What is Second Pregnancy Labor Like?

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Labor during your first pregnancy is definitely a difficult time, especially when it’s difficult to determine if you’re experiencing false labor. Second pregnancy labor can also be confusing, as your uterus will experience far more false contractions, or Braxton Hicks. If you’re curious what to expect with your second pregnancy labor, here’s a look at what will be different.

Second Pregnancy Labor: What to Expect
Second pregnancy labor is often much shorter, as your body as already experienced the process and your cervix has lost some rigidity, making it much easier to efface and dilate. You will, however, experience more false contractions known as Braxton Hicks. Your second baby is also more likely to be carried lower and farther from the spine, so he may not drop easily into your lower pelvis, which may be one reason these practice contractions don’t trigger labor so quickly. With more Braxton Hicks and a uterus already familiar with childbirth, your labor will be shorter and it will take less time to push the baby out.