3rd Births-Please tell me your experiences!

[yummychoccycake]

Hi

Just curious really.
Am expecting my 3dc in Jan and started to panic think about how the birth may go.

My previous 2 labours were almost identical- both waters broke then contractions started straight away and both very fast labours.

Kinda hoping this one will be the same but you never know as labours are so unpredictable.

Are 3rd births totally different like everyone keeps telling me!

Please share your experiences

My third birth was totally different but only because I was having two babies rather than one. The labour was much the same though! Gets slightly easier each time IME, but only slightly

I hadn't heard the "third births are different" thing until I went into "fake" labour with DC3.

DD (DC1) long early labour then actual labour 14 hours, retained placents but otherwise great

DS1 (DC2) all sorts of problems then waters went at 28 weeks, went into labour at 30 weeks, EMCS after about 3 hours of labour because baby in distress and breach

DS2 (DC3) had sweep at 39+6 went into labour (or so I thought) that night...bear in mind I have experienced it twice before. Went in because I needed IV antibiotics, MW agreed was in established labour...3 hours later it all stopped. New MW (coincided with shift change) did another sweep and it immediately kicked off again for another 3 hours then stopped. I was on gas and air, I really thought it was labour! When it tailed off the second time I agreed to some diamorphine and slept for about 8 hours! They discharged me the next day and every MW (3 in delivery and 2 on ward) said "Oh...third labour" in a knowing way to me.

In the end at 40+6 went to bed cursing DH for making me a too rich dinner and giving me crippling heartburn and trapped wind. Waters broke at 5.15 am and I had DS at 6.40 am...literally got into the room, grabbed the gas and air and took my trousers off and had him...I thought I had lost my mind...but that sounds like your usual delivery!

Best of luck

Labour 1 : Waters broke, no progress, induced 12 hours of very painful labour. I was terrified and totally out of control.

Labour 2: 4 hours, very controlled, painful but manageable.

Labour 3: 6 hours, very, very controlled but the most painful of the lot - BY FAR

All three quite similar.
1st - 6hrs, straight forward
2nd - 3 hrs, straight forward
3rd - 3.5 hrs, straight forward

Good luck to you and enjoy(well, maybe not the labour, but lovely fresh new baby!)

My 3rd birth was horrid however I was induced at 40 weeks rather than the 42 I had been on the previous occasions. However it was only the getting me into labour that was long and protracted once labour was established following an ARM it was much quicker and easier than first (another long slow induction)

My 3rd labour was my quickest (4hrs), my most intense and my most painful, although this was more due to me not having any pain relief (not through martyrdom, it was because every type of pain relief I tried with dd1 and 2 made me sick) and the speed of it, rather than anything else.

My dd3 is utterly utterly adorable though and worth every minute

Well my 3rd was the only one I went overdue with - gave birth naturally after a sweep, narrowly avoiding induction (baby was born 2 hours before I was due to go in to be induced).

The birth itself was easier up to being fully dilated (first time I managed without an epidural and G&A didn't make me vomit), but the 2nd stage was hideous as I had no urge to push and a roomful of shouty health "care" professionals of various types.

Luckily it was also much quicker than the other 2 so overall I'd say it was still the best experience, although that maybe just because now I know I am never doing that again

Although my midwife did say 3rd labours were unpredictable, she also said if you've had very quick labours before that tends to happen again - so hopefully you will have a nice fast, "easy" one. Good luck.

3rd birth was very quick (1 hour) and almost pain free. ive honestly had worse toothache.Was my biggest baby btw!

Two and a half hours labour, -felt much more in control, knew exactly what was happening- best birth.

Hmm, not sure if this is going to scare you.....

1st - waters broke, a little while later contractions begin gently. 4 1/2 hours from first twinge to baby appearing. Bloody sore hospital birth.

2nd - waters broke, a little while later contractions begin gently. 4 hours from first twinge to baby appearing. Was lovely home birth. Really not that sore.

3rd - waters broke, contractions begin immediately and very strongly. Baby appears 30 mins later, delivered by my husband on kitchen floor. Ambulance and midwife arrive minutes later. Was like a 25 minute contraction with the odd 30 seconds off with no pain.

I had 3 very different pregnancies but here are just the births...

DS1 - 3 hours start to finish with ARM
DS2 - an hour start to finish (20 mins in hosp) no pain relief but retained bits of placenta (probably because the idiot MW was tugging at it )
DS3 - 5 hours from very first niggle - i had to go in straight away as i was high risk but managed to have him on my own and in my own way albeit strapped to monitors for both of our safety.

DD1- induced 39+6 - 4 hr labour
DD2 - induced 35+3 - 8 hour labour
DD3 - induced 38+5 - 3hrs 20 mins from waters broken by midwife to birth.

1st labour, 18 hours, bit crappy, epidural, vountouse delivery, ds1 9lb 1oz

2nd labour, at home, soooo relaxed and lovely, 6 hrs to deliver a 9lb 5oz back to back baby!! no pain relief either, i was really very proud of myself for doing it

3rd labour, at home, woke up at about 2.50am, delivered baby approx 45 minutes later in the birth pool, by myself as midwives hadn't arrived. ds3 9lb 11oz
it was very, very intense and i really couldn't cope with the pain- much preferred ds2's longer but more manageable birth