labour with number 4

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Hi I am pregnant with ds4. Not due until beginning of July. I keep getting loads of comments that I had better get ready as baby is going to arrive early.

Is there something I'm missing? Are fourth babies often early?

I've no reason to think I'll give birth any earlier than usual have I. For me the norm so far has been:
Ds1 39+6 34 hour labour
Ds2 40+1 42 hour labour
Ds3 40+3 5 hour labour

So I tend to have my babies pretty close to my due date.

[lavenderpekins]

I'd like to know about this too..

Sorry no help here..

Currently pregnant with dc4 due in October. First 3 were all two weeks early.

I've had a 5 year gap from last dc3 and I'm finding it a lot harder this time physically. How about you?

[GizzyBoo]

Ds1 40+2 12 hr labour
Dd 40 + 13 - 8 hr labour
Ds2 37 +3 - 8 hour labour
Ds3 40 +8 - 1hr 45m labour.

Currently 36+5 and wondering when dd2 will be making an appearance!

[rufus5]

I have 4, and had never heard anything about number 4 tending to arrive early... Until ds2 arrived 3 weeks early!

I don't know if it was just coincidental that my fourth was early, but I didn't really have previous record for being early, as the first two were both a week after my due date, and number 3 was 5 days early (but I put that down to is moving house at the time).

My labours have gotten shorter each time tho... Number 4 was very nearly a 'carpark arrival'.

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Lavender I have a three year gap between this one and ds3 and I am really feeling it this time. This has definitely been my hardest pregnancy. I had spd with ds3 but generally felt better.

Gizzy hmm your number 4 wasn't early but a quick labour.

Rufus I am worried about giving birth in the car. We need to find someone to have the children when I go into labour and then it's a good half hour drive to the hospital without traffic

[lavenderpekins]

Oh poor you beautician! Glad I'm not the only one finding it tough. It's like my body this time is saying, "NO!" ☹️

[Annabrooke90]

Mine went:

DS, almost 42 weeks, induced.
Ds2, 40+5, spontaneous.
Ds3, 38 weeks, spontaneous.
Ds4, 34 weeks, spontaneous.

So my fourth was earlier however, even with ds3 I was in slow labour from 33 weeks so had signs then that my body was starting to struggle abit. Ds4 it all started even earlier (29 weeks). So I think it was just my body rather than because he was my fourfourth. Currently pregnant with baby number 5 half expecting this one to be early too.

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Anna goodness me. I think I'm going to get my hospital bag packed next week. 30 weeks just in case. I don't feel like I'm going to go into labour but feel very different to how I have done in all previous pregnancies at this stage. Baby moves loads he's head down. I'm constantly out of breath and nauseous.
What's it like being a mum to all boys? I was a little sad when I found out I'm having another boy but only because it will be our last so I'll never have a girl. However, the feeling passed quickly & now I'm excited to be a mum to a gang of boys.

[Annabrooke90]

I was losing my bloody show from 29 weeks so kind of knew baby wasn't going to stay put till term. But I was in denial at the same time because midwifes just kept saying ohh it's just because this baby's your fourth lol. So off I ran to hospital with a half packed hospital bag and no clothes that fitted him (although he was a good size 5ib 15Oz). Labour was the easiest of all of mine though and he was back to back, so was expecting it to be terrible.

It's lovely, I love having four boys. They haven't got huge age gaps either so it's great...although there is always lots of fights haha. But they adore each other. After I had ds4 (last year) I said that was it and I was having no more; then I found out I was pregnant at christmas...this baby is a little girl, so the boys are very excited to be getting a sister. Suppose it will feel very different after four boys :)

[PeppasNanna]

Honestly, dont worry. 6dc here & no pattern.

My 4th dc was an amazing exhilarating birth! Best of all 6. Good luck.

[makingmiracles]

Ds1-40+11
Ds2-40+5
Dd1-40+11
Surrogate babe-40+11
Now awaiting dc4 and wondering the same although I can't imagen an earlier one after they've all been late, however I will be trying everything going to induce from 37 wks this time as all have been9lb and feel like this one is prob at least 6lb by now with another 7-9wks to go! I didn't actively try to get them out earlier with the others so we shall see!

[GastonsPomPomWrath]

I have 5. All were overdue in varying degrees.

My number 4 was the provably the best/easiest birth I've had.

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Good to hear that a lot of the fourth births were a little easier.

[Afreshstartplease]

DC1 39+2
DC2 38+3
DC3 39+5

Currently 14+4 with DC4! Time will tell

I am worried about it being too quick to get to hospital though!,