ready long before the expected date of birth. By the way, before giving birth, check the list of necessary things for the hospital. It is also important to choose a doctor and the maternity hospital itself, if there were problems with this the previous time. Think also about, especially if you gave birth for the first time yourself. Although it may be the other way around -, but the second time you want to refuse this option. In any case, it is better to resolve this issue in advance.
When to go to the hospital. At the first birth, it often happens that, having felt, a woman runs to the hospital, and she is sent back home. With the second birth, mommy is no longer in a hurry to go to the hospital, but it is necessary! Given the above about the transience of repeated births, do not lead to the fact that you have to give birth on the way to the hospital in the back seat of the car.
contractions. Already after the first fight, the body itself will remember how painful and painful it is. In this state, a woman may demand, but you simply need to calm down and switch to properly experiencing contractions, thanks to which you will give birth to your baby. We'll have to remember about comfortable positions, just now a husband with an effective massage can come in handy. During the fight, you need to relax by taking deep breaths and exhalations.
Attempts. Listen to the advice of obstetricians and gynecologists and trust them completely. In order for the attempts to be as effective as possible, it is important and correct to release air through the tension of the abdominal muscles. Practice shows that during the second birth, most women push correctly and efficiently, so be calm for yourself.
birth of the placenta. If during the first birth a woman felt discomfort at the birth of the placenta, then during the second, no attention is usually paid to this procedure. All emotions are directed to the baby, who reflexively searches for the mother's breasts with her lips, and the mother herself, joyful and tired, mentally prepares for the postpartum period, for returning home, where she can fully feel her true maternal happiness, being close to both children.

All this awaits you in the normal course of childbirth. However, unpredictable situations may arise, for which it is not always possible to prepare in advance. In any case, you should calm down and rely on specialists. This is the only way you can help yourself and your baby.

There are also situations when the course of the second birth can be predicted, focusing on the state of health of the woman, the course of the previous birth, and many other factors.

The interval between the first and second births. Childbirth is a big stress for every woman, after which the body needs adaptation and. Previously, our grandmothers gave birth to children almost every year. Today, interbirth intervals have increased dramatically. For a full recovery after the first, a woman will need about 2 years, experts say. After this time, you can plan a second baby. If more than 10 years pass between births, then there is a high probability of a complicated pregnancy themselves. Although in practice this is not always the case. Women calmly give birth to a second baby, both after one year and after a ten-year break.
Age of a multiparous woman. To date, there are cases that women give birth at 45 for the first time without serious pathologies. Therefore, the question of the age of the expectant mother should not be raised. However, doctors still strongly recommend giving birth to all planned children between the ages of 20 and 35 - this is the most favorable period for childbearing without any complications. With age, a woman “acquires” many diseases, so the course of pregnancy and childbirth can be unfavorable.
Health status. For a good outcome in the second birth, of course, the woman must be absolutely healthy. In the presence of chronic diseases (heart disease, bronchial asthma, etc.), repeated births can occur with complications. To make this process as safe as possible, you need to prepare in advance for pregnancy and childbirth, be under the strict supervision of doctors and follow all their instructions. Complications during the second birth can also occur if the woman had previously had abortions or had arbitrary miscarriages. Inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs before the second pregnancy will also not affect childbirth in the best way.
. There is an opinion that if the first childbirth took place with the help of an operation, then the second child will not be able to be born naturally. However, it all depends on the reasons why the woman had a caesarean section for the first time. An anatomically narrow pelvis, severe chronic diseases of the mother, severe myopia, and so on - these are the indications in which natural delivery is unacceptable. If for the first time the woman was “caesarized” because of a large fetus or breech presentation, and now these indicators are normal (the child is head down and has an average weight), then the doctor may allow the woman to give birth on her own. But it happens differently: the first births were natural, but the second ones may have a number of indications for caesarean section (serious ruptures of the cervix during previous births, suppuration of the sutures, changes in the structure of the birth canal, etc.).

Postpartum complications compared to first births can also be unpredictable and expected.

Breaks. Normal second births can be prevented by scars at the site of perineal ruptures during the first birth if they have not had time to heal. At the same time, the likelihood of repeated ruptures increases, because the tissue that makes up these scars becomes inelastic and, during repeated births, is torn along the old seam or in new places. If the previous births themselves did not leave scars, then the second most likely will not. Indeed, after the first birth, the muscles of the perineum become more elastic.
Postpartum bleeding. The risk of this condition increases with repeated births. It happens that the uterus does not contract, and postpartum discharge lingers in its cavity. Bleeding is also provoked by scars on the uterus, previous infectious diseases, and so on. However, postpartum hemorrhage can be prevented long before delivery. To do this, you need to train the muscles of the uterus with the help of special exercises.

Features of preparation for the second birth

Train your pelvic floor muscles. Special exercises will help restore muscle tone immediately after the first birth, while the second birth will be much easier and faster.

Even before the onset of the second pregnancy, go through a series of examinations, and if necessary, heal.

