Anyone had their pregnancies more than 5-10 years apart?

[Roopachoo]

Just wondering if the usual 'second labours are quicker/easier' etc general rule is true if your second pregnancy is more than say, 10 years ago. My one was 15 years ago so this feels like a 'first' pregnancy as the real first one was such a long time ago! Just wondering if the uterus/body will still have a 'memory' of a pregnancy that happened such a long time ago?

Any one been in a similar situation?

Sounds quite stupid as I write it actually...

13 years between me and my sister sadly my mum was told to expect a labor similar to her first, sorry. She ended up very bad sadly and needed a early csec so didnt get to test the theory out though.

I was hoping someone might have an answer to this as i keep wondering almost 7 years between my pregnancies. Especially as i'm 39 weeks tomorrow and labour could come at any time. Just trying to remain positive that this baby will arrive slightly quicker and easier than ds.

My DC's are 16, 13 and 2 ( and Im currently 22 weeks pregnant) so I had a gap of 11 years. I personally found they got longer 90 minutes with my first... fast4ward to just over 6 hours with my toddler and all pregnancies were/are different for me but I have to say I found the most recent midwife support during labour much more focussed around my needs and wants, rather than 'the right' way to do things.

I was able to be much more mobile and stand and sway throughout during my last labour which helped me personally to cope better rather than the 'lie there, we know best, let us get on with ' approach taken during my first delivery and all three have been born at the same hospital. It did mean that the most recent labour was a much nicer experience ( if that makes sense) :)

Yes I must say that my expectations, and what is on offer, is very different now from 15 years ago. If anything this should really change a birth experience... last time I was induced (40+1) simply because it the day before Christmas Eve! Didn't even think twice about it because had total faith in the hospital to do the 'right thing'.

This time determined to do things as naturally as possible. Hopefully in a birthing centre. Just wondering if I'm likely to go over 40 weeks like the first pregnancy...

Ds is 11, dd is 10 months. I found labour much easier and less scary second time.

Ds - about 18 hours from first contractions, no complications but for a long long time I never wanted to do it again!

Dd - 4.5 hours from first contractions. Don't know if it was my body, the hypnobirth stuff I'd been listening to or what, but I was much calmer, whole thing was fast and actually (sounds mad but...) I enjoyed having her.

I was worried if the big gap would make it difficult 2nd time but was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks Aniyan that's so lovely to hear.

Did you you use the Maggie Howell (Effective Birth Preparation Natal Hynotherapy) CD? Worked wonders for a friend.

I have dcs aged 14,12,7 and 9m.

So a 5 year gap and a 6 1/2 year gap.

They definitely got easier. My last 2 births were almost identical despite being 6 years apart. My 3rd birth was considerably quicker than my 2nd which was quicker than my 1st!

Good luck!

I was very hit and miss with the hypnobirth stuff, Roopachoo - didn't go on any courses or anything. I read and re-read Marie Mongan's book and found a 25 minute relaxation track on itunes that I listened to a LOT - especially going to sleep at night.

The relaxation methods and visualisations seemed very similar to Buddhist meditation techniques I've come across before, just with a baby at the end of it

I think I managed to convince myself that by staying calm and breathing I'd be okay at least most of the time, and I was lucky enough to find that it worked, and had a very straightforward labour (dd had the cord round her neck 3 times but that was the only drama & was fine after a few moments of quiet panic). I also think that having had one baby I was much better prepared for the second - even if I was 10 years older!

I'm totally a believer that staying relaxed and focussed rather than tense and focussed on pain helps a great deal. Not allowing your panic to override all the good chemicals that should be present during labour.

Perpetually I guess you've become a pro! More relaxed the subsequent times?

I have a pretty big gap between dcs2&3 - 12 years!

Not sure exactly whether my experience could be considered usual as my labours are very quick anyway - (both induced) first was 5hours 15mins and second 1hour 40mins. With my third (after the big gap) I figured I'd still be quick even if I were to revert back to 'first labour' senario...

Niggly pains started about 3pm - as have never started naturally before I wasn't sure if this Was It. It became apparent fairly quickly they were contactions. Got to the hospital at 5.45pm exam at 6.15pm and I was 4cms. I was desperate for pain relief but warned them I thought I'd be about an hour away from birth. They looked at me like I was crazy.

DS2 born at 7.07pm - second stage logged as 6mins.

So, all told, not sure exactly how long I was in established labour, but it was only four hours from niggly pains to birth.

I assume this one will fly out when I cough as DS2 was only born 11months ago so I suspect my body will still be 'in the zone'

Good luck, roo!

My mum was in Labour for 72 hours before she had me. 16 years later she had my sister. She was taken to hospital on 6 days after her due date with high BP. 5 hours later she had my sister.

72 hours?!! Fair to say second was lots easier then!

Manda- wow that is efficient. DS2 born 11 months ago? How far along are you now? You most certainly are in the zone! So all short labours whether induced or not...mmmm... my first was 5.5 hours- that would be a result this time around...

Hi Roopa my DD is 16 this year and DS is 13 so a big gap for me too!
I too am treating this pregnancy as a whole new experience, trying not to compare with the last two especially as im older and work full time this time, more aches and pains and tiredness!

I meant to add - I absolutely sailed through my first pg but second one was harder (morning sickness, mild spd, generally 'felt' it more). But, i still found labour easier the second time.
So, even if pg feels harder this time, labour might not be