3rd births.. Are they really so bad?

[dizzymac]

I'm due number 3 in a week and becoming increasingly nervous about the birth itself.
Birth 1 was awful. Long and ending in forceps and a transfusion.
Number 2 was great. I stayed mobile and only went in to literally give birth.

So now I am just having a minor moment about how 3 will go. I know there are no guarantees and I am going to use the midwife led birth centre so am hoping for another number 2.
Does anyone have any positives about number 3?

You are all very kind, sharing your stories.
I know that they are all different but a positive frame of mind must help I'm sure. Everything feels very imminent, though I'll probably be here in 2 weeks saying the same thing!

Yeah OP - it's weird. Lots of people warned me that "oooOooh Third birth is REALLY different" in a slightly scary spooky voice.

Well it was. Homebirth 3 hours. Exceptionally quick recovery (apart from the foodbaby as a result of chocolate inhalation)

First 2 were inductions in hospital.

Very different 3rd birth. But about 4000 times better. Best of luck for yours.

My 3rd was my shortest labour, harder at the pushing stage than my 2nd labour, but not as hard as labour 1.

number 1 i had forceps and large pph, epidural, large tear etc

number 2 was about 3 hours, straightforward, few puffs gas and air.

just had number 3 last week - 2.5hrs labour, home water birth, no drugs, all great , also the biggest baby but no stitches.

thesecond coming
mine were 41+5, 38+5 and 41+2 in that order,

my first was 2 weeks over, second was a day late and third was a week late

i know someone who has gone to nearly 43 weeks with all 3 of hers. some people just cook em longer!

My third was my best, managed it well at home, went in 6.30am, DS2 born 8.30am, gas and air and birthing ball, four pushes from waters breaking to delivering placenta.

Agree tho, no guarantees. Good luck with your birth dizzymac.

I've been lucky enough to have 3 dream births - all at home, no complications etc. But if I HAD to choose, I'd say the last was the best. It was quicker than the first, slower than the second and I felt very very prepared (the little blighter was very very late!).

But leading up to the birth, I was petrified - that's normal, right? I've always been extremely anxious (as well as excited, obviously) before giving birth for many different reasons - with the third, I felt that I was pushing my luck. But it was fine. More than fine - it was a great birth.

Good luck.

Third birth was fine

1st - 4h20m, very painful and fast, loads of stitches

2nd - 2h30m, homebirth, biggest baby but recovered well, no stitches

3rd - 1h35m, homebirth, waters to baby about 40 mins of contractions, painful but didn't even push her out she was expelled in 2 contractions, no stitches

4th - induction due to SPD, was very nervous about the whole hospital thing, went into labour 3 hours after being given the gel, was actually the most controlled, contractions were manageable until I begged them to break my waters to speed things up, DS born 5 mins after that, stitches but was ok.

thesecondcoming Ok I did have 2 sweeps for my 3rd but apart from that it was a completely natural labour and home birth of pure loveliness. As compared to the first 2 which were inductions at term + 14.... Hope that encourages you.