birth fifth time round - experiences please!!

[GaribaldiGirl]

A week off my due date with my 5th child (quite small gaps, eldest child is 9). And I don't know anyone who has given birth more than 4 times. I'm really curious to hear from some other 'grande multipare' (think that's what we're called?) if 5th births were earlier/later and longer/shorter - or any different to previous ones. Thanks! All mine have been really late and required dynamite to get into labour!

First one CS. 2,3 & 4 needed dynamite! 5th I was determined to do unaided. Spent 2 weeks skipping, went down a fairground bumpy slide, walked and walked and walked until I would have been too exhausted to go into labour. Had the hottest curry possible. Was advised to have "fun" with DH one night, but that just ended up with us both having hysterical giggles as it was so impossible. Next morning woke up uncomfortable. I went into hospital at 8.30am just feeling uncomfortable. At the hospital I said I just wanted to use their toilet, but was put on a bed. At 8.55 consultant put his head round the door and I was non too polite as I thought he would want to start me off, or intervene, or something nasty!! Ds arrived at 9.02!!!! Flew out! Dates were all a bit hit and miss as I didn't know I was pregnant until 20+ weeks, but I think I was about 2 weeks over. None of my labours were hard or long, but 5th was a total breeze. I've had worse indigestion!!!

Good luck!!

all my births have been fantastic,but my 5th was the best yet!!

he was 8 days overdue,but i got the home birth i'd always wanted,with the older kids milling around. in fact my daughter was then 11 and she was helping the midwives. it was also mothers day!

he's my last baby though,and at 10lb 3oz he was born with no intervention,in my own bedroom,in my own time. it was great. (had tens machine and gas and air)

My 5th birth was easy ,ds flew out as his waters broke though it may have been something to do with the fact his twin sister had paved the way just 8 minutes before him

5th extremely fast. But so was my no2.

Good birth, very heavy baby, no tears.

my 5th was 10lb 2!

my 5th birth was straightforward. Overdue as usual for me.

Six hours from first contraction to delivery. Slow build up. Easy to cope with. Set off for hospital when causing me to double up. Baby born within the half hour of arriving. Weighed 8lb. No tears, grazes etc. Home the next day.

that's all very reassuring. had heard some horror stories about people drifting in and out of labour for days on end because their much used wombs were a bit flabby and inefficient.... thanks ladies!any more experiences would be really interesting.

Very quick (like my others) - felt very tired so went to bed about 8.30 (dh was just back from work trip so I was exhausted after looking after other kids & being huge)had a few contractions but no pain. dh thought to go to the hospital - friend came round. I didn't think I was in labour as 3wks early. Got to hospital was 6cm, no pain & couldn't believe it & 10 mins later dd was born - a big baby. She was in scbu for a few days as had breathing problems after the birth but is ok. Had hemorrage some hours after the birth & this was awful. Had no afterpains with bf!!!! had ones worse than labour with the others. Best wishes xxx

My 5th was induced a week and half after due date, (dcs 1, 3&4 also induced). I had a severe chest infection at his birth (although they suspected a blood clot on my lung) so it was a bit dramatic in the lead up and I opted for more pain relief than I had originally planned, but the actual birth was calm, quiet and fairly fast, he was born just before midnight 8lbs 8oz and we went home the following day.

A week later I was alone with all 5 in Devon where we live while dh went back to London to work and sell our old house. Nothing like being thrown in at the deep end. I have small gaps too, eldest 6.5 - youngest 1.4.

Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly for you both.

Crikey niche - that must have been hard. Funny how when you've had a few people (husbands particularly in my case!) assume it's just 'water off a duck's back' and you don't need any special treatment/looking after. With my first everyone helped me. Now I'm humping huge baskets of washing around at 9 months pregnant with nobody even noticing......must try to stay in hospital as long as possible for a rest since when i'm home it'll be straight back to normal!!!