third birth more difficult?

[bundlebelly]

Is it really true that the third birth can be more problematic? I was hoping that each would be easier! Is it a myth?

hi bundlebelly,my 3rd out of 4 was the worst.
nearly put me off having another.
but my sisters 4th was really bad too, so i dont know about the myth.

oh. nadsacks!

My Mum's 3rd was her easiest. I'm going to go ahead and focus on that, being asthough I'm 36 weeks with DC3 :o

My third was worse - but then the only one who had to be induced, and by far the biggest baby. My 4th was a doddle by comparison.

But I'm sure there's no science behind it - it makes no sense really for the body to make harder work of delivering a third baby than a second or a fourth, does it? It's just luck of the draw. Hope you have an easy time :).

La la la la I'm not listening, now 34 weeks with DC3 and after two horrible deliveries I was really hoping to have a tv labour - one grunt, one sneeze and I have a gurgling, contended newborn

I'm an exception! My third was an absolute dream of a labour/birth. 45 minutes established labour and only had 2 majorly painful contractions and he was out, no tearing, not a hint of sting afterwards. I was really hoping to avoid pain relief, and just feeling slightly tempted when I had those last contractions but thankfully he was already there and ready to go! :) I think it really helped that I stayed on my feet until he was literally crowning and about to fall on the floor (had the first of the last bad contractions on the loo, the next contraction broke the waters which is when I jumped on the bed as fast as I could and told DH to hurry up and get the midwife!! She had checked me 20 minutes before and declared that I was 5-6cm dilated...)

First two were good labours and births too, my second was the most painful and was crawling all over the bed in pain, then high on gas and air for the last 20 minutes which did NOTHING for the pain! =) Still, only 2hrs established labour so can't complain.

Mine all got progressively easier, so my third was great. My fourth was only scary because it was coming along a bit too quickly for my liking.

I think its a bit of a myth. Like all these things, you can't predict them.

My 3rd pregnancy was the worst. It was the longest labout too but at 5 hours still counts as fast, and i had to go in at the slightest twinge because of complications anyway.
The birth itself was only hard because i had to keep relatively still. When the mws changed i was given more freedom and it was much better.

My 3rd was definitely the best. Although it was a bit stop start which was annoying.

I have just had my 3rd DC 11 weeks ago, and was by far the easiest and quickest birth!

Got to hospital at 1am to be told 'not sure ur even in labour, do u want to go home?'. Very fortunately I didn't as DS2 had arrived by 3:40am...! Even the midwife was surprised he turned up that quick!

My third was by far the easiest. I was induced - only needed the gel, then bang - it was all over quickly and without a great deal of pain. I did hypnobirthing though!

I think third labours can be more stop start - I had contractions on and off for 3 days. The Midwife said this can be the case. Also by your third - you're probably more able to vocalise if things aren't right or if you want help?? I think with a first labour you let the medical profession get on with it more. By the third you hopefully feel more confident in speaking up.

I had hoped my third would be a wonderful hypnobirthing experience - I did still have gas and air near the end, but I wished I had learnt the breathing from the hypnobirthing for my other births as it really did seem to help.

my 3rd was AMAZING - I would do it a 100x over. (ok maybe just 2 more......). REally really easy compared to DS2's induced, assisted delivery, and DS1's CS.

My third was the worst - mainly because of the speed and the intensity of it all - it ended in an EMCS. First was long and was a C-section too. Second was the best, though it was still horrible.

my 3rd was the best because my 2nd was the worst. Because the 2nd was so bad, I really prepared for the 3rd birth - had a refresher Antenatal course, saw the head midwife to go over my labour/birth from dd2 and listened to hypno birthing CD.

for me, the preparation made me a bit more relaxed, the hypno stuff also helped me feel more in control (though I didn't hypnotise myself!)and again, relaxed. I expected the worst but was so prepared that I almost didn't go into hospital because I could still talk when I was having contractions (I was 9 cm when we arrived and had dd3 a couple hours later with nothing other than G&A). yes, it was bloody painful but I honestly would do it again.

there is no pattern. we're all different. your 3rd may be your easiest. just expect the unexpected. and do your best to relax!

I agree with the stop start thing. I had false labour (in hospital, contracting away, G & A) and then it stopped. DS2 arrived within 1h30mins a week later (and one week overdue)...only just made it to hospital with 20 mins to spare.

The MWs who looked after me when labour stopped all nodded sagely and said "It's a third baby"...I was mightily unimpressed this piece of folklore had not been shared prior to then.

The plus side was, although it was short and sharp, I felt fine afterwards within a very short period of time. So it was more tricky but easier. too.

I also had a stop start
Couple of false alarms then finally went to hospital only to come home 4 hrs later
Went back again after lunch at home, baby arrived 6pm

Not the ones I have supported.

You actualize your own birth. Stay positive, help your baby into good starting position and enjoy the journey.

my MW told me the third would be a stop start thing and then when he was coming he would be fast. I didn't believe her but she was right.

From 39 weeks I thought I was going to go in on 4 occassions cos I was contracting and then it would all stop when I went to bed. MW took pity at 39+6 and gave me a sweep cos he had dropped and she said I was 3cm. Next day he came in 4 hours (fastest yet). Best birth ever - WB with G&A.

Just had my 3rd 4 weeks ago...

And I agree about the stop start thing. No false labour but once in established labour, contractions kept stopping every time I rested which meant I kept having to move/rock/walk about. Didn't mind as I wanted an active birth but had no time to rest and get strength.

All home births with G&A for 1st and 3rd and nothing with 2nd. But number 3 was the only one I didn't end up needing to go to hospital with after as no complications (both times with me not the baby).

My 3rd was unbelievably quick but I think it took more out of me, but maybe that was having a baby and 2 other children to look after, definitely don't get as much pampering 3rd time round