39+5 with DC3. A few twinges etc but have heard of loads of false starts with third labour. Is that true? (obviously hoping not...)

[monkey32]

I have had period type pains here and there for days and this morning had a few which could have been contraction in style if I really applied some wishful thinking!

All quiet again now but am just wondering if anyone has had this experience with DC3 or in fact any DC and had labour start in the next 48 hours?

Have heard stories of third labour stopping and starting and so hope that doesn't happen to me!

[belgo]

Hi monkey32 - I had a stop start labour with dc3, but on the positive side, when labour started properly, it was fast and not as painful as with my first two babies. It really was less painful.

Good luck, try and relax, have a bath, go for a walk if you can.

[monkey32]

Thanks for that belgo. Fast and not as painful sounds great - bring it on (quite literally!).

Can I be a masochist and ask how long your stop start bit went on for before proper labour started?? It's as much so I can tell my mother as she is having the other DC while I have a homebirth and I really don't want to be caught out with a fast labour and end up having the DC around me!

Good advice too on the relax etc front - am off for a bath now whilst DS is at school and DD at nursery. Bliss!

[belgo]

I can't remember exactly how many days, probably two or three.

The evening I finally went into labour properly after putting the children to bed, called the midwife at midnight, and ds was born before 4am. The two other children then awoke at 5.30am to find their new baby brother.

[bambinoblue3]

Hi im 38weeks with DC3 and have been having loads of stop start signs but like you i read that third babies are little terrors who like to tease us.

Hope you have your baby in your arms soon.

[mummysleepy]

Hi monkey
I have been having similar over the weekend and keep thinking something is going to happen ( like waters going or show) but nothing yet. I even had slight tummy upset yesterday so was starting to get excited but that has settled too.
I thought it must be you posting when I saw 39+5 and dc3 same as me!! I bet your baby arrives first!!
I'll just carry on with my raspberry leaf tea now

[jemimapotts]

I had a stop start with my third. One midwife likened third pregnancies/labour to a rusty old car.

[monkey32]

Hi mummysleepy. It's definitely a comfort that we're in the same boat! I too have had an upset tummy here and there which also got me a bit excited, all to no avail.

Oh this waiting game is torturous isn't it?! I'm sleeping so badly now - have been awake since 3am which doesn't really help patience and mood in general. And we're not even overdue yet!

Here's to our little ones arriving on Wednesday after a quick and uncomplicated labour! Do you know what you're having? What do you have already?

[slinkydog]

I was stop start for 5 days with number 3, but once he decided to come he arrived within 20 minutes and it was nowhere near as painful as the first two - and he arrived on his due date!

Good Luck!!

[mummysleepy]

monkey
I've got 2 boys and don't know what we're having this time so very exciting!
Had a bit of tummy upset again so maybe something is slowly happening! I actually bought a pineapple today (!) and am planning various spicy meals for the next few days. I have had a bit of backache too and am currently sitting on my birthing ball doing some gentle bouncing!!
Fingers crossed for both of us

slinkydog
that would be great if it happened that way, I am on day 3 of niggles and 2 days till due date!! Not sure about the 20 min thing though, I am 30 min away from hospital and not planning a home birth. DH also works 30 min away and don't want him to miss it!!

[NorkilyChallenged]

Oh interesting thread!

I'm currently 40+8 with dc3. Had quite a few instances of strong BH/contractions, with the crampy period pains for a couple of hours that have then fizzled out to nothing (first one was at 36+4). Midwife warned me too about 3rd labours...

I've had a dodgy tummy for a week now but still nothing sigh

The trouble with this stop-start thing is - how do you know when to take it seriously if it goes fast once it starts going? Though at this rate I'm going to need an induction to get this baby shifting so it won't matter

[FlubbaBubba]

Hey ladies - my DC3 (now 4m) is fast asleep upstairs in his crib. I had silly twinges/BHXs (?) for about two/three weeks before he finally decided to make an appearance six days late, but when he did, one minute I was sitting eating my pasta bouncing like a mad woman on my birthing ball , a bit twinge-y, the next minute, contractions started and went from 0 to proper contractions in about half an hour . Went straight to delivery room when I got to the hospital as was already 6cm.

