If you gave birth early 1st time round, did you give birth early second time round?

[Sufi]

Am 31 wks pregnant with DC2. With DC1, waters broke at 36wks, no contractions, had to be induced. DC1 was fine, jaundiced & very slow to feed/gain weight, but otherwise OK.

As the birth approaches I am getting nervous that this might happen again. MWs not at all bothered by the fact that my waters broke so early first time round. I did raise the possibility of Strep B being the cause, but MW extremely dismissive & just said '40% of the population have it & you won't get your homebirth if you have the test for it.'

FFS, I am not arsed about homebirth, more about carrying a baby full-term and not going into premature labour.

Does anyone have experience of second time round if you gave birth early 1st time round? Is it inevitable that DC2 will come early or was DC1's arrival 'just one of those things' as the MW told me?

Am going to be on tenterhooks from 36wks onwards... please help!

[stnikkilarse1978]

Not me. First baby came at 38 weeks and 6 days. Second came on due date. That last week was very frustrating. It almost felt like I was late as I was so sure the second would come earlier than the first!

[ChasingSquirrels]

yes - ds1 37+0 (waters broke 10.30pm, labour started about 11pm, he was born 0.36am). Slightly jaundiced, very slow to wake-up/feed, although when he decided to do so at around 3 days old there was no stopping him.

ds2 - 36+6 (waters broke 11.30pm, labour started around 11.40pm, he was born just before midnight). He was completely fine, homebirth and no need for either of us to go into hospital.

[noodle6]

I gave birth to my first baby at 38 weeks. My second baby was late, 10 days past due date. My third baby was born somewhere between 39 weeks and due date, so in answer to your question, no its not inevitable that the baby will come early the second time round even though the first one did. I just don't know if this sort of thing is really predictable... But I can sympathise with your antsy feelings at the moment. All I can say to you is to try and relax. I think at this late stage of pregnancy, you may trigger an earlier labour if you are stressed out at all for whatever reason...

[Sufi]

Thank you... it's just so frustrating & I am prone to being anxious so will try & relax as you suggest noodle. It's made worse by the very little contact I've had with MWs & then when I do see them, they just seem to want to rush me out through the door...

[trytobebrave]

I had my ds at 37+4 and he was pretty poorly even though he wasn't officially premature. I worried the whole of my pregnancy this time that the baby would be even earlier and have worse health problems but I am now 41+2 and panicking about induction! So in my experience no, one early baby doesn't mean a second one will be. I'm sorry you're so worried though, hope you can get some reassurance from your midwife soon.

[midori1999]

DS1 born at term, DS2 born at 38 weeks, labour started with my waters breaking but contractions followed, DS born at 37 weeks. No problems with any of them due to when they were born.

Most babies born at 36 weeks are absolutely fine. My friend had her twins at 35 weeks and they didn't even need to go into special care and came home after a couple of nights on the ward.

[SpangleMaker]

DS born at 35+5 after waters went the day before. No cause identified - DS was fine, although a bit sleepy and slow to feed so developed jaundice. He didn't need to go to SCBU.

DC2 40+1 and counting....

[Fortress]

I'd love to know if it works third time round?
38 weeks for ds1 and 37.5 weeks for ds2.
Sorry for interrupting!

[Iamcountingto3]

DS was 4 weeks early (36 weeks to the day) - like you, spontaneous waters breaking, although I then went into labour proper about 10 hours later
DD came 2 days late - although I had serious brackston hicks (never can spell that..), backache etc at exactly 36 weeks & was convinced it was all happening again!

Fwiw, at the time, I was told that having a prem baby for no obvious reason) was 1 in 10, and that having a prem baby increased your chances to (I think) 2 in 10. In other words, you are much more likely NOT to have a second baby prem than to have two prem babies.

I felt very wierd in the last 4 weeks of dd's pregnancy - very much that I was on borrowed time.

[sheeplikessleep]

DS1 born at 37+0. We were in hospital for 7 days - he was in SCBU, tube fed, on intravenous antibiotics, bilibed etc.

DS2 was born 37+1. Totally well and healthy - fed like a trooper from the off, we were home the following day.

Both my sisters gave birth at 37 weeks and 36 weeks, their LOs were absolutely fine.

[franfoxy2003]

DS waters broke at 36 weeks nothing happened, was induced at 36+2 he arrived 36+3

DD had a sweep at 39 weeks due to GD was being induced at 39+5 sweep worked she arrived 39+3..think she would have been late if it wasnt for sweep or the fact i was being induced at 39+5

the last few weeks dragged with her was really hoping she would arrive early like DS did

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Three days early with DD1 (so not all that early), but 9 days overdue with DD2.

Then almost on time with DS (went into labour on due date and he was born early hours of the next day).

Currently waiting for number 4 - due in 3 days... Who knows what'll happen this time?

[MiasMARY]

32 weeks with dd. 27 weeks with ds.

I've got an Incompetant cervix.

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Also, someone mentioned up thread that stress can trigger early labour - I'm sure it can. But the opposite is also true - the stress hormones can also inhibit labour - though this maybe more once it's started, if that makes sense?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry no.

DC1 38+1
DC2 40+1

[HettyAmaretti]

DD 39+1
DS 39+4

[LHmum]

DD1 38+5
DS1 38+2
DD2 38+3
DC4 not due until August so will have to see if I continue to follow this trend but think I probably will as my mum was early with all 5 of us and my sister was early with her DS too.

[Swaliswan]

DD1 34+6
DD2 39+2
DS 37+0 (although I was admitted and treated for pre-term labour at 32+6)

[asdx2]

Ds1 at 37+0
Ds2 at 40+1
Dd1 at 40+9
Ds3 at 39+0
Dd2 at 40+3

[Sufi]

Thanks everyone - seems like there's no pattern at all!

I've had a better chat with the midwife since I posted, & also been to the (new) hospital where I'd have to go if the baby comes early, & that's helped allay my fears a bit. I'm aiming for a homebirth but won't be able to have one if the baby comes early or in the same way as DS1... so am hoping the baby at least hangs on til 37 wks this time round...who knows. I'll let you know in a few weeks!