Come and tell me your 4th labour experiences

[Bobbingalongnicelyalmost]

I've done this 3 times but I seem more nervous this time than ever before and I can't put my finger on why as I have relatively fast births.
DS 17 hours (lots of intervention)
DD1 2 &1/2 hours (gas & air)
DD2 2 & 3/4 hours (gas & air)

would like to know your experiences. was your 4th similar to 3rd? shorter, longer?

[5pairsofwellies]

DC1 - 6 hours
DC2 - 3 hours
DC3 - 20 minutes
DC4 - 5 minutes and the midwife had to dive across the room to catch her!

Not going for DC5!

[Bobbingalongnicelyalmost]

Oooh I like experiences like that thanks. hopefully everyone will tell me that and it will put my mind at rest.
I would be wary of number 5 too maybe you wouldn't even notice and the baby would just be there

[Bobbingalongnicelyalmost]

bump....There must be more than one person who's been daft enough to have 4 children

[mumxof3x]

Im not sure but im watching with interest as im also having my 4th, all other 3 have been either lots of medical problems or long lol

[CantBeBotheredThinking]

dc1 2 hours
dc2 35 minutes gas and air or would have been quicker
dc3 20 minutes, beat the midwife
dc4 10 minutes beat the ambulance

another one who is not going to risk dc5

[pintofmilk]

Also marking my place with interest!

Number 4 is due early March. I live in the middle of nowhere and the hospital is a good 45 minute drive away....

Anyone else?

[catbus]

DD1- 20 odd hours
DD2- 8 hours
DS1- 5 hours
DS2- 3 hours
That's from first twinge to delivery,
mind. My pushing stage is roughly 2 minutes tops.
And I'm now pg with DC5

[dancestomyowntune]

Dd1: induced (pessary) Monday morning, drip from mid morning Tuesday. Born 00:25am Wednesday. Ventouse delivery.
Ds1: threatened early Labour at 32weeks. Eventually born a couple of days late. Went into hospital early hours Sunday morning, born Sunday night approx 8:30pm.
Ds2: born four days early. Went into hospital at about 5pm. He was born (very suddenly, whilst nurse was trying to insert epidural) @ about 9pm.
Dd2: waters broke spontaneously at 37 weeks, lunchtime Thursday. Drip started to get contractions going at approx 5pm. Born Friday morning 6am.

Now 21 weeks with number 5!

[flagnogbagnog]

Dc1 - 5hrs good birth
Dc2- 2.5hrs very good birth
Dc3 - 1.5 hrs not good birth experience at all! Lots of issues
Dc4- waters broke at 37weeks. He was born about 6 hrs later. Very good birth experience.

Does that help at all? X

[Threeplus1]

I'm 8+4 with dc4 and my previous labours got progressively shorter but by no means as fast as some of you ladies! I'm impressed

[womaninthewildsofwales]

Err, just had dc4 on Sunday:

Ds1; 3hr, pethedine and gas
Ds2; 12h back to back, pethedine and gas
Dd1; 37 mins (born in the lift) no pain relief
Ds3; 13 mins from them breaking my waters to induce me... Not sure who was more shocked- them, me or poor ds :-/ I had an epidural set up due to having to manoeuvre him into position before popping waters but it kicked in just after I gave birth, felt on the world and tried to hop off the bed... Thankfully the MIL was holding the baby because I ended up in an indignified heap with the midwife giggling that we'd all forgotten about it!

Dc5 is not happening! I'd be scared to sneeze!

[Hairylegs47]

DS1:6hrs, 2 hrs of which were actual pushing, forceps as I was beyond exhausted, he had to be resuscitated. Epidural, but didn't find out til next baby that it wasn't working. Awful
DS2:3 hrs, 10 mins pushing, brilliant! Epidural worked this time.
DD1:4hrs, 20 mins pushing, presented both shoulders had to be pushed back but it was ok. Gas and air.
DS3:7hrs, 50 mins pushing, pain was awful had everything but an epidural thought as I'd managed before and I could handle pain I wouldn't bother with one. Idiot. I also had an injection to help the uterus contract of her was born. After 3 births haemorrhaging can happen.
DS4:24hrs, yes a complete day, he never engaged, had to deliver in an operating room. MW ruptured my waters and had to keep her hand in there to make sure the cord didn't drop down. I was doing ok with the tens machine, but it messed up the monitoring so I went with gas and air. Was convinced one if us wouldn't make it and my DH would have to arrange a funeral. The pain never let up. I'd done this 4 times already, this time the pain never let up. After 18 hrs had an epidural. 90 mins pushing, cord wrapped around his neck, he had to be resuscitated. Injection to contract the uterus. Vowed never again!!
DD2:8hrs, 1 hour pushing. When I got to the hospital it was 3 am, I was 5 cm, we fully expected to be out and home by 8 am in time for the rest of the family going to school! The pain was manageable for about 4 hours then had an epidural. Her heart started dipping so consultant said it was a section job. But another lady was already on her way to theatre I'd have to wait an hour. MW started prepping me, then said Hairy, I don't think baby can wait the hour. Can you try pushing, even though you're not ready? Of course I can. She gave me a 'tickle' of ergometrin and I started to push. Her heart stopped I heard to monitor and saw the MWs face so I pushed with everything I had, her head popped out, heart still stopped and she was born. 2 MW worked on her after what seemed like an eternity DD2 started crying, then everyone else did too.
Made sure it was never happening for sure and was sterilised 2 months later. No sex til then.

[Bobbingalongnicelyalmost]

Oh this is all good news Thank you for your replies.
I hoping for it to be fast but obviously not as fast as some of you ladies....don't fancy giving birth in a lift
I've only ever been induced due to the first 2 I had gestational diabetes and they induce you on the day and with DC3 I went 2 weeks over. really hoping to finally experience going into labour naturally this time.