second labours are generally quicker...what about third ? Experiences ?

[inbetweener]

Hi,
So Im 19 weeks pg with number 3 after a 7 year age gap.
First labour was about 16 hours with gas and air and some pethidine chucked in at the end. Wont be doing that again though it was horrible.
Second labour started in the early afternoon but was managable. I knew what to expect so kept fairly busy, bathing DD1 and putting her to bed through the contractions before going to hospital etc. Got there and I was 6cm. Had some gas and air and she was born in her waterbag fully intact 2 hours later !
I was home next day and at the park with DD1 that afternoon.

So I would like to think that my births went fairly quickly. I am hoping that number three will be even quicker. However, this pg has been so much harder then the first two and I have felt so much worse ! people told me that labour three is the hardest of all and I was hoping that was an old wives tale, but after this frankly horrid pg I am getting worried that it might be true !!

So birth experiences of number three would be appreciated please.

I don't have an answer as I am also expecting number three. Sure someone who's done it will come along soon and share their experience.
I am also having a harder time than I did with my first two so will be interesting to know.

I was 6 hrs with first, 4 with second and 1.5hrs with third. My third labour was the easiest of all....no pain relief at all (no time for that, he came too quickly and was born at home!). I was told that the 2 nd labour was the worst, no matter how many pregancies you went on to have. Perhaps you are finding this pregnancy harder as you are older and now have 2 children to look after. I wouldn't worry. Our bodies are amazing and you will cope with the labour however easy or difficult it is. Good luck! X

DS1 3 weeks 3 days latent labour followed by 4.5 hours established labour (pushing 30 mins). Waters broke while pushing.

DS2 waters broke with no contractions. 2 days latent labour followed by 1.5 hours established labour (pushing 30 mins). DS born 104 hours after waters broke.

DS3 waters broke with no contractions. 1 day latent labour followed by 2h 16m established labour (pushing 26 mins). DS born 69 hours after waters broke.

DS2's labour was definately the worst. I also had a miscarriage at 12 weeks before DS1 which was as painful as labour but not sure if it counted as a birth or not. DS3's birth was probably the easiest but after everyone had told me he would be out quicker than DS2 I was getting fed up after 1.5 hours when he still wasn't here.

16 hours with my first. (just gas and air)
6 hours with my second. An hour after I got to the hospital. (G&A for last 10 mins)
4 hours with my 3rd. Was in active labour for about an hour of that - contractions 1:20 before that. No pain relief.

DS1 was 8 hrs with gas & air & an epidural lying on the bed & took 1hr pushing.

DS2 was just under 4 hrs upright on the bed with just gas & air & he arrived after 2 pushes

DD (born 9 yrs after DS2) was 1hr 25mins again with just gas & air upright on the bed again, 2 pushes as well.

I definitely have found IME that babies seem to come quicker the more you have, & I found that upright was a much better position to give birth in

& BTW I found my 3rd birth to be the easiest.

Congratulations on the new addition to your family as well inbetweener.

Hey inbetweener your post could have been mine! 20wks pg with DC3 with 7 yr age gap between DC2 and this one.

Dreadful back to back labour with 1st, total 24hrs.
Easier & much quicker with 2nd.

No probs with other two pg's, loads with this one. Midwife told me after scan today that 3rd DC's can be difficult and that's why any midwife who had DC's stops at 2! Not really what I wanted to hear, 20wks up the duff with DC3.

I have heard every single version going - 1st is always going to be most difficult, 3rd will be the worst, they get easier as you go on, etc etc.

The only way unfortunately is to wait and see. Try not to panic and aim for the best birth experience you can have at the time.

My third was the easiest and quickest birth, but the most difficult pregnancy.