What the hell? 3rd labour!

[LJBanana]

I'm 39+3 with number 3 so you'd think I'd know by now what was going on. Last night I started having fairly painful tightening a but with no real regularity. I kept having to dash to the toilet. Through the night I was woken several times by them and was sure that labour was becoming more established. This morning 5.45 regular for about 40 mins-again dashing to the loo. Then nothing. At all. For hours.
So are 3rd babies notoriously this much fun? I have also been having pains across my back. Other 2 labours thick and fast staringht away, so I'm not used to this messing about!

[JoinTheDots]

I am 39 + and had the exact same last night! Nothing now though. Mine is 2nd pregnancy though, not third... maybe it is just babies being born at the start of March that like to mess us around. I really want it out now though.

[LJBanana]

I'm trying not to get too hopeful about it. It's so misleading, I was at the point last night of reaching for the phone to warn my mum that I would probably be ringing back late at night to come and watch the other children.
My no 2 literally flew out, so here's hoping for you when they stop messing you around!!

[5madthings]

Very common for third babies, but ime I had lots if stop start Labour but once it got going properly it was very quick.

Midwife said this was very common with third babies.

[LJBanana]

Thanks for replying. How long did you have the stop start bit for?

[bramblina]

My first dc was textbook, due date, excellent from start to finish. Dc no2 was a week early (according to hosp but perfect for my dates. We stupidly trusted the hosp though and dh ended up in Spain at the time) and then with dc no3 I had nothing for a week after my dd then no movement one day so sent to hosp, monitored, induced, didn't work for a day then bam! 5am in to intense contractions and he arrived 10am. The moral of my story is I'm pretty sure they could not have been any more different if I had written the story.

Go with your gut instinct....I wish I had with dc no2 when I got incredibly upset on the Friday pm just before dh headed off to work and he offered to stay at home "no, no, I'll be fine, I'm just being silly" I said........I went in to labour 2 days later.

Phone your mother

[5madthings]

A couple of weeks, I ended up almost three weeks overdue (opted for expectant management rather than induction) sorry! But all five of mine have been two weeks + late, I seem to cook them well!

[LJBanana]

Ha ha oh god I tears have sprung to my eyes at the thought of another 3 weeks!! My DP has asked me about 1000 times today if anything is happening-it's worse than the text messages that start coming through!
I know not to get worked up about it. DS1 was a day early and DS2 eleven days late so I know how unpredictable it is, it's just the messing around-start coming or don't and we won't fall out!!

[Mumof3xx]

I had stop start labour for days with dc1&2

Dc3 was five hours from first twinge to having her in my arms

[JamInMyWellies]

M DS3 was 2wks over. I had 5 stretch and sweeps!! I had accupunture too. I had 24hrs left to deliver at MLU before i was transferred to the hospital. I had been stop start for wks. When he decided to turn up it was very fast 2hrs 30 mins start to finish.

Good Luck!

[PastaandCheese]

It's maddening isn't it. I had this with DC2 and was worn out with the effort of contracting without getting into a rhythm.

Hospital commented it is more common with #3s + if that helps.

As others have said it could be very quick when it does get going. I took 50 minutes to get from 3cm to delivery!

[LJBanana]

I hope so, my second was 50 minutes from arrival at the delivery suite to being born, so in my head last night when things 'started' I was thinking of the speed in which it could potentially develop, which in turn probably made it a little more frustrating!
Currently bouncing on one of those balls as the pressure down there is teeth clenching!!

[MummyPig24]

I had irregular tightenings and pressure for a week. Thankfully actual labour was quite quick in the end!

[LetTheRiverAnswer]

The stopstart third labour was true for me. I was quite smug because my first two births were super fast(45mins all in)and I assumed third would be the same. I was so confused but it turned out he was back to back. He was still born 3 hours after things really started but I had to work harder than with the others. But my friend that had long first two labours had an amazing third, so it can go both ways. Good luck

[SummerRain]

My third was stop start for weeks but when it started properly he flew out, much faster labour than my first two.

It seems to be quite common with thirds.

[LJBanana]

So some strong tightenings before midnight, and just been awoken by one. Is it going to start again or will I just have extra baggy eyes in the morning??

[nirishma]

Hi op how exciting you're almost there! Sounds like a back labour... irregular contractions, urge to pee and woken out of sleep by them, achey back ... you are describing the start of my labour exactly! Go with your gut instinct as I hear third babies come quickly (I've only the one child) and with a back labour irregular contractions are quite normal . At least that was the midwive's excuse when they wouldn't let me come to the labour ward yet and when I insisted they checked me I was 7cm dilated!!!

Warm bath is the best painkiller plus diamorphine is awesome.

Hope this helps. I know every labour is different but my mum had a back labour with me and it was just like my experience and the labour you are describing (she's had other kids too to compare).

Good luck!!!

[LJBanana]

Thank you . It seems to be 2 baggy eyes though! I have the midwife this pm so perhaps something more might have happened, or she can shed some light. Either way no 3 is giving me the run around!!