Are the last few weeks different with #3?

[harrowgreen]

35+5 today with #3 and feeling very different.

The baby (who was head-down Wednesday at my midwife appt) suddenly feels very low and heavy: lots of pressure down by my pubic bone. Movements seem to have changed to more rolling/stretching than kicking (although I'm still getting a few of them). Lots more (noticeable anyway) BH than a few days ago.

The occasional sharp twinge behind my hip bones also: not quite long enough for a cramp but on the way.

I've read that it's really only first babies who drop, so am now panicking that if this one has dropped already it means it's on its way. Can't honestly remember how I felt at this point with #2 (who arrived at 39+3 - #1 was 40+2).

Am I worrying over nothing?

[vallinnapod]

Sorry, no help but watching with interest as I could have written this - 36+2 with #2

[babyblabber]

I'm 32 weeks with number 3 so not at your stage yet but I have been having really painful kicks this time. So sore they make me gasp.

Mentioned it to a friend who's a consultant in obstetrics & she said loads of 3rd time mums feel the same. That maybe your more sensitive or your body is more malleable or something. Kind of makes sense when you think you can kind of feel movements earlier each time.

So maybe it's something to do with that? Just your body being much more aware of baby.

[capecath]

Well for me ds2 was really low from early on. I was about 3/5ths engaged for about 5 weeks and at least 2cm dilated for a few weeks too. Ended up being induced at term. Was sooo uncomfortable for last trimester with SPD, bad heartburn, peeing every two seconds.... So sound a bit more like my ds2!! Bring on the next one hmmm (currently 25 weeks)....

[capecath]

I had heard it is more common for subsequent babies to engage and be low earlier.... Also had BH for at least a week before being induced.

[BeginnerSAHM]

I'm 36 + 3 with number 3 and feel the same... Very bad SPD and housebound (didn't have it with 1 and 2), bad reflux, 'period' pains all the time etc. DC2 arrived at 36 weeks so am frankly surprised to have got this far. Had no 'signs' of labour before going into it with DCs 1 and 2. Really really ready for this one to arrive, despite being a bit early. dC2 was fine at 36 weeks... Also - this baby was engaged at 35 weeks so thought that was another sign it would come early. Obviously not! DC2 was not engaged at all the day before she arrived....

[mumxof3x]

Number 3 the pressure and pains I had from 30 week was awful so yes it was different, things was much sooner than my other 2. DS1 didnt start to engage until 40weeks. Ds3 arrived at 38wks after a week of slow, labour. It was definately different for me x

[heliotrope]

Couple of weeks of mini contractions for me, they would start but stop if I laid down. I stayed on sofa as it was was Xmas and I wanted to hold on to new year. Only made it to 29th .. At 39 plus 3.

[SomeSunnySunday]

I'm 38 weeks with DC3. Every evening for the past week I've felt like I'm in early labour, with period pains and bad although irregular contractions. By and large these tail off during the day, although I still have very noticeable but largely painless BHs, and a breathtakingly sharp pain "down below" a few times a day. I don't remember any of this with the others. In fact with DC1 I distinctly remember having no signs of labour until I was actually in established labour.

I'm ready to have a baby now, so it would be great if this was DC3 preparing to come out. But I suspect it's just my tired old body not coping well!

[harrowgreen]

Weirdly, it feels better this morning. As you say, probably just feeling it more since my body's been through it all before.... Am torn between hoping this one comes a little on the early side, and desperate for it to stay in for a long time: really keen to meet the little one but petrified of having three!!