3rd time mum midwife warned me of unpredictable labour? anyone have a terible 3rd labour? or a great one?

[maddyer]

I am pregnant with my third and planing a home birth my first Labour was dreadfull very long very painfull and ended in a blood transfusion! but my second was wonderfull! relaxed not too painfull and very quick but my midwife said to me at booking in that I should expect an easy time this go as third time Labours are notoriously unpredictable and that it could be just like my first?? God i hope not! anyone have a quick easy third go?

[IngridFletcher]

Mine was fine but very fast (1.5 hrs from first twinge) so painful.

[notnowbernard]

my 3rd wasn't horrendous but was the hardest (most painful) by far

wasn't long, wasn't quick so that was ok

[Rosebud05]

Sigh. Why do people say things like this? So unhelpful - she hasn't a bloody clue what your labour will be like.

My 3rd was 3 fast and furious but absolutely fine and hope that yours is too.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

I am due number 3 in a few weeks, so everytime I have seen 3rd timer threads I have read them avidly.

My conclusion:

It seems that on average they are fast and painful and I think they're classed as more painful because they are so fast.

Nobody knows what is going to happen - not even the MW.

[maddyer]

Do you think she might have just said this so that I brace myself and dont go into it excpecting easy and therefore it's not as bad as I thought! I offten wonder if thats why my second seems so great to me as it couldn't get any worse than the first - my expectations were very low! I even remember telling my husband what to do if I died I was that worried after the first! maby I'm mad even thinking of a home birth? gosh notnowbernard most painful oh no!!

[nunnie]

Aren't all labours unpredicatable? What an odd thing to say.

[NickNacks]

My third was the middle of the three when it came to everything.

Time, weight, pain, gestation etc

The biggest difference was her sex though!

[PinkElephant73]

Just had dc3, was shorter labour than the other 2. It still hurt a lot but at least it was over faster!
I think as a general rule, labours tend to be shorter the more babies you have had. Possibly it may hurt more if your body has less time to get used to the pain . I had pethidine with dc2 shortly before the pushing stage and so I did not experience any pelvic or crowning pain with him at all But with dc3 found this bit very painful indeed!

[mummysleepy]

I have had people saying things like this to me too (due DC3 in 8 weeks) and was starting to feel quite anxious. Obviously worrying is pointless so I decided I better do something about it- I got the natal hynotherapy cd and have started listening to it. I already feel less anxious so I think its having some effect. I am also thinking more about visualisation during contractions, breathing etc so hoping this will be of some practical use during labour.
And to be honest even it it doesn't help in labour at least I won't have spent months worrying about something which is outwith my control!!
I am not sure what stage you are at but it might be worth thinking about something like this

[NickNacks]

You'll be fine OP- I've had all 3 of mine at home- so peaceful and full attention of midwives!

[Kimmie30]

My third labour was fine :)

DD1-easy straight forward labour 12 hours in total. Did have an epidural. Was a positive experience! No stitches not even a graze.

DS2-awful labour. Did'nt progress had to have hormones via a drip. 32 hours in labour. Had an epidural and it only worked one side. Baby got stuck. Shoulder dystocia. I had 1st degree tear inside and out. Baby in special care for a while (he is a perfectly happy and heathly 8 year old now).

DS2-after the panic of my second birth this was straight forward and quite quick 5.5hrs. Had no pain relief. Slight tear due to where old tear was but only a couple of stitches. A positive experience.

I am sure you will be absolutely fine. We all worry though don't we. I am 9 weeks into my 4th pregnancy and already starting to worry i will have an awful birthing experience xxxx

[maddyer]

Such a mine field of worry! am 27 wks and the nearer it's getting the more I am fretting! I was 7 days overdue with my first and he weighed 7lb.7oz and awful labour! my second was 10 days late and 7.12oz and great! what oh what to expect this thime? If I go any more overdue then i will have to be induced this time thus forgoing the home birth plan and I seem to be getting later and is it true that the more babies you have the bigger they are? because if so I am due a big one this time! ouch!

Sorry for the mental ranting! am sure it's just hormones!

[maddyer]

Such a mine field of worry! am 27 wks and the nearer it's getting the more I am fretting! I was 7 days overdue with my first and he weighed 7lb.7oz and awful labour! my second was 10 days late and 7.12oz and great! what oh what to expect this thime? If I go any more overdue then i will have to be induced this time thus forgoing the home birth plan and I seem to be getting later and is it true that the more babies you have the bigger they are? because if so I am due a big one this time! ouch!

