Anyone had a bad third birth?

[lumpasmelly]

Hi - I'm due in April and currently scheduled in for an elective c-section due to 2 previously traumatic births (both large posterior babies with long labours.....DS1 with ventouse, shoulde dystocia and episiotomy, and DS2 easier delivery but then retained placenta with further complications post birth). My consultant is happy to give me the c-section as she is taking into consideration my "psychological" needs too (and those of my husband who thought I was going to bleed to death during the birth of DS2) - however, she does hint quite strongly that a third birth would be a pice of cake if I had the courage to do it naturally. So obviously I am now feeling a bit torn, and having visions of a nice easy birth where I could be up and about a couple of hours after the birth!!!(something I have NEVER expereienced before as both my previous births had really long recoveries of 3 months or so) Just wondering what other people's experiences have been.....anyone have 3 really bad VDs in a row, or is the third time always the charm?

Actually after reading that article am going to have another test at 36 weeks just to be sure. Consultant endocrinologist more concerned with risk to baby's development (hence lots of tests in early pregnancy) than with labour, so said no need to have more tests in 3rd trimester if it is ok before then. Might send him link!

3rd labour was the worst for me. The others weren't a walk in the park either. It was also LONG (14 hours).

But do you know what got my backup the most? The zillions of people who fell over themselves to tell me that the third would "just stroll out".

Um, "back up", obviously.

To answer your question- no they didn't give me any reason for why I had retained placenta but my mum had it with both me and my sister and my sister had it with her first child but not no 2 or 3.

Been told it has a link to babies being early- that works for 3 out of 4 cases in our family but not all.

The whole thing was v traumatic, theatre was so busy I was left for way too long and had a pen forced into my hand to sign hysterectomy consent, missed dds first feed/clothes/cuddle.

I'm desperately hoping it won't happen this time.

Have been told not any more or less likely to have rp but was also told it doesn't run in families so I don't believe that..

Also have big babies and was told I won't be going past 40 wks but if rp more likely with induction I'll take my chances on going till I start naturally.

I had a terrible first labour (posterior baby, forceps, PPH, anaemia, big tear that got infected and couldn't sit down for a month) and felt like i'd been in a car crash! It took me about 6 months to feel physiologically normal.

with ds2, it was a totally different experience (like stubbing toe rather than car crash!). I left hospital 2 hours after birth and went to a party (in laws xmas party just to pick up some food, i was starving!). After a night in my own bed, i felt pretty normal the next morning.

Am obviously hoping for a repeat of the second experience in 10 weeks for dc3, but have also heard the midwives' tale of third births being harder than you expect.

Am interested in hearing about trying to turn a baby from posterior, and also the thyroid thing (have been lower end of normal for years), thanks for posting these.

OP, good luck with whatever you decide.