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Original poster

Third births

36 replies

MadeInCornwallx3 · 31/03/2019 22:23

Hi All, I'm due in just under 10 weeks with my third and was wondering how other people's 3rd labours we're in comparison to the first two.

Lots of people have told me the third's the tricky one which is a bit unnerving!

Both my previous two were born after 20 hrs ish at 39+6 so I've never known anything different to that!

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Jamhandprints · 31/03/2019 22:26

I was induced for all three. 1st was awful, 2nd was lovely, 3rd was ok. Only 4 hours of active labour, gas and air, minimal tear, quick recovery. Good luck! :-)

RandomMess · 31/03/2019 22:33

Induced at

41 weeks
42 +3
40 weeks

Third birth took almost as long to get going as the first 😱 but once in established labour was quick.

What I learnt is not to bother being induced before 42 weeks I just have long pregnancies!

DramaAlpaca · 31/03/2019 22:36

My first was 21 hours, second was 12 hours, third was 5 hours, a lovely straightforward home birth. My midwife told me it's fourth babies that can be more awkward, not thirds Wink

RandomMess · 31/03/2019 22:37

DramaAlpaca my 4th was wonderful!!

DramaAlpaca · 31/03/2019 22:39

Random I think it was my midwife's way of reassuring me!

Original poster
MadeInCornwallx3 · 31/03/2019 22:41

Haha I don't intend on a fourth @DramaAlpaca Smile

It was at my second the said that if it was my third they'd be more on edge Confused

OP posts:
Puttingofftheironing · 31/03/2019 22:44

1st forceps with gas and air and horrendus
About 3 hours
2nd natural with gas and air and OK (as much as birthing can be)
About 2 hours
3rd heart set on an epidural that didn't happen. Natural birth gas and air
About 45 minutes
My second was the best experience, but in hindsight I wish I let go of the dream of an epidural and had my 3rd at home. The birth was absolutely fine. By then I could pretty much sneeze them out as I was so ruined!
Best of luck x

DramaAlpaca · 31/03/2019 22:46

I think this just proves that midwives tell you what they think you need to hear Grin I didn't go for a fourth either, three was plenty for me.

BellMcEnd · 31/03/2019 22:54

My 3rd took aaaaages to get going - so much so that I was against the clock for induction as my waters went but nothing happened for nearly 24hours. All of a sudden he decided to be born and I went from 4cm to baby and placenta out in 2 hours. The second stage was recorded as 2 minutes. Lovely, calm relatively pain free home birth Smile.

My first 2 were also straightforward but a bit more text book as it was lose plug, start contracting, build up etc etc. With them my waters didn’t go until I was pushing. So the third was a bit different but in a good way. Hope that helps!

kgeal3 · 01/04/2019 16:47

My third was the easiest, 1st was 8 hrs and ventouse. 2nd was 6hrs natural but with a tear. 3rd was 4hrs natural born at 5am home by 10am. Hoping baby 4 is even easier 🤣

sunshineandshowers21 · 01/04/2019 16:55

my third was definitely the hardest. i was induced early due to her being small and after nearly three days of pessaries, sweeps, and hormone drips i was given an emergency section because i just wasn’t dilating. my first two were very fast and easy in comparison.

DeadDoorpost · 01/04/2019 16:58

My mum's 3rd was her worst.. needed to be rushed to surgery straight after.

MiL 3rd was also her hardest.. baby had head stuck and a host of other things.

I don't think I want a third...

captainkangaroo · 01/04/2019 17:03

My 3rd was fab. First contraction @5pm, got to the hospital at 5.45 baby born at 6.15pm. We were home by 9.30pm on the couch with a glass of wine.

thepartysover · 01/04/2019 17:05

Following!

My 1st was 49 hours - THE WORKS in terms of intervention / pain relief. 9lbs.

2nd - 3.5 hours start to finish. Only just got to hospital in time for the baby to arrive. 2nd + 3rd stage we're 5 minutes combined. No time for any kind of pain relief. 7.7lbs

The midwives said that if I had a third it would probably be quick too but who knows. Living in fear of another 2 day marathon... Confused

PotteringAlong · 01/04/2019 17:07

Very very fast. Active labour was recorded as 19 minutes. My second birth was better because it was slower and I felt I was always in control. My 3rd birth just happened to me if that makes sense? Luckily I had been induced so I was in hospital!

Bishalisha · 01/04/2019 17:08

Like a bat out of hell

Original poster
MadeInCornwallx3 · 01/04/2019 20:02

Crikey @DeadDoorpost that doesn't fill me with confidence!

@captainkangaroo That sounds fab. I'd just like one that isn't nearly 24 hours ting though too quick sounds stressful too.

OP posts:
user1498572889 · 01/04/2019 20:31

When I went in to have my third the midwife said “oh your third. Third ones are always awkward”. Apart from having her hands in her mouth and elbows out( midwife had to put her hands in and push her arms down) it was over in 4 hours. No better no worse than the other 2.

Justus22 · 01/04/2019 21:01

I was induced at 38 weeks with my third (I went 42weeks with second), they put hormone drip in ready and had to turn it off soon after they broke my waters as wasn't necessary. They said as I had epidural I'd not give birth on the midwifes shift, they weren't going to check me until 6 hours later.... He came in 4 hrs. My first was the worst I was in labour for 2 days. Xx

ShellieEllie · 01/04/2019 21:06

My third was least pain relief and quickest :)

stabbybitch · 01/04/2019 21:10

1st - easiest and 6 hours long from start to finish. No pain relief and watched her be born in a mirror. 1 push and was out. Baby born en caul. Puked all through labour. Home next morning.

2nd - traumatic & back to back. No pain relief. Was 7 hours but took nearly 5 hours to get to 3cm then contractions stopped when it was time to push. Waters broke by midwife. Retained placenta & a pph of 2 litres, while in theatre had a reaction to anaesthetic and died on operating table. A week long stay in hdu. Puked all through labour.

3rd - water broke first which I wasn't expecting contractions didn't start for another 2 hours. Was dripped and midwife with me the whole time. Had gas and air & puked, loved the remifentanyl! Back to back baby, mooed like a cow 😂 took 7 & half hours home next morning. Baby had cord round his neck but was fine. Puked all through labour.

No tears with any of them.

EverythingNow · 01/04/2019 21:15

Third was my quickest and easiest too.

#1 induced at 42weeks (pessary, drip, ventoused, episiotomy 3rd degree tear) 12hrs from waters breaking.

#2 spontaneous at 9 days overdue. 6hrs from waters breaking.

#3 induced at 42wks by ARM. Out in 2hrs.

Currently expecting number 4. Wondering whether to have a home birth as a back up plan but fully expecting another induction at 4weeks.

Tootyfrooty35 · 01/04/2019 22:13

@EverythingNow needed this... Your #1 & 2 very similar to mine only #2 was born at home in 3 hours!
Planning induction this time, AROM, soooo hoping my #3 is like yours 🤞🤞🤞🤞

Sculpin · 01/04/2019 22:16

DC1 was long (28 hours from waters breaking) but no complications
DC2 was quick and easy (3.5 hours from first contraction)
DC3 exactly the same as DC2

Designerenvy · 01/04/2019 22:23

1st: 16 hours labour, natural delivery.
2nd: 9 hours labour, natural delivery.
3rd: 4 hours labour, natural delivery.
3rd one was the fastest and had least amount of intervention. DS3 was born healthy ( others needed a bit of help on arrival). He was put straight on me for skin to skin contact, which was really lovely.

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