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YES!!! SO much better this time around! I am almost 3 weeks pp, and today is my first day back at work (I work part-time, so had very little PTO to use for maternity leave). Keeping up with two kiddos is no joke, but this time recovery was much better.

At this point with my first I was still hobbling around and super uncomfortable, but this time was so much easier and I am pretty much back to normal. My first labor was just under 8 hours but 3 of those hours were pushing, a second degree tear and at least a dozen stitches. This time around was also under 8 hours, but only 15 minutes of pushing, a super minor tear and 2 stitches because his hand was by his face. I can't vouch for anything with breech, but mine was posterior for most of the pregnancy and he ended up turning just prior to delivery.

YES! So much easier!! Really quick and short labor (was already 7 cm dilated when I got to the hospital), and no tearing! I was up and about right away.

Agree with the others that #2 was easier in all aspects!

For what it's worth, my second was also breech late in the game. I scheduled my c-section for 38.5 weeks and 3 days before my c-section I went in for my final OB appointment and he had moved head down. The recovery was a breeze! Good luck!

My second was harder but that's because I had a pretty easy recover with #1 but had to have a c/s for #2 because she was breech.

l&d was easier (vbac), but recovery was harder due to extenuating circumstances (i had to walk a lot when olive had an extended stay and i had to stay at a nearby hotel).

L&D was harder the second time, but only because my epidural didn't work properly and I could feel every contraction; with my first, I didn't feel one single thing and it was glorious!

Recovery was easier the second time - I was home four hours after LO was born and never even noticed the stitches from my second degree tear. I had a second degree tear with my first baby and found them pretty uncomfortable for the first week or so. This time, never even realised I had them!

The only thing that was harder the second time was the cramping. I never had any cramps after my first baby, but with the second, they were bloody painful for about five days. They were worst whilst BF'ing (the release of oxytocin makes them stronger) and combined with nipple pain again, it was definitely uncomfortable.

Overall though, things were much easier the second time around!

So.much.better. L&D wasn't less painful but I could push easily with my second and I couldn't with my first. I was able to walk up and down stairs 2 days pp without discomfort the second time. I didn't bleed much either. I think bleeding lasted 3 weeks whereas with my first, it lasted 6 and I was in pain.

So much easier! I had an easy 1st labor, but it was easier the 2nd time - labor was about 1/2 the time and she came out in one push with zero stitches needed.

@Beyond2: your body knows what to do. I didn't think I would remember, but I did!

Second kid was worse, but there were other circumstances.

Third was a breeze (so far!) I feel great, despite being held hostage by my little dictator.

Much easier! LO2 was born after only 45min of contractions. I didn't even have time for an epi! PP was totally fine. I had a huge hormonal meltdown with my first and zero mood changes with my second.

Everything seemed easier with #2. It was great. My labor went faster and it took me 20ish minutes to push him out instead of 2 hours with baby #1. I have pictures of me being wheeled to my postpartum room and with baby #1 I looked like a truck hit me and the second time around I looked like I just had a spa day. I was very tired and sore and had the normal recovery issues but easier to handle. Breastfeeding went better and no PP depression either.

Congrats! You got this, girl!