Third baby - has anyone had a longer / worse labour?

[flightattendant]

Ok I just had Ds2 88 weeks ago! But I have of course totally forgotten my vow 'never to do that again' and am just wondering about all of this before I get to a place where I really have the option, iyswim (not even a boyfriend at the moment let alone a DH!)

My first was an 8 hour labour, start to stop - no real problems but at hospital with epidural, episiotomy etc. 6lb 9oz.

Second was (as some of you will know!) at home, 3.5 hours from first ctx, no meds and he was OP but Ok. Also a borderline PPH, nothing the midwives couldn't handle - even if they were a bit scared! He was 8lb 10oz.

But with a third child, I am wondering if it might be even quicker - or has anyone's been slower? I'm nowhere near a hospital, so the thought of having problems scares me as it would be hit and miss if I could be transferred quickly enough (takes about 45mins by ambulance) and because my second onset was so fast (every 3-5 minutes pretty much from the word go) I had no chance to actually get to hospital in the first place.

So I'm afraid I'll be stuck at home, with a very keen-to-come-out baby, and nothing anyone can do if it goes tits up.

Please tell me your experiences! Thanks

[flightattendant]

That was 8 weeks btw

[flightattendant]

Might think about moving house...

[PippiLangstrump]

can't help I am afraid as only had the one and was a 5 hour labour.

so very interested to hear other stories as I will do it again soon and worried like you that he/she might pop out in M&S .

[PrettyCandles]

1st two labours were very long (48h and 27h from first ctx to holding the LO, though of course by medical criteria they were rather shorter ). The 3rd was 2h from start to finish, and by far the easiest birth - and much the biggest baby.

With each labour I was more in tune with what was happening inside me, and better able to gauge the urgency with which I needed to get to the hospital. With no2 I arrived just before I went into transition. With no3 I was meant to be having a HB, but there were no mws and by the time our babysitter had arrived I knew I was about 15mins from wanting to push. So we called an ambulance, and 15min after arriving in hospital I was holding no3.

[mymama]

My first was 7 1/2 hours from first twinge to holding dd in my arms. 7Lb 9 oz.

My second was 1 hour 15 mins from water breaking suddenly in bed without any pain to holding ds1 in my arms. 7lb 3 oz.

My third was 4 hours 15 mins from water breaking suddenly on lounge without any pain to holding ds2 in my arms. 8lb 3oz.

So doesn't really matter I think. Every birth is different.

Incidentally, my sil and two best friends also had longer third labours.

[annobal]

MW told me that 3rd babies are notoriously unpredictable and that was certainly the case with mine.

1st born at 31 weeks and very quick labour, 2nd born at 37 weeks and labour 8 hours, 3rd born at 41 weeks and labour about 12 hours (but pushing for 7 as baby got stuck - had he not been stuck would have been about 4 hours).

[Trinityrhino]

I would ssy that all births are totally different not neccasserrily (can't spell that) because of the second or third.

BUT having said that my first two were medium length and I needed inducing.
but with Gecko it was very fast once it got properly started. no need for any induction at all, seemed like my body really know what it was doing third time round, I got to 5 cm without any pain relief and then it was only 2 and half hours till I was holding her and I had had some gas and air and when it came to pushing it was just an amazing experience. There was never a moment when I had any choice about it. my body tokk over and she was born with waters intact.
It was by far the best birth I've had.

[MrsTittleMouse]

I heard that from a friend too; that by the third everything clicks into place. She told me that she had a marvellous third birth (something that she wouldn't have said about the first two).
I don't know if I'll be testing that theory myself.

[harleyd]

my first was quite quick at 2 hours 40mins (induced)
my second was even quicker at 50mins (induced)
i had expected to be quick with the third and true to form she arrived in 11mins (started myself)
my fourth was 35mins (induced)

[crayon]

DS1 was 4.5 hours established labour despite being back to back, and obviously my first.

DS2 was only a couple of hours from first twinges.

With DS3 I had pains but was sent away from hospital at 11.30pm having been told I was not in labour and though I was 1cm dilated, all women who have had previous children are 1cm dilated all the time anyway, apparently. Within an hour and 45mins later I had had him. He had been back to back too but had turned before coming out which is why I had the early pains but had not dilated.

So much depends on the position of the baby. It was a very start stop thing with DS3 though. I thought I was in early labour many times over the fortnight before I actually was. The same has been true with lots of my friends also having their third child.