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Pregnancy

How did your pregnancy and birth compare to your mum's?

26 replies

cogitosum · 15/06/2013 20:14

I'm 36 weeks and wondering this as my mum had 3 quick and easy labours (and one quick but not easy because of my dsis's position) so I'm really hoping it's hereditary!

I spoke to her about it yesterday and she was saying that she didn't even realise she was having contractions til a midwife examined her and told her with my db!

We've had really similar pregnancies in that despite both of us having a tendency to put on weight, we've both carried well with clear bumps and not much extra weight. And both had bad heartburn as our worst complaint (both thankfully quite lucky and not had any bad symptoms or ms)

So was wondering how everyone else compared with their mum... Ie those whose mums had easy labours were you the same? Is there a hereditary component?

My dsis had twins and also had hellp at the end so can't really compare with her

OP posts:
Iwish · 15/06/2013 20:48

My mum was in labour 4 hours with me and 2 hours with my brother. Both labours were quick and easy with no tears etc.
My waters went and I didn't have my DS till 28 hours later in theatre with vontous :(. 3rd degree tear too.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 15/06/2013 20:54

Both me and my DM had terrible sickness and low blood pressure with pfb, both much better with DC2. DM had an awful birth the first time, both me and her were in resus, thankfully she was much better the second time. I had 2 fairly short and positive births.

cogitosum · 15/06/2013 20:55

Oh dear so doesn't necessarily bode well then!

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 15/06/2013 21:06

It was a long, long time ago and the hospital had only been open for less than a week so I wouldn't worry too much. The resus was mainly due to an extremely rare reaction to pethidine which I think only affects our family as far as I can tell, so don't worry too much about that either Smile

aamia · 15/06/2013 21:12

My mum had a 6 hour labour from first contraction to giving birth. Had an epidural and that was about it. No probs.

I had a 3 day labour with eventual induction, forceps etc. Very different!

amessagetoyouYoni · 15/06/2013 21:14

My mum went 2.5 weeks overdue, induction, long hard labour, episiotomy and forceps delivery with her first (me!).

I went 2.5 weeks overdue, induction failed, emergency section.

YoniRanger · 15/06/2013 21:18

Mum gained stacks of weight but had normal delivery with me, induction with sis.

I gained loads of weight then had a horrendous birth ending in EMCS, just like MIL.

Have mostly lost the baby weight now (2years onGrin)

AlwaysWashing · 15/06/2013 21:28

My Mum was induced as I had stopped growing/was small and was in labour for 2 hours including 20 mins pushing and no pain relief.
We had fairly similar 1st pregnancies - no ms, no heart burn and no stretch marks. I'm an only child so no comparison for No2 when I did have some ms and loads of ligament pain but still no stretch marks. Both my labours were fairly short (had an episiotomy with 1st but I don't think needed it and felt I was rushed into it) and l managed the first with some g&a and the second with nothing.

I was v pleased about the stretch marks part - apparently this IS hereditary. Grin

HeffalumpTheFlump · 15/06/2013 21:38

I haven't given birth yet but so far my pregnancy has been nothing like my mums. She was fit as a fiddle all the way through, and was commuting to and from London up until she was 8 months gone. I spent the first 4 months laying on the sofa with my head in a bucket, passing out if I dared to try and stand up. I have PGP, low blood pressure and have really suffered with round ligament pain.

I'm yet to see if our labours are anything alike!

ConfusedKiwi · 15/06/2013 21:47

My mum had easy pregnancies and quick labour with me (apparently wasn't feeling the contractions but my dad noticed she was twitching her leg every five minutes...)

I had great pregnancies, induced as post dates with ds1 which was pretty fast although ended in kiwicap as not in great position. Ds2 even faster with labour starting naturally - gave birth within about 5 minutes of arriving at hospital.

My mums cousins and their daughters have all had easy births too - we are all quite wide hipped so possibly have good child bearing pelvises...?

fanjodisfunction · 15/06/2013 21:49

The only thing similar with my mum during pg was that we had stretch marks in the same place, just below the belly button.

Her labours with me and my brother were horrible, she had a emcs with my younger brother and was told that she probably should have had the same with me, as her pelvis is narrow.

I had a fast 2 1/2 hour labour, no stitches, no drugs.

kilmuir · 15/06/2013 21:52

oh how I wish it was like mum like daughter.
mum had 3 home births, as easy as a pea from a pod apparently. me, induction, ended up with emergency section

NutellaLawson · 15/06/2013 22:05

My mum had short labours and painless contractions (she knew she was having them only because the machine monitoring her was showing them).

