3rd time around Labours - any good experiences please ?!

[Tummum]

I am 36 weeks with DC3 and having read a few MN threads am starting to panic about having a loooong labour and nightmare afterpains this time around. Are there any positive stories of third births to reassure me ?!!

TIA

[sweetkitty]

Third labour 95 minutes from start to finish.

You do not want to hear this but afterpains were horrible BUT I got some nice cocodamol tablets and then all was well.

[LargeGlassofRed]

my third was lovely home birth in a pool 3 hours from first twinge till she was born.
Afterpains were worse than first two but paracetamol and hotwater bottle helped alot.

[childrenchildreneverywhere]

My 3rd labour was lovely, 5hrs, no pain relief - wonderful, enjoyed every minute of it .

Ditto the afterpains though, sorry . I'd be prepared with some voltarol from the GP in advance.

[Blondie79]

My third was the best of the lot! No pain relief and about 6 hour labour. But yes theafter pains are bad! Good luck!

[rainbowdays]

I had excellent third birth. I like you had read so many nightmare stories and had prepared myself for the worst. But did not happen.

First 3 contractions, I did not realise they were contractions, just thought baby pushing uncomfortably, but with the third contraction while typing on mn!!!!! I started the contraction timer on my computer and continued to mn.... three contractions later looked at the contraction timer to find they were just 4 mins apart and lasting a minute. So got my mum and dh out of bed. Then realised that things were progressing quickly and could not make it to car. Rang for midwife, ambulance etc. An hour later ds2 born at home. The other two children just getting up from sleep!

Afterpains were not great for a day, but then passed an enormous clot (obviously bit of retained placenta) and then afterpains were minimal, definitely no worse than previous times.

So third births are unpredictable but can be great! Definitely not put me off having another!