How did your 3rd labours start?

[Lizbiz89]

Just wondering. Expecting 3rd in the next couple of weeks and for some reason I'm really nervous about labour. God knows why as I've done it twice before! With my 1st I was induced in very early labour, awful birth with epidural, episiotomy, and forceps. And my 2nd labour was really easy apart from the transition phase which was as the worst pain I've ever experienced. Luckily he came very quickly but being 9.3 pounds he gave me a good tear and no time for pain relief! I've heard 3rd labours can be quite unpredictable. Any experiences would be really appreciated.

Mine was the same as the previous 2 (and the one that came after) - way beyond date.
I really thought I was in established labour when I went in, but after examination they were all for sending me home. Thankfully a lovely midwife took pity on me, offered to re-examine me, and with my agreement ‘accidentally’ popped my waters.
Labour proceeded normally and I delivered within 12 hours of me experiencing my first contraction.
No quick deliveries for me but I’m thankful that each of them was classed as normal. I did have pethidine with the first and needed quite a lot of stitches but for the others I managed with just gas and air and a stitch or two.
Of the four my second delivery was definitely the most uncomfortable I think because I thought I knew what I had to do and was expecting it to be quicker and easier than the first.

@millymae thank you for your reply. Yes I think although second labours are easier in that your body has done it before, I still think they can be trickier in some ways. I had a very fortunate labour second time around but I still felt every inch of pushing out my son. I guess this is why I'm nervous this time around, as I know what to expect.

Third was in fits and starts. I kept thinking, this is it and then everything would completely stop, and this carried on all day when I thought this is ridiculous and went to the maternity unit, just in case, and gave birth 30minutes later.

Induction again 😭
My 1st was a horrible induction at 42wks, my second came spontaneously (well after multiple sweeps) at 41+3 and my 3rd went to the wire at 42wks again.
Labour itself was quick and straightforward, I'm not going to say painless because it was so quick there were no gaps but it was thankfully only 2hrs from them breaking my waters to her arriving. She was 9lb10 and the biggest and best of all my 5 births.
4 and 5 were also induced. All babies were around or over 9lb.

@Desecratedcoconut I've heard this to be the case for quite a few 3rd labours. Lots of stops and starts. Did you have your 3rd before or after your due date out of interest?

After, he was about a week beyond my due date. My second was two weeks over to the day and my first was two weeks early, so all over the place really.

Put the kids to bed - went for a lie down couldn't get comfortable went downstairs to complain to DH - waters went with first big contraction and bam she was coming.

It was straight forward and we were expecting a HB but MW made no effort to get to us in time - and were disbelieving when DH rang saying he could see a head.

Had relatively quick births with first two and that MW team said I was very high risk for a quick third - this MW team insisted third births would take days of labour no idea why.

She wasn't the largest that was second and all were over 9lbs did tear down first pg episiotomy scar - I was only allowed an hour after water went with first before they got registrar and despite fact pfb was very nearly out and nether of us were distressed he did episiotomy and ventose delivery though MW with us was saying it was unnecessary.

@Desecratedcoconut gosh definitely all over the place! My 1st was born 3 days early and my 2nd 3 days late so I'm not expecting anything early but who knows. 38 weeks tomorrow and starting to get the point where I'm getting paranoid with every twinge 🤣.

My 3rd came 2 weeks early, went in at midnight, delivered at 05.30 and was home for lunch. Didn’t have pain relief but did have a small tear and normal delivery. Much more relaxed with my 3rd, enjoyed every minute with him and did everything our way.

Yeah, it keeps you on your toes - even if you can't see them. Not long now.

@HotApplePiePunch that sounds awful! That's what happened with my 1st. Midwife got flustered and called the crash team in and ended up with an episiotomy and forceps delivery, just to be told by the consultant after that it wasn't necessary. Will be avoiding the hospital as much as possible this time around. Either having a hb or birth centre birth hopefully. Had my 2nd at the birth centre.

@CheshireCat1 that sounds like an ideal birth! Were your 1st 2 dc early as well?

Mine was also stops and starts! Kept thinking it was happening, would go to sleep and then it would stop! Went on for days. Was by far my easiest birth though - I felt more confident in recognising different feelings when I was eventually in established labour

Oh and all three were overdue. Only the first one needed inducing though (that was by far the hardest labour!)

It wasn't terrible at the time - pain relief was given - but it was sore and uncomfortable afterwards - though postnatal ward was awful experience all by itself.

It did tear both times afterwards - scar tissue has less stretch however much you massage with oil - though it healed much better and with much less discomfort with the tears.

I do know some lucky women who did actually manage to avoid tearing again with subsequent births - but I think there is a tissue connectivity issue in my family and second baby had 98 % head size and third was fast and with no support - so my odds weren't good.

My 3rd was the easiest labour. The other 2 were induced and that was hell. With my ds, my waters broke around the expected due date at 10pm and he was born just less than 12 hours later 😊He's been my hardest child growing up though 😂

Mine was quick, didn't get to hospital although midwife and paramedics arrived just in time

My third was also stop start. She was a week late in the end but I’d been having stop start contractions for about 2/3 weeks before it was the real deal.

@Lizbiz89
My 1st was induced 2 days late because of night blood pressure, very quick birth, about 90 minutes all together but really stressful, 2nd baby on time 12 hour labour but it was a great experience. With my 3rd it was great when I got him home, really relaxed about everything and realising how quickly they grow I just spent lots of time with him, it was lovely and proper chilled out.
I’m sure everything will go well for you, the main thing is that you and your baby are well, then you can look forward to the fun, good luck.

Started with a loud "pop" and waters breaking. Under 30 mins from first twinge to baby. Delivered by DH in the kitchen. Paramedics and midwife arrived a couple of minutes later.

Thanks for the replies.

My 1st was an episiotomy and my 2nd was a 2nd degree, although I put that down to my ds being 9.3 pounds and a very fast birth! I recovered so much faster the 2nd time around though!

@Neolara
@GinBlossom94 they sound like great births. Did you feel scared giving birth with no one there? I feel like this birth could potentially go the same way for me as with my ds my labour went from gentle on/off contractions to active birth in an hour!

@Lizbiz89 no it was my favourite birth out of all three, he was crowning when midwife and paramedics arrived, born within 10 minutes! Midwife then went and ran me a bath while husband made me tea and toast (it was 7am), older kids were in the kitchen eating breakfast lol

@GinBlossom94 that sounds like a lovely birth. Nothing better than your own bath and bed after either. Fingers crossed I can have a home birth as well 🤞

Another stop start here too. My other two didn’t false alarm like number 3, it went on for about 48 hours with false contractions that came to nothing.

Once it actually happened it was very fast- 6mins active Labour!