First baby early, will second be too?

[dinny]

Anyone a fortune teller??!! My dd1 was 5 weeks early. I have feeling this bub will be early too. Am I likely to be right? Anyone had twoor more early birds? Can't decide if should work round 35 weeks as my likely due date (re. to start mat leave etc). Dinny

I've had two early; dd1 only a couple of days, but dd2 16 days.

ds 1 was 4 days late, dd was 3 weeks and a day early (weighing 7lb 3oz!!) and ds2 was a day early........wouldnt read too much into it.......they come when they are ready.

Both mine were a couple of weeks early.

Dinny - I think if we were talking a week or so then it doesn't really make much difference, but in your case your baby was 5 wks early! Which is quite significant. Was your dd premature? Did you find out why you went into labour at only 35 wks?

My ds was a week early and I'm hoping this one is a couple of weeks early. I don't know why, but I'm not expected to reach my due date. I think it 'might' have something to do with my cervix not being complete closed at 24wks.

dinny, a friend's ds1 was 5 weeks early a couple of years ago, and her second dd was also born early, but this time 4 weeks. I'd def be asking about what you might do in case.
Her waters broke early for both babies.

dd made an appearance a week early, but I had my show a fortnight before that and my waters broke 9 days before she was born (8lb 9.5oz) and ds was born by elective c/s at 37 weeks to make sure I didn't go into labour (8lb 12oz) . I personally don't think they were "early" but staff insisted the scan is right. Does anyone know exactly how they date from a scan?

I went by my scan dates as I was unsure of my LMP with dd1. I don't think dd1 was as early as scan made her. Reckon more like 36.5 wks. When admitted to hospital midwife said he was sure was 37 weeks (fundus).

Anyhow, this time round the midwives looking after me don't seem worried I'll be early. Never found out why I was early the first time. No apparent reason. Haven't seen consultant or anything this time. (btw dd1 was 6 lbs 7 at (allegedly) 35+5 days when she was born).

I see, so it could've just been you dates. My Mum had me at 'allegedly' 37 wks, but I weighed in at 7lb 6oz.... her next 2 were were a few days early. She never went over her dates, but was not really significantly 'early'.

I'd still say that you had your dd early enough to warrant being prepped for another early one though.

Do you reckon I should be seeing a consultant? Would rather not, iyswim, as I really want a homebirth (if I get to blooming 37 weeks, that is). My friend who was 4 weeks early with her first saw a consultant obs this preg - he said nothing they could do and it may happen again (which it did this time - exactly the same timing!)
Ooh, stressing that should have been sent to see obs now.

Jampot, all babies grow at the same rate for a certain period so they date from the scan by taking key measurements. It should be more accurate than 40 weeks from LMP as this relies on you having a ocmpletely regular 28 day cycle.

My DD1 was three weeks early, DD2 10 days early and DD3 two weeks early..lol!

Dinny - I don't think there is any need to see a Consultant. How far on are you now? Are you sure of your LMP this time?

Sponge, I have been told (probably incorrectly!) that scans can be unreliable for dating. Is that not the case. I had wondered as they use such precise measurements - seems odd they are then not that reliable...?

Toothache, I'm 27+1. And this time my scan date matches my LMP date.
Thing is, they can't do anything to stop baby coming early really (if there's no obvious reason why, can they?) x

Snap, Dinny, DD was 5 wks early forno apparent reason. She weighed 5lbs and was in SCBU for the first day. This time round I saw a consultant as I want to deliver in a community hospital which has no SCBU. Because my first stage of labour was short - approx 1hr - they are concerned that I wouldn't make it to the main hospital in time!!! Anyway, consultant is agreeable to me going to the local hospital to have it, then being transferred if necessary. He seems to think that I won't go full term. Also I have had strong BH since 19 wks, like last time, and am carrying low. So I am finishing work at 34 wks.
What a ramble!!!! HTH.XX

My mum had me at 29 weeks and my brother at 36 weeks she keeps harping on at me that I will be early too as early babies and fast labours runs in our family (don't believe her though) although no stretchmarks also runs in our family and that one I'm happy to believe .

My first was 3 weeks early, and my second 2 weeks early. I was only in labour for 2.5 hours with my second, compared to 14 with my first!

I am also interested in the answer to this question. My Ds was 5 weeks early too (2.8kg) and my Oby told me that I had an increased chance of the next one being early too. I started having troubling contractions at about 25 weeks and was taking something to stop them contractions up unitl just before I delivered. The Dr blamed the problems on 'stress' - ummmmm - a difficult one to disprove.

I had DS at 35 weeks, DD1 at 31 weeks and DD2 at 33 weeks, I was told when pregnant with DD2 that I had a good chance (70%) of carrying to term even with my previous two premature babies (I think that they would say I would defo. have another premature baby, if we were to have another ) There can be a pattern, but a friend of mine had her dd at 28 weeks, and carried her ds a week over.
Good luck

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sweetkitty, my mum also harped on endlessly about how I'd be early like her and dd was 10 days late! It seemed such a long time. I used to go to bed thinking, 'Tonight's the night' and then weep when I was still pregnant in the morning!

ds was 2 weeks early and, having done both, I would say early is definitely better.

Dinny- I had my DD at 36weeks by elective section as my waters had broken (at 21/22 weeks), and IUGR due to placenta starting to fail from 32+wks she was 4lb 14oz) (was in hospital from being 28wks when probs picked up)
I was worried that the same would happen again but i am now 38+5weeks pg, I have been scanned every four weeks since 20 weeks to keep an eye on growth etc. At my 36wk scan bab weighed (estimated) 5lb 11oz.
Just to say that things don't always follow suit.

I was a birth doula to a woman who had her b1st at 34 weeks, next at 35 weeks and 3rd at 39 weeks.... though I was on-call from 32 weeks as she regularely thought she might be "very close" to labour... it was also her best birth as previous ones were so managed she was terrified that this one would be too.

Very interesting to read all these posts. Suppose all I should remember is that old chestnut that every pregnancy is different. or not !!!!

Pupuce, my doula (I told you who, didn't I) is standing by from early August too! Did you see the programme about doulas/mat nurses the other week?