If the first birth was, then there is a high probability of such an outcome for the second time. To avoid this, give up any physical activity, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy. It is also recommended in recent months to refrain from sexual intercourse that causes active uterine contractions.

Well, the most important factor for a successful birth is the positive attitude of a pregnant woman. Becoming a mother twice is a great happiness! (Verified by the author!)

Good luck with your second birth! Believe in your strength!

Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy

From Guest

My first ones lasted 16 hours and two days with false contractions, so even 10 hours of the second birth will be like a fairy tale))))) although it’s scary what can I say))) we are looking forward to our boy.

From Guest

I gave birth for the first time in less than an hour, the whole process lasted 40 minutes. Right now, the second birth is on the way! Let's see how long this time I shoot))))))

From Guest

They say that after giving birth to one child, a woman becomes more confident: excitement goes away, fear of contractions subsides, and the second birth is easier. However, in reality, everything may turn out differently, because there are a lot of myths around the second pregnancy. How true they are, whether the second pregnancy is harder or easier, is it true that it is better to plan a second child no earlier than two years later - the answers to these key questions should be clarified in advance.

What is second birth

Obstetricians-gynecologists of all pregnant women are divided into groups: first-time mothers and multiparous. If there are no children, then the patient is assigned to the first group. Those who managed to experience the joys of motherhood are called second-born or multi-parous. From a physiological point of view, repeated births are the happiest and most favorable. The body no longer experiences stress from what is happening, the uterus and cervix are more elastic, pain is less felt. In addition, the woman is prepared psychologically: she knows what to expect, she is not afraid.

Peculiarities

At the beginning of pregnancy, there may be a feeling that nothing new will happen, but in reality this is not the case. Repeated delivery, as a rule, is easier and faster, because the body has already memorized the main stages and has managed to prepare for them in advance. The expectant mother is calm, she already knows how to behave correctly, what breathing should be like during contractions, she will not worry, which eliminates the mistakes that were made when the first child was born.

How are they different from the first

Judging by the reviews, the next pregnancies do without severe toxicosis, and the baby is born much faster. This is due to the fact that the body has already managed to adapt to what is happening, and the uterus and abdominal muscles are stretched by the first child. The fact that the lady is waiting for the second replenishment of the family can be seen already at the 16th week of pregnancy - the tummy is growing faster, the expectant mother is gaining weight more rapidly. The second child is born larger and larger than the first, because the mother's body already knows how much vitamins and nutrients need to be supplied to the baby.

Approximately at 18-21 weeks, the movements of the baby can be clearly distinguished. In addition, the stomach will be lower than the first time. This will lead to the fact that the urge to go to the toilet will bother you especially often, and your back will get tired more. However, even in such a situation, you can find advantages - it will become easier to breathe, there will be no such problems with digestion as last time. When re-pregnancy, doctors always advise wearing a light bandage.

Lighter or heavier than the first

The cervix during the second birth is more elastic and softer, it opens and contracts almost simultaneously, and the attempts become more energetic. This is because the body remembers the previous birth experience. The question of whether it is easier to give birth to a second child also depends on whether there were complications after the first birth, exacerbation of chronic diseases, how much time has passed since the birth of the first child. After 10 years, the woman's body will no longer be able to remember the past experience, and after undergoing gynecological operations, the cervix may lose elasticity.

What week are they giving birth

The opinion that the second child is born prematurely is not entirely correct. A normal pregnancy, regardless of the number of children you have, can last up to a full 42 weeks. However, if a woman gives birth after 37 weeks, this will also be considered the norm. Everything that happens before this period is premature delivery, and after 42 weeks - belated.

How many weeks a second child is born depends on the physiology of the woman, her age and how the pregnancy went for the first time. If a woman gave birth to her first child before the date appointed by the doctors, it is likely that the situation will repeat itself. In addition, in medical practice, there were cases when a woman herself set herself up for the birth of a child by a certain date, for example, for the vacation of relatives, the arrival of her grandmother, or for her birthday.

Preparation

Today, there are many manuals, books and courses dedicated to how easy it is to give birth to a second child. They help a woman to mentally tune in, calm down, and it is easier to endure the hardships of a second pregnancy. Experts advise not to lose sight of simple everyday aspects:

As with planning a first pregnancy, a woman and her partner need to undergo a complete medical examination before a second conception. This item is especially important for those who decide to have a second child closer to 40 years.
Pass blood tests - clinical, biochemical, for hormones and to establish the Rh factor. The latter analysis is especially important during the second pregnancy, because the amount of antibodies in the mother's body (if there is a Rh conflict) increases with each subsequent birth.
If the first baby was born by caesarean section, it is important to wait for soft tissue scarring before planning a second baby.

How are

The duration of labor activity may differ from that which was the first time. As a rule, in nulliparous women, contractions last from 6 to 11 hours. If less than 6 hours have passed from contractions to attempts, then childbirth is called fast. When a woman managed to give birth to a child in just 4 hours of torment, such labor activity is called rapid. For multiparous women, the duration is from 5 to 9 hours.

