Can I just ask....

[Hotpinkangel19]

What your 4th births/labours were like? My midwife today said that 3rd births are more difficult generally? I'm 37 +2 with baby no 4 and terrified. X

My third was an absolute breeze. It was quick and I had no pain relief at all, not even gas and air. I was eating fish and chips half an hour afterwards.

Textbook progression of waking in the early hours, each contraction intensifying to pushing.

In 70 minutes.

Mine was lovely there's no evidence that third births are harder!

Sorry 4th!

My 3rd was tough as hell. But she was B2B. I'm also due #4 in a few weeks and nervous so come back and let me know how it went OP!

Straightforward slightly longer (3 hours) than number 2 (1 hour) she was VBAC2

My third was the hardest. I didn't go for a fourth.

@ZigZagandDustin I will! X

Thank you! I don't know anyone irl with 4 children I can ask 🙈

My third birth was horrendous! My fourth though, was absolutely fine. She was massive but it was a drug free, easy labour without complication.

Mine got progressively quicker (fourth was in labour for an hour) and tbh ‘easier’ as by then I’d really got my head round the hypnobirthing/breathing technique. But honestly I can’t take credit entirely for this and am very aware that a lot of it is down to luck that there wasn’t any complications and knowing I was in a good maternity unit. I went in with an open mind of seeing how it goes and if I need a section/etc then so be it, rather than anxiously trying to stick to any birth plan.

How were your previous three births like?

The midwives I saw always said that third births were a ‘curve ball’ which actually made me nervous even though there’s no evidence for this!

@thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter My previous 3 births were fine, gas and air, water births, no tears etc. DC3 was a bit trickier. Just seemed to take forever to get him out!!! I don't know what worries me this time ☹️

2,3+4 all less than 3 hours... You will be fine op!!

DC4 was pretty textbook for me. DC3 was the bastard - a horrible induction, but DC4 was fine.

My 3rd baby was 9lb 9 and was one of my easiest births, very short labour. My 5th was born within 20mins of 'real' contractions and i didnt even feel like I'd given birth after. Yet 1st was emergency c section. Every baby and birth is different regardless of number.
I don't know why mw, doctors and sometimes other mums like to fill expectant mums with fear/ horror stories.
With my 5th I had vba2c (against consultants advice) and was fed horror stories of uterine rupture at every appointment.
I too began to feel worried. I Surrounded myself with positivity. Read positive birth stories of people in the same situation. Watched loads of beautiful, positive births on you tube (hypnobirthing). Gathered evidence against the consultants thoughts. And I tried a lot of hypnobirthing books and videos which really helped me to relax.
Every time the scary thoughts came in my head, I just replaced them with the positive.
All of that really helps.
Remember your body was made to give birth and you've done this before ☺.

My third was difficult in that he was a biggish baby and a fast labour and the cord was wrapped around his neck resulting in him needing to be extracted quickly. Fourth was much better.

Very painful but very fast. My third was an easyish hour and my fourth was a painful 40 mins. But I was induced with number 4 which I hear is more painful. All healthy and straightforward and that's all that matters

My 4th was easy. Very controlled. I had a Home birth and waited until the midwives arrived and had him 20 minutes later.

My 3rd was fine too though!

Thank you for sharing your stories!

Textbook homebirth, midwives only arrived an hour before baby made an appearance! Never heard the thing about third babies being the hardest.

3rd was the worst, it wasn't my longest labour but was b2b so more difficult.

4th was a breeze.
Putting on my pyjamas and felt a bit damp thought I'd pissed myself, DD was ill so was up and down all bloody night. Every time I got out of bed I kept feeling a tiny leak and felt slightly damp but not obviously wet iyswim.
Nothing all the next day but movements had slowed so went to triage.
Checked on baby's movements and was told I was having 4 contractions in the space of 10 minutes but just couldn't feel them! Consultant gave me a sweep, and my waters gushed out. Turns out the damp feeling had been my waters leaking but baby had been plugging the majority.
Contractions came thick and fast after that and baby arrived shortly after.
Not sure how long I was actually in labour for but mw's recorded it as 1hr 24mins.

My 3rd was the easiest

4th was back to back but still only 5 hours and no stitches or anything

3rd was horrendous (huge shock after a very easy birth for DC2).

4th felt very easy by comparison, very organised and quick. I think though that this was partly due to knowing procedure and the hospital (it was my 2nd time of being induced without an epidural so I had my head around the pain before it began iyswim). By then I knew the things that worked for me and the things to avoid and I think this made me feel more in control and I think as a result I dealt with the pain better.

Also no tears or stitches which was bliss.

All in all the experience was great, even down to the time on the post natal ward, I was pretty much left in peace as the MW knew I had it sorted.

My third was my quickest birth, even though she was a good few lb heavier than my previous two, back to back and came out with her hand presenting.

I’m expecting twins for my fourth so have no idea what to expect!