Tell me about delivering your third baby?

[spad]

Everyone is keen to tell me that third babies are awkward?

I am hoping lots of people write to say that is not true!

Nope, niggly contractions on and off from 10am until about 10pm. Had friends over for lunch during the day, went out for a walk. Went to bed at 10pm. Woke up at 02:30, full blown labour. Dropped the older two off at friends at 04:25, arrived at hospital at 04:40, ds3 born at 05:03 (albeit on the loo!) Would have gone home after the obligatory 4hrs, but had a small haemorrhage due to some retained placenta, so stayed overnight and went home in the morning. Would have said it was the most straightforward so far, and possibly even more so than ds4.

That is great news!

I had a tough time with DS1. But DS2 flew out in less than an hour!

Was your third labour faster than the previous two? And was your fourth labour faster than that?

Number 1, was 10hrs from first (agonising) contraction, with two hours of pushing, shoulder dysplasia, haemorrhaging, and ds1 born with an apgar score of 1. Left me with PTSD unfortunately.

Number 2, didn't know I was in labour until about 23:00, born easily at 02:03.

Number 3, proper painful labour was from 02:30 until 05:03, so probably about 30 minutes shorter than number 2.

Number 4, labour started at about 05:30, got painful at about 08:00, left for hospital at 10:30, (12 minute drive), and born at 11:11, so actually slightly longer than number 3, but much more comfortable position, as used a birthing stool. Numbers 2 and 3 were born on the toilet lol.

Ds3 few niggles from around 7pm, was 1-2cm @11.30pm, checked again at 1am 3cm took to delivery, waters broke at 1.55 7cm, was 10cm by 2.05 3 pushes later baby was born 2.12am no time for any pain relief apart from a few sucks of gas n air right near the end.

Dc 3 I was in labour for 6 hours, 2 pushes and she was out.
Dc 2 I was in labour for 8 hours and about 10 mins pushing
Dc1 I was in labour for 22 hours and 45 mins pushing.

My longest labour was Dc5, 42 hours of labour and 10 mins pushing so it doesn't always get quicker (although dc 6 was only 3 hours of labour so sometimes it does)

I was induced. She wasn't coming out for toffee. The induction was ok, just time consuming really. As soon as I started having contractions it was full on. That came as a bit of a shock. I 'established' labour at about 7pm, 3 hours 6 mins later, she was born with a bit of g&a.

Number 3 was a lovely labour. First one was about 3 days of stop/start contractions, followed by about 18 hours of labour. Second was about 16 hours of labour. Third went into proper labour about 7.30pm and he was born before midnight. Second stage was hard and long in first two. Third one, I finally understood what people meant when they talked about not having to consciously push. My body just seemed to take over and about 5 mins and he was out - lovely home birth.

DC1-7 hours from first contraction, water birth very straightforward.
DC2-under 2 hours from first contraction, I was pushing in the car and the baby was born as we arrived at the hospital, too fast bit traumatic.
DC3 - 4 hours from waters breaking, 3 hours from first contraction, in the pool very relaxed they said she was back to back which had slowed it down or it might have been quicker than DC2, I was relieved about this and didn't find back to back labour harder than the others.

So for me 3 was my best birth experience.

Ooh this is good news I am due today with dc3 !

I was two weeks late with dd #2 and had to be induced with the midwife popping my waters but she was born 2 hrs after......be interesting to see what happens this time !

Spad when are you due ?

All of mine I've had to go in for monitoring due to reduced movements;

Dc1; induction started at 39wks, 4 days to get started, 14 hour labour. All the pain meds and horrible recovery.

Dc2; bought in for induction at 38wks, didn't happen as he came by himself, just under an hour & a half. G&A and tens. Easiest recovery.

dC3; sweep given before induction started at 38wks, went home, nothing happening, woke up with painful contractions. Straight to hospital and born within 4 hours. G&A, tens and pethidine. Great recovery but omg the afterpains!!!!