She had no stretchmarks and no nausea.

I, however, vommed up to ten times a day, I had no stretch marks (so yay!) and my labour was anything BUT short (71 hours WITH an induction, three hours of pushing and then forceps. And I definitely felt my contractions).

Although quick labours can be hereditary, a lot has to do with how the baby is lying. Mine was in an awkward position and huge, hence the very long labour, despite interventions.

So don't bank on having your mum's labour. I had anything but.

Oh and although my labour was horrendous by all accounts, I flippin' loved it. My epidural failed but I actually stopped caring and just got on with it. I realised I didn't even need it. The body is an amazing thing.

Best of everything to you for your big event. You'll amaze yourself.

coolpink101 · 15/06/2013 22:10

My mum and I both had similar pregnancies - constant nausea in the first 12 weeks but other than that there were no priblems/complications. Neither of us had stretch marks and we both carried in the same way (all at the front).

Our labours however were very different - her birth canal wasnt wide enough so she had to have 3 c-sections. Mine was a natural vaginal delivery that was very short (albeit very intense). The mw told me afterwards that she was surprised that i'd had a natural birth as c-sections are hereditary. I'm not really sure how true that is though? I obviously proved that wrong thankfully.

lemontwist · 15/06/2013 22:39

My mum had a terrible time though the third time was an okay birth but a poorly baby. Mum and babies all pulled through.

DC1 - pre eclampsia and long labour.

DC2 - placenta previa, breech and cord round neck. Emergency c section. I was causing problems from the outset according to my dad. Grin

DC3 - rhesus disease

I on the otherhand have been very lucky with two very straightfoward births and two healthy babies. Gas and air only and just a few hours start to finish. Maybe I'm asking for trouble thinking of a third!

TheSecondComing · 15/06/2013 22:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Startail · 15/06/2013 23:09

No idea about the details, DM is a very matter of fact get on with life, not analyse it sort of person.

All I do know is we both have two DDs eldest born in hospital and youngest born at home.

PseudoBadger · 15/06/2013 23:35

Hmmm are we talking actual experience or her re-telling of it?
As she doesn't remember having morning sickness, or being particularly unwell at all until she had to SPEND THE LAST 3 WEEKS in hospital. That's all I hear about :o
In much the same vein she doesn't remember me ever crying, or being hard to put to bed, or anything really. So useful :o

In actual fact we both had high blood pressure (although mine was PE), I was 4 days late and delivered with forceps due to shoulder dystocia.

I was induced 2 weeks early, had an emcs, DS was in NICU and I had a PPH and transfusion. I know she thinks she had the worse time....

DramaAlpaca · 15/06/2013 23:42

Mum had a planned c-section with me (I was breech) and an induction & VBAC with my brother (in the 1960s).

I had three perfectly straightforward, but long, natural labours.

So no comparison at all.

Shellywelly1973 · 16/06/2013 01:39

My mum had hideous pregnancies, complicated births and it was all v.medicialised.

I've listened to 'my birth' story for nearly 40 years...

Im the total opposite!

sleepywombat · 16/06/2013 05:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnnoyedAtWork · 16/06/2013 07:09

Totally different.. My mum had 2 days of labour followed by epidural and forceps delivery with first baby (second and third natural, easier and second was at home). All overdue.

I had a 4 hour labour from start to finish just gas and air (there was no time!) and dd was also 5 weeks early (but fine thankfully).

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AnnoyedAtWork · 16/06/2013 07:11

She also suffered from morning sickness whereas I felt no different and had no symptoms of pg. in fact would not have noticed I was pg until 5-6mo started showing.

Liveinthepresent · 16/06/2013 09:02

Totally different - my Mum had pre eclampsia and two awful inductions.
Also had morning sickness badly.

So far I have had two pretty easy pregnancies - no MS or BP issues, one straightforward labour and hoping for the same again (39 weeks pg now) .

No stretch marks for either of us - will let her take genetic credit for that.

Hamnvik · 16/06/2013 09:11

Very very similar, perfect pregnancies, wouldn't have known we were pregnant apart from the bump. My mum went three weeks overdue with me and my sister, I went 16 days over with DS. Induction, bad reaction to drip causing too many contractions too close together.
The only difference is that I was given a EMCS, my poor mum had high forceps. She didn't tell me this until after I gave birth though so I wouldn't worry about it. Strange how similar it was though!

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