Generic activity consists of only three stages:

Start. During this period, the first contractions appear, at first weak, then with greater intensity. During contractions, the cervix begins to open, and the mucous plug comes out. Repeated births begin more rapidly, therefore, at the first contractions, a woman needs to get ready for the hospital.
Birth of a child. The frequency and strength of contractions increases - they turn into attempts. By this time, the cervix should open as much as possible so as to let the baby through itself.
The birth of the placenta as the final stage. If labor activity has passed with complications or the placenta has not come out completely, the doctor will do a manual cleaning, and if there are tears, he will suture the placenta.

How does the second birth begin?

A woman who already has children may anticipate the birth of a second child in advance. There is no way to explain this scientifically, but it is generally accepted that this is how the body gives her time to prepare. The first sign will always be contractions. Primiparas have so-called training contractions: they begin in advance, at 37-38 weeks, and do not last long. For second-borns, this process is not typical, so any pain indicates the onset of labor.

How long do contractions last

The uterus has a neck, which has two narrowings: inside - the internal pharynx and into the vagina - the external pharynx. During contractions, these entrances begin to expand in turn: first the one inside, then the outside. If the primiparous full disclosure of the uterus lasts about 10-12 hours, then the second birth will take place more rapidly - in 6-7 hours. When the cervix is fully dilated, the main task of the woman is to push to help the baby quickly pass the birth canal.

How long does the second birth last

Attempts are, in fact, a contraction of the muscles of the abdominal muscles. When the pressure of the amniotic fluid comes to naught, the baby's body relaxes, and he begins to move through the birth canal. The memory of the body helps a woman give birth faster - attempts become more effective, the fetus moves out faster. If it can take up to an hour and a half for the primogeniture, then the time of the repeated process is reduced to at least 40 minutes.

How is the second birth with a small difference

For successful conception, bearing and safe birth of a child, it takes some time to replenish the reserve reserves of the body from trace elements and vitamins, restore menstruation and hormonal levels. It is desirable that the second pregnancy and childbirth occur no earlier than 2.5 years after the birth of the first child. A shorter period of time is fraught with the risk of fetal prematurity up to 38 weeks and other complications:

A short pause can be complicated by anemia, which will lead to pathology of the baby's development, slow weight gain.
After natural blood loss, there is a high probability that iron deficiency occurs in the mother's body. As a result, this leads to weak labor activity or postpartum inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.
If, due to a lack of vitamins, the blood supply to the placenta is disturbed, the child may receive less oxygen, and this is fraught with hypoxia.
In addition, with incomplete recovery of the uterus, especially if previous births took place with structural changes in the tissues, there is a high risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy.

Possible Complications

However, even properly planned repeated births can be completely unpredictable and not go according to the planned scenario. Repeated children have:

Breaks. May appear due to scarring from previous births. If the previous labor activity was normal, then the risk of getting ruptures is minimal. As a preventive measure, doctors recommend that pregnant women go in for sports, eat food rich in vitamins and fiber.
Bleeding. The risk of postpartum hemorrhage in second births is much greater than after the birth of the first child. The reason for this is insufficient contraction of the uterus.
hemolytic disorder. This difficulty is encountered when the pregnant woman is Rh negative and the husband is positive. Complications are rare during the first conception, but subsequent pregnancies increase the risk of a problem due to the fact that a woman's body begins to produce more and more antibodies.

C-section

To determine the method of delivery, women who have already given birth by caesarean section are hospitalized at 36-38 weeks of pregnancy. Such actions help doctors monitor the subsequent course of pregnancy more closely and have time to provide emergency care. It is possible to give birth on your own after a caesarean section, but only if the following conditions are met:

only one caesarean section in the anamnesis of the woman in labor;
previous births and the postpartum period passed without complications;
the scar on the uterus is functionally sound, completely healed and does not bleed;
the fetus has a head, not a pelvic presentation;
the weight of the child does not exceed 3.6 kg;
the pregnant woman does not have chronic diseases, infections or fungus in the birth canal;
the woman has not crossed the threshold of childbearing age.

When to plan a second pregnancy

Experts recommend not to rush to re-conceive, to give the body to get stronger and gain strength: to correct the hormonal background, the menstrual cycle, to make supplies of essential nutrients, to normalize the functioning of the nervous system. According to the WHO, a full recovery should take at least two and a half years. During this rehabilitation period, especially if the woman in labor is breastfeeding, you need to carefully monitor your health, eat right and be physically active.

Too much difference is also not desirable. If more than 7-10 years have passed from the time of the first conception to the second pregnancy, gynecologists again consider such women to be first-born. During this time, the body managed to forget everything, and you will have to prepare for childbirth again. In addition, years do not add health. After 35-40 years, a woman accumulates more and more chronic diseases, bad habits, due to which the pregnancy itself proceeds with unforeseen complications: severe preeclampsia, the threat of miscarriage, genetic abnormalities in the development of the fetus.