Not sure that helps you put your minds at rest though! :o

Good luck to you all! :)

[inbetweener]

I think thats why so many number three babies are born in peoples bathrooms lol. They appear to catch you out ! I have two work coleagues and a family member who have all had their dc3 at home by accident due to the stop/start nature of the labour.

Being 31+5 with DC3 this does not fill me with confidence lol

[NorkilyChallenged]

Gah, don't say that inbetweener - that's my worry!! That I'll not take it seriously and then it'll be a big panic. Or, alternatively, that I'll call in the cavalry and then no baby for another 3 days

You'd think this stuff would get easier each time wouldn't you? Had brilliant birth with dd2 sigh

[inbetweener]

yes me two norkily !! My DD2 started nice and slowly around 4pm, got to the hospital just gone 10pm and she was born at 11:55 with some gas and air.

My DH is convinced that I will hang on and he will be born in the bathroom lol. He will have me runnign to the car at the slightest whiff of a contraction so i may have to keep quiet when it comes to it and then announce its time to go !!

[FlubbaBubba]

lol

My DH is the one who said "ermm, sweetheart, as these 'twinges' you're having seem to be coming every three minutes or so and lasting over a minute, do you think it might be time to call your mum?"

[SleepySleeperson]

I'm 40+8 with DC3 and have been convinced that I am on the brink of labour for the last ten days. Apparently, though, I'm not as nothing has happened despite strong BHs, shivers, a show and lots of restless nights.

I don't think he's ever going to come.

My first two DCs were on time - I really was not prepared for this.

Sorry - not what you want to hear. This waiting is really hard! Good luck though, hope all goes well.

[NorkilyChallenged]

Sleepy - snap!

I am also starting to give up all hope. This is my longest pregnancy ever (tho dc2 was 4 days late)

[raindroprhyme]

I had a 3 weeks of niggles!!!, then 5 days after due date waters broke and DS3 arrive 3 hours later. Was my quickest labour.

[FlubbaBubba]

Yes, DC3 was 6 days late whereas DD1 was early and DD2 was on her due date.

Number 3s are naughty.

Fact.

[camdancer]

Gah! So how am I going to know when to phone my Mum to look after DS and DD? She is a 1 1/2 hour drive away at the best of times! I'm 38+some (it's my third, you can't expect me to know the exact numbers) and keep thinking that today is the day - obviously it isn't though. DS and DD were both 4 days early, but it sounds like I might have a long and very impatient wait.

[FlubbaBubba]

LOL - you have two options IMvHO

1. Buy your mum a private jet or
   
2. Get yerself an interim friend - someone who lives close by and who can babysit for the hour or so it takes your mum to get there.
   
   :o

[NorkilyChallenged]

My mum is over 2 hours away (assuming not rush hour) so we've gone with plan b, interim friend who could sit with kids til she gets here

[frida75]

I'm 38+4 with dc3 as well! I'm in a flap about what to do the dc's while I have a homebirth (hopefully)

Just to add to the stress my mum and dad, who are looking after kids when it all kicks off are away on holiday until next saturday and My DH decided 3 weeks ago to do major demolition of my kitchen. My house is thick with dust and full of builders!

Wouldn't it be great if you had a kind of LED display on your bump with a countdown timer on it so you could plan properly!

[monkey32]

So it's started but it looks as though I'm going to have a long and painful latent phase again... All I've wanted is for labour to start and now I just wish it would stop or do something significant.

Contractions started at 7.30pm and got steadily stronger although all dealable with. Midwife came at 11.30pm to examine and apparently I haven't even started dilating. How can that be with DC3??? She did say 3rd labours are like 1st and that was hellish so it looks as though I'm in for the long haul... Just wish it was daytime as everything seems so bleak at night. Am having v painful contractions every 5 mins now so I hope they are actually starting to do something. The TENS machine is being great but some of the contractions are starting to outwit it. Fingers crossed they ramp up more, the midwife returns and I can get on with having my baby! Either that or the whole thing to stop and let me sleep! Aaaarrrgggghhhhhh.........

[camdancer]

I don't think the private jet would work - she'd still have to get to and from the airfields, deal with air traffic control, and now the ash cloud! Guess option 2 is the way to go.

Hope things are going well monkey.