DC3 ha the most pre labour hospital appointments & spd so was the worst pregnancy

DC1 20 hours 2 hours 45mins pushing
DC2 4 hours 4 pushes
DC3 4 hours about 30 mins pushing but because I was trying to control it better
Dc2&3 at home dc1 at hospital.

Pregnancy definitely gets worse each time, the hip pain and general tiredness is awful, plus I am MASSIVE nothing fits, none of my lovely maternity jeans etc

I'm due at the end of July. Anyone else?

My MW had a theory that third babies aren't really awkward, just that everyone expects them to fly out so they seem awkward.

Also she said you're more likely to get on/off contractions and then go quickly once you do.

That was true of me. DD1 was a tough one. DD2 was 9 hours. DS was 4.

I was induced for my third and practically enjoyed myself oddly. It was a right laugh and much shorter than the other 2.

The pregnancy however was horrendous.. never, ever again!

My third was a lovely birth much better then my 1st and 2nd. It was still long as was my second but overall a much better relaxed experience.

Getting to 4cm was a PITA. Very stop-start. But once I was officially 'in active labour' number 3 was born 1 hour and 13 minutes later without any problems except a midwife who was caught out and faffing about putting some gloves on.

Dc1 - 5 hours labour , 2 hrs pushing
Dc2 - 4 hours 1 push

Dc3 - 15 minutes she shot out without me pushing . Luckily I was in hospital.

Lovely straight forward planned homebirth.

Labour started when waters broke at 1am. MW arrived 1.30am was 5cm dilated already. DD3 born 5.15am. I would say contractions were most painful of the three but in between I was chatting and laughing with the MWs quite happily, I could feel every millimetre as she emerged though! Didn't even have to push my body did it automatically. Painful but quick not a bit awkward - unless you count that she was 12 days overdue!!

I'm due my 3rd end of july and was also wondering about 3rd labour (thanks for posting) as dp works away and takes 5 hours to get home.
1dd was 17 hours established labour, 3 days it took to induce.
2dd was 7hours 52 established and pretty straight forward.
Here's hoping 3dc lets daddy get home but doesn't make mummy suffer for too long

First labour 3 hours
2nd 1.5 hours
3rd 45 minutes. Just made it into the labour ward.

Didn't push with any of them - they all just shot out at top speed.

I had hyperemesis all the way through with all of them though.

Dc3 was an induction because of really bad spd. Waters broken at midnight born at 7am. It was fine and he was back to back he did turn on the way out all the midwives were laughing as his head did a full turn! Then all of a sudden the bed was dropped and my legs were flung back over my shoulders the midwife shouted at me I really really had to push as hard as I could with my next contraction I did and out came a very perfect but huge ds- 10lb 8!!!
All in all it was a lovely labour even though his size was a shock I had no stitches and was up and about soon after.
One thing to think about is afterpains mine were quíte bad with dc3 and I was on pain killers for a couple of days after the birth. I think mine were quite bad because of his size. I had none with dc4 who was a more petite 8lb 10 but they are suppose to get worse with each baby you have.

I was induced at 40+5 because I'd had gallstones throughout the pregnancy and by this point, I'd had enough. The sweep done 2 days before induction slowly started me off so I was ready for it.
It was fast, he was huge, I pushed twice, no assistance, no stitches or other problems - I was back home just a few hours later.

Ummmm.. #1 20hrs pre labour boring mild contractions, 5hrs of nothing, 5hrs of proper contractions. Labour "on paper" was 90mins as is 0cm-baby, in reality obviously a lot longer than that.
#2 3hrs mild contractions, 3hrs proper ones, 1h "proper" labour 0cm-baby. Again 7hrs total in reality.
#3 was more gradual 3hrs 0-5cm 90mins 5cm-baby.

None of the 3 were ever engaged before they actually came out (which makes midwives very jumpy it turns out), all were in the posterior position, all turned in labour. If I had to guess I would say the first 2 turned after lots of contractions but before I started to dilate. #3 turned at 5cm, having been there twice before I knew what it felt like (like needing to push basically).

I got the same stories about 3 sometimes being a pickle.