Third Birth Stories

[June1999]

Hi!
I’m due next week with my third but for some reason am extremely more nervous this time around about giving birth. What was your third birth like? Did you have any warning signs leading up to labour?
Thank you

Hi @June1999

I found lead up to 3rd birth strange too. It was like 'well, I've done this twice before so why am I nervous now and why do I feel so clueless again?!'

The thing is, to quote a well used phrase, every birth is different. My first two were different from each other and my 3rd was different again. When it Finally happened I did know what to expect in a way I suppose.

I had a show, and increasing Braxton Hicks... then 24 hours later just had such a strong feeling that I didn't want to leave the house. Contractions started in the afternoon and Baby arrived the next day.... in the end it was all fairly straightforward.... But I had found it so hard to mentally connect with what was going on - unlike with my first when I did aaaaalllllllll the prep ......I think with third you have less time to prepare and connect maybe, but do trust yourself that you can do it.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Honestly I’ve heard so many times ‘ the third time is so unpredictable and by far the most painful’ which doesn’t help haha!! The not knowing gets to me every time keep looking out for a warning or something to indicate if it’s going to happen soon.

If it helps mine wasn't the most painful...first definitely the worst. I was like you by the end tho and reading all the threads about signs of labour etc! Uncertainty is so hard! It will happen! And soon! Good luck with it all x