My first 2 births were great, i actually enjoyed the 2nd! But baby 3 was awful, i felt I had no control at all and its put me off - anyone had similar?

[Disenchanted3]

I don't know what happened.

I know I wasn't in the pool like with the other 2 but i got in the bath but couldn't relax. I didnt want to get in the pool either which I found odd.

I was just wandering around clinging to DH just feeling scared and lost.

I really don't know what happened.

And whereas after DS2s birth I would have readily done it again this birth has left me feeling sort of , well ... inadequate.

I always felt strong and empowered during labour, no drugs, no G&A just my strength getting me through but this time it didn't feel like that.

I mean I did it, i got another homebirth and eberything technically went great but I can't help feel it didn't (or I didn't) live up to DS2s homebirth.

No experience sorry, but you poor thing. It sounds like you could do with talking it through. Does your DH have any ideas as to what was different?
Congratulations btw

MY MW says that many people who have had 2 good births feel they have had all their luck so when no. 3 happens they are expecting something to go wrong (not always on a conscious level), does that ring any bells?

I think what milf says makes sense. Though I had it slightly different in that I expected birth 2 would be really easy.

First birth - I expected Hell I am a right wuss, went pretty good only gas and air, I thought it was amazing;

Second birth - at home I expected it to be easier, it wasn't bad but was a couple of hours longer.

I spent a few months wondering what I had done wrong, why it was worse...so maybeit was the expectation.

Yes, i was alot more worried as I had 2 great births and felt i couldn't be so lucky to have a 3rd.

But once it got starte I wasn't thinking about that

Disenchanted - my best friend had a similar experience. Had two very straightforward, quick births with no intervention, then a longer third birth, still no intervention and only G&A, but she said the pain was horrendous and she felt totally out of it and quite frightened towards the end. it was a big shock to her as everyone - friends, midwives, her included - joked that she was a 'natural', had dream births' etc and were all expecting her third to be even easier. She found it quite hard to deal with for a while, I think. I remember her saying that she felt bad for feeling that way as essentially her 3rd birth was still pretty straighftorward, but it was what she felt was her inability to cope / fear that really floored her.

I remember reading that midwives say third births can often be a bit unpredictable-have no idea where I read this though but i do remember that it said a lot of women are a bit shocked after their third.

That sounds very familiar missmattie.

And ditto the feeling bad bit because everything did go well, i just feel it wasn't the same.