Pregnant with no. 3 / 4 / 5...?!

[LimeLeafLizard]

Just wondering if anyone else is pg with their 3rd, 4th, 5th, or more?!

I am newly pg with baby number 4 and finding it a bit different this time.

Yesterday I flicked through a couple of magazines but the content didn't seem that relevant to me. I am quietly happy but not nearly as excited or nervous as I was before, especially the first time.

I know what kind of birth I want (same as the last two times) and I don't need to buy any stuff, so there doesn't seem so much to think about, at least until the scan.

I am also a bit worried about how other people are going to react when we tell them. There seems to be a general view that wanting 4 children must make us mad.

Hope I am not alone?!

Annelid/Cherry Good idea to start getting reading for Christmas now! Need to get started on that too.

Lots of December births! I'm due on the 6th this time. DD was due on Christmas day but arrived on the 15th, that was a relief! I haven't done any christmas prep yet, I'd better start.

It always amazes me how you become public property when you're pregnant, people say things to you they would never dream of normally. Even DH has had it this time when someone at work asked him if it was planned when he told them about my pregnancy!

I've got a DS and DD so I don't get the comments about gender. But I am getting the "any day now is it?" and when I say December it's followed by "Oh my GOD!" Although one lovely lady has said I've got a small bump the other day. I've also been told I look tired and have a double chin!!

My other births were ok in terms of not needing any intervention, but the 2nd one was very painful and I didn't cope well. DS was 8lb and I am really small so it was agony, I got a 2nd degree tear. I swore afterwards when I couldn't stand up for days that I would never do it again! Also, because I've now got 2 slightly older DCs who depend on me I feel like the stakes are higher, I'm quite worried about something bad happening to me. Which I know is ridiculous but I still fret about it in the middle of the night.

Seymore The middle of the night thoughts are quite common, although rather than something happening to me or baba, mine tend to be, 'oh shit, I've not bought the breast pump yet', and then stay up all night worrying that I'll forget to buy one .

And everyone, don't feel sorry for me, I'm moaning on here so my family don't get it, they get all the huffing and puffing and are treading on egg shells round me as it is . I'm OK and I'll be absolutely fantastic when baba is born, but I always moan once I get into the 30+ weeks, I really don't like this last bit. Thanks everyone :)

My third pregnancy was definitely my hardest. It felt like ds3 was literally falling out about 8-10 weeks before my due date. I had pgp and could hardly walk anywhere. I saw a Chiropractor who helped enormously. V scared of the same thing happening this time but hope that I will at least be prepared and get help earlier.

Did everyone else find that their babies got bigger each time? Mine were 7lbs 1oz (8 days late), 7lbs 11oz (3 days early) & 8lbs 2oz (8 days late). Hope this one isn't too much bigger!

Glad to see that there are lots of positive homebirth stories. To all who have already had one, what did your other Children do whilst you were in labour? I am hoping that it all happens in the middle of the night so they are asleep!

pinkpeony4

These are the birth weights of mine, did get bigger, them dipped. But they were not huge babies, still wore newborn size for a while, they just seem to weigh a lot!!

8lb 3 (8 days late)
9lb (on time)
9lb 12 (8 days late)
11lb (12 days over, was induced)
9lb 2 (8 days late)
9lb 10 (11 days late)

When I had my HB, my children were just downstairs playing it was about 4pm so not long home from the school run, I think they had the wooden train track out!! Not sure what we would have done if the labour had been longer, we didn't have any family close by. (Probably would have let them watch any amount of DVD's and then would have sent DH to the chip shop at the end of the road for food!!)

This time round DH works from home so thats okay, my eldest is nearly 17, so she would be able to cope if necessary, she can cook etc. My sister lives about 15 mins drive away, so if I would get her over if necessary as well.

A question I have...have any of you found a pattern to the time of day that yoru children have been born? Mine have either been first thing in the morning or early afternoon.

Annelid Thanks! I see you are often 8 days late too, I wonder whether this next one will be the same!!

Wow to your 11lb baby!!!!

My ds 1 was born at 12.50pm, ds2 at 12.30pm & then ds3 at 2am so I thought I had a pattern but ds3 changed it! I hope this one follows ds3, especially with a hb. I love that fact that yours were just playing downstairs whilst you gave birth though!!

DD1 - 9.30am (they broke waters) 12 days late - 6lb 8oz
DS1 - 5.30am (they broke waters) 2 days early - 8lb
DD2 - 1.25pm (waters broke at 10pm the night before but no contractions until 55 mins before delivery the next day) 6 days early - 6lb 8 oz

In my mind this next one will start in the evening / night and if the others are up then they have had strict orders to get upstairs and put a DVD on. My eldest who is 12 will be the gofer for the other 2 and MIL will be on stand-by at home in case of a hospital transfer.

I'm going to be jealous come December of those of you having your babies when I still have another 6 weeks to go! Good idea to start preparing for Christmas early.

My babies also got bigger each time, but I know a few people whose third / fourth were smaller than their previous babies (including my own Mum ? I am hoping I follow in her footsteps!)

Mine were all born late morning, around 11am - noon.

If I get another HB, I will ask my PIL to take the boys for a few days. They did this the last two times and it was lovely for DH and I to have a day or two alone with the new baby before chaos returned! I am not sure they?ll cope with all three though, so I might have to ask Dbro to look after DS1 (he is closer too so DS wouldn?t have to miss school).

Dd3 was smallest but also earliest.