Sorry for the mental ranting! am sure it's just hormones!

[buttonmoon78]

What a loadofoldtosh old wive's tale!

All labours are unpredictable. My second was longer than the first, third shortest of all (induction began about 9am, born 11.35pm - I don't really do short labours!). It was, however, the hardest but then he was OP so it was horrid.

This time (July) I have no expectations whatsoever!

Maybe 'they' say this because as a 3rd time mum you feel you should know what to expect but I'm telling you now - it was as confusing and scary 3rd time round as 1st!

Good luck!

[buttonmoon78]

wives'

[ImBrian]

All 3 of mine were born day after there due dates.
First DD I was in labour 24 hrs, established 9 hrs and pushing 1 1/2 hrs, had meptid early on, g&a and I tore, most painful delivery.

2nd DD was in labour 24hrs, not sure how long in established as I was 5 cm when I got to hospital could still walk etc and then had her 1 3/4 hrs later after about 2 mins pushing. Had G&A and no tear.

DD no 3, waters went (waters went just before 2nd stage with other 2) after 24 hrs no appearance and not very strong contractions so went in to hospital where they induced me. HAd an epidural as worried that it would be more painful due to induction. Ended up with a ventouse after about 12 hours in labour. Personally I believe it was because I had an epidural and if Id left things alone I would have had her quicker and naturally ( I couldnt push). Least painful but most stressful

Now pregnant with baby number 4 but no idea what they say about those!

[mamatomany]

My third labour was back to back, nobody could have guessed that, but they are starting to develop a nice pattern of around 10 hours which is comforting to know should i ever be mad enough to go for number 5.

[maddyer]

Thanks buttonmoon I needed that reality check it is what it is I guess! and I'll get what I get! hopefully I get a lovely healthy baby and I can smile about it afterwards you do forget the realities of it and it can't be that bad if we are all doing it time and time again huh? I'm due July also the 4th1 you? have you found out what your having or are you keeping it for a surprise?

[redrobin]

3rd was the best - really really fast and intense (6cm to delivery in 3 minutes eek) , but over so quickly, no stitches. what a lovely reassuring midwife you have - how totally insensitive! good luck, you'll be fine.

[thefirstMrsDeVere]

People said the opposite to me. They said my third would 'fly out' and 'your body doesnt forget' After a 15 year gap it bloody does!

It wasnt horrible though. It was ok. I had a home birth. It was fairly quick although the bit they dont count (before established labour) went on for a long time.

He was smaller than my second DC so i was a bit suprised as I thought they got bigger as you went along.

You'll be fine

[gnushoes]

All 3 were home births. Number 3 was a day of fiddling round and not very painful contractions which never really got going although close together. Lay down and watched end of film with dh wham. Proper contractions. Rang for midwife, urge to push within minutes midwife arrived and basically caught baby.

[maddyer]

Ok so what about after pains? any real bad experiences with those? I had been warned about them when I was expecting Ds 2 but nothing quite prepaired me for them I had them when ds was 2 days old they came on in the middle of the night and were litterally like a rerun of my labour but more frightning as I knew there was no baby they came and went every five minutes and were agony my husband wanted to call an ambulance he was that worried they eventually eased off and I never had them again I mentioned it to my midwife the next day and she said I should have called her as I colud have had some gas and air! others sometimes do apparently! yet i had never heard of anything like it!?

[maddyer]

Wow gnu that is so so what I want! theres no one I can request that with is there? jim'll fix it type thing??

[buttonmoon78]

I think you've just joined the July thread Maddyer so I'll see you over there! Due 29th.

Yes I do know, it's a boy (currently got dd1, dd2, ds1 in that order) so a nice balance! But only people on here know so shh!

In reality, I'm scared as hell about doing it again, but in the grand scheme of things, it's only a few hours - a mere speck in the time-line of my life. Hmm. I'm not convinced, are you?!

I think that this thread has conclusively answered your question though. She was talking tripe.

[buttonmoon78]

Missed your post!

I never had afterpains unless I was feeding. But, oh man, they were horrible. I'm really really not looking forward to them this time!