34 weeks pregnant with 3rd dc - am feeling very nervous about giving birth

[hormonalmum]

I am 34 weeks pregnant with 3rd dc. I am feeling very nervous about having this baby. I think it may be because I am now more clued up as to what can go wrong and the fear of something happening to me or dc3.

DD was born in the hospital - I labored at home and was in the hospital for only 30 minutes before she was born. I had wanted a water birth but there was no time.
I had a nasty graze and it took me some time to recover from the birth.

DS was born at home. He was 2.5lb heavier than dd and I wonder if that is where one of my fear lies - will dc3 be 2.5 lb more than ds?
I recovered much quicker than with ds.

I am hoping to have dc3 at home and perhaps hire a birthing pool.

I do not know many people who have 3 children who I can ask about their labours and how they differed.
Is it normal to be so scared about subsequent labours?

Hormonalmum - I had a week or so of labour panic - even though everything had been alright before I was so nervous. The realization that there was no escape from childbirth is scary. In the end I had a really quick labour & everything was ok. Best wishes.

My dc2 was huge and early (8lb 10 oz at 36 + 0) and I too was worried about dc3 being big. However, she arrived around her due date and was about the same size (so actually smaller but older if you see what I mean).

My dc3's birth was very fast and intense - 30 mins from start to finish. Other births had been fast, but not this fast.

Good luck!

Oh hormonalmum sorry you are feeling like this, if it is any consilation I felt the exact same with my third and now even with my fourth I am dreading it, I just want it all to be over and have a healthy baby.

My first was 6lbs 3ozs, second 9lbs 3ozs so the number of people that would "joke" I was going to have a 12lbs 3ozs baby, well they thought they were funny.

I think it is worse as we do know what is coming and let's face it, it's not nice but our bodies have done it and can do it again and every labour is supposed to be easier than the last.

My third was not 12lbs 3ozs, but 8lbs 5ozs, I had her 1h35m after my waters broke at home. The afterpains were not nice either but some nice painkillers sorted them out. I agree about the false starts I had about 3, mostly after sex to try and kickstart labour (won't be doing that this time).

You will be fine.

i feel the same.35.2 weeks,and am really scared about the birth.dd was 8 1b 9 , ds was 9 1b 6...and am worried dc 3 will be a 10 1b'er!!plus i'm big for my dates.

i really felt the difference between the two babies.was expecting an easier time with the 2nd,but,although it was much quicker ( 4hours as opposed to 1 day!)it hurt much more..and there was complications with ds,we're lucky he's here so, i think i'm building it all up. am dreading it to be honest.

I know where you are coming from; it's fear or the known isn't it? DC3 was hardest labour for me, also longest. When I got home I just wanted to hunt up everyone who told me how quick it would be and hit them over the head rapidly and repeatedly with the gas and air mouthpiece.

But homebirth sounds GREAT! Good luck!

yes,forgot to say...good luck!

Thanks everyone - sorry I could not come back sooner. You have all made me think maybe it is a phrase that everyone who has an impending birth goes through.

It is fear of the unknown like Littlesilver says.

Thanks for the best wishes. Sk will catch up on the May thread!

i am exactly the same dreading it im due in a week and everytime i get some strong twinges i end up in tears of panic.

ive had two striaght forward quick births but the second was agony! and for some reason wasnt worried b4 that one but terrified this time!!

and to top it midwife told me tues baby is back to back so now im even more scared cant get excited bout baby coming out cos of process of getting there

know what you mean. 30 weeks with my third. Had one easy and one hard labour so far. Starting to get scared but know a lot of people with 3 and they have all done great. Labours faster and found it easier. The midwives did say about never wanting to be on call for a 3rd child as apparently they are unpredictable. Weird.