DD1 14 days late 7lb 5oz 8.25am
DS1 14 days late 6lb 8oz 6.20pm
DS2 7 days late 7lb 7oz 8.35pm

I have no pattern to times and the babies have not got bigger each time. I am however praying that this time I am a little closer to my due date.

Annelid did you find labour harder when the babies were bigger or was it just the same?

I am really struggling with heartburn nothing seems to work and I don't know what else to try any ideas.

Wow at all the big babies - I am seriously impressed with you all, when I was a complete wus and screamed my head off struggled with smaller babies. Mine were DD1 6lbs 6oz (2.5 weeks early), DS1 7lbs 1oz (4 days early) DD2 5lbs 12oz (6 weeks early). Mine usually start very early morning, although DD1 was born in the afternoon as was a longer labour.

Shelly I'm also imaging this one dropping out late evening while everyone is asleep! I know that the reality will be in the daytime with no adults to help for miles.

Cherry to heartburn. I always get it really bad, and I practically drink Gaviscon and gallons of milk. Both really help me, but not sure of any other remedies I'm afraid.

Mine were:

DD 10 days early 6lb 3oz (water broke Monday 1am, contractions Wednesday PM, born Thursday 4am)

DS 5 days late 8lb 3oz (contractions 11pm, born 9am)

cherry I've been miserable with heartburn since 16 weeks. I've been drinking gaviscon and milk but the MW told me to see the GP for zantac if it doesn't get better. I did get a prescription for zantac and it has made a huge difference!

Morning everyone!

Just to add to the list: My previous babies were:

DD1 - 8lb 1oz (38 weeks)
DS1 - 8lb 15oz (37 weeks)
DS2 - 8lb 6oz (39 weeks)
DD2 - 7lb 1oz (38 weeks)

No 5 is a boy, and he feels huge! Hoping he isn't too big or doesn't go too near my due date! 3 of mine were born in the middle of the night, apart from DD2 who was born at a more respectable time of 6pm (although that was mostly because she had been induced I think!)

Annelid seriously impressed with an 11lb baby! I am amazed yours managed to get into newborn clothes! None of mine have worn any newborn stuff, with the exception of DD2 who was the smallest!

Craving I know! What will probably happen is I'll be on the school run with my waters dripping down my legs and end up having it in the playground! Hubby works about 25 mins away so that is going to be an issue too that I don't really want to think about. I'm not stressing about it though, if I do end up having it all on my own I won't really mind, but the ambulance station is literally 5 mins away so there is help if I need it urgently :)

The best laid plans and all that

Oh the thought of waters breaking or going into labour in the playground is awful! I suppose at least there would be plenty of people around to help with the other kids / call an ambulance / DH.

Still, I'll join the rest of you hoping for a night time labour!

Hehehe, it'll be just my luck, especially as I live 3 and a half miles away from school .

cherrypie3 I didn't find my labours any different as they got bigger, just quicker! Maybe the extra weight helped?

I'm not one for staying on a bed ijn labour though. I find I cope with the pain better by walking round our kitchen table and counting through the contractions if that makes sense! Don't know if it helps speed things up? gravity?

Shelly to your waters breaking in the playground! You would be a local celebrity if that happened. I'm the same with DH working 40 mins away and no other family that near. Thinking of googling "how to deliver a baby" just in case... Good the ambulance service is so close to you.
Yes here's to definitely wishing for a night labour.

Annelid Gravity definitely seems to help, doesn't it, especially with already weakened pelvic floor muscles. Does anyone find the pelvic floor exercises actually work??

I can't do anything but walk when I'm in labour, last time I must have got a new midwife who delivered my daughter and she just wanted me on the table, not a chance love :)

Haha, a good way to get in the local rag :)

Craving whether it was the pelvic floor exercises or just luck, it has worked for me. Took a while after DS2 though - he was back to back.

Funny how each of us develops our own style of being in labour. For me I like a bit of walking at the beginning and just before pushing, but mostly kneeling, leaning on the side of the birth pool. I count my breaths through contractions imagining I am climbing a mountain and drifting down the other side.

I tried to explain this to DH and he didn't get it at all!

I'm sections all the way! None of mine will make any effort to come out

I started carrying maternity pads in my bag from 36 weeks in case my waters broke in public. Not sure what I planned to do really, maybe use them to clean the floor!

Thread had dropped of my 'I'm On' list, for some reason! Nice to see you all back again :o

37+4 today. Can sympathise with those of you who have DPs working further away - mine works an hour away and my last labour lasted 1 hour 50 minutes. I've had a word with baby and told her to stay put until he's back here, but she doesn't appear to be listening :o Last night (when he was stuck because the lights went on the car...) I ended up having contractions every 6 minutes for over an hour and feeling really sick. Luckily it all faded away after a while.

Had a growth scan and CTG on Tuesday and now need one once a week til baby's arrival due to low fluid and poor growth - so not easy to arrange school pickups and everything else for the three older ones, it's a logistical nightmare and I'm so lucky my mum is amazingly helpful and my ex is willing to change his hours to do school runs if I need him to.

Hope you're all doing well x

Hetty great to hear from you, sounds like you might be the first birth of the thread?!

Sorry to hear that you have the worry of the scans but at least you have some support to enable you to attend them.

My DH has just been offered a new job 1 1/2 hours away - but my labours have all been so long I am not too worried (yet!).

Seymore That's so funny! Maybe stick them over your eyes so you can just pretend it's not happening