Labour stories with short gap between two

[Jackofallmasterofnone]

Hello! I'm pregnant with my third. First was 2015. Second was Nov 2022, third will be December 2023. My labours couldn't have been more different. Both were a bit traumatic for different reasons.

DS one I was in labour for 3 days and ended up with forceps, tears, episiotomy, a long long recovery. No pain relief as I tried to have him in the pool but it wasn't happening and then they said it was too late

DS2 was 7 hours gradually progressing labour at home and then as soon as I got to hospital waters broke and all hell broke loose, he was flying out and my body just took over, I didn't even push he just arrived an hour after I got there despite only being 3cm, managed to get in the pool first so no pain management there either and it wasn't too long ago so the panic and pain are still quite fresh.

How did your third labour go? How did any Labours go that were within 12/18 months of the last one??

I witnessed my sister in law give birth and the midwife knew I was pregnant and kept saying the third week likely be a nightmare! Think she needs to work in her bedside manner a bit but it's got me worried 😟

Following and giving you a little bump 😊

I can't comment on the above as I have a 2 year gap but have you considered an elective c section if you're feeling mental scars from labour?

Thank you!

Yes I have, I've got an appointment to discuss that next week with a consultant. I've had pph with both previous births and needed transfusion but I hear the risk is worse with csection. Plus I'm old and fat so recovery will be harder😂 is definitely not rule it out though.
I've never had pain meds so epidural is looking enticing too, wish there was a crystal ball we could look into to see what will happen and prepare!

I gave birth to Dc2 12 months after Dc1. 19 months later to Dc3 then 18 months later to Dc4. All births differed. Dc1 was early, and delivered just under an hour after contractions started. Dc2 contractions started, stopped, started, stopped after 2 hours. Waters broken and delivered minutes later. Dc3 was induction, days of pessary but no contractions, nothing at all. Waters broken, drip immediately followed and Dc arrived minutes later. That was an awful delivery and left me with post partum pre eclampsia. Dc4 was also an induction, again no contractions after pessary, but was 7cms dilated so had a sweep. Contractions immediately started, labour was steady and Dc4 arrived 3 hours later. That was my best labour very calm. I had no pain relief for any of my labours, the first three due to them being too quick and Dc4 because I kind of just went with it. I remember midwives telling me how my labours would be for all my Dc and they were all very wrong.

I had long lonnnggg labour with DS1 - posterior position, epidural.
Quick as a flash with DD2 (thought I was going to have her in the car). Identical labour DD3 - but I was better prepared third time around, got to the hospital earlier, cracked on with the gas and air, all fine.
Good luck, having 3 is wonderful 😊

Had three very close together (think less than three years between first and third)

Nightmare 24 hour labours with first two.

Third born at home! Very very fast and practically painless!

I read third labours go one way or another- either very fast or a nightmare.

I'm so hoping for a third birth story like all of yours @Vintagecreamandcottagepie @PressPauseontheMenopause @emmadevid32 and more like your fourth @EcoCustard . That's exactly what I heard from others, third is either super easy or awful, not going to lie, I'm absolutely dreading it.

Looks like we had exactly the same experiences! How strange x

I have only been in labour once but if you’ve never had an epidural then that is a complete game changer. In my birth plan I didn’t want one at all, but the pain made it impossible to think straight and speak. I couldn’t even open my eyes. After the epidural I was pain free and able to rest. I was given control of when the top ups were administered (literally given the button) so it’s totally tailored to you and you can ease off for the pushing stage if you wish.

@GodspeedJune that sounds amazing, I'm hoping I've got long enough to get an epidural, I might just go in at the first sign of labour and tell them I'm camping out!