Do second babies generally arrive earlier than first borns?

[YummyMummy1208]

Im a little bored at work and am thinking about lots of silly things really and wondered as im having my second in 15 weeks, do subsequent babies tend to come earlier than the first born? i was 2 days early with my first and so i was wondering if this ment i would be likely to have the second before reaching this date in my pregnancy?

When did others delivery first and second with relation to their due date?

Mine did.

First was 10 days late.

Second was 10 days early.

So almost 3 weeks difference. Midwife says it's unusual to have such a large difference but i'm hoping i won't repeat that as DC3 is due in 7 weeks time.

Didn't happen for me.

DS was 11 days early.

DD was 4 days late.

The last fortnight of my pregnancy felt very long.

Generally, yes!

I've been wondering this too as DS was 10 days early and DC2 is due 9 days after his birthday. Will be watching with interest, although I suspect its random.

DS was induced at 38 weeks, however DD came of her own accord at 37 weeks. We ended up with three birthdays in one week. DS was originally induced on my birthday but took 2 more days, and DD wasn't due until october but her birthday is 5 days after DS.

Not for me - DC1, one day early, DC2, 9 days late. Nearly identical birthweights, though.

IME Yes!

ds1 was 17 days late and ds1 was bang on time!

I hope they do!

No there is no saying how early or late they are going to come unfortunately.

Hope not! Ds1 was born at 35 weeks!

God I hope so....

Not yet had my first but friends second baby was 11 days late after her first arrived 3 days early so don't think it's automatic!

My DD1 was 8 days late and DD2 was 13 days late. Incidentally when my mum had me as her first I was also 8 days late and my brother was 13 days late, very weird!!

dd 9 days late. I was climbing the walls

ds (2nd dc) 5 days early and he is sent from heaven.

ds1 1 week late
dd1 8 days late
dd2 1 week late
dts induced at 38 weeks altough I think they would have been happy another 2 weeks,

no - take a look at the "sign in if overdue" thread - lots of second and subsequent pregnancies there (where the first baby came earlier)

my sis was 3 weeks late, I was about a week late.

DS was a week late, but induced. I'm hoping DC2 doesn't over stay his/her welcome more than a week...!

I'm with moonstorm - DS was born at 34+2 which is exactly where I am at the moment. This time tomorrow I will be more pregnant than I have ever been. Am quite excited!

I did a mini-survey about this over on the Childbirth forum and there was no general trend of second babies arriving earlier. Sometimes they were later, sometimes earlier, sometimes about the same.

Mine were identical birthweights as well expat and within 5 minutes timewise

DS1 19 days late
DS2 19 days early

DS1 - 1 month early
DC2 - Well, I'm 40 weeks 4 days and counting! This baby has been cooking nearly 5 weeks longer than their sibling did!