Is pregnancy/labor experiences heredity?

angeltennis3 · March 2014

I wish I could remember what book I was reading (maybe What to Expect?), but somewhere I read that your mom's pregnancy & labor/delivery can often be a good indicator of what yours will be like. Thoughts?

I'm a FTM so I have nothing to compare against my mom's. She did give birth to me six weeks early and my brother five weeks early, so if that is the case, I am a little concerned about that. Although I know medicine and monitoring pregnancy has come a long way since then so hopefully my doctor can keep an eye on potential indicators I will go into labor early and we can keep this baby in there until he or she is REALLY ready to come out!

Greenmood · March 2014

Not sure. My mom is convinced some of it is; I haven't had any nausea and she's taking credit.

You should ask your doc and get more information from your mom. Maybe she had risk factors that you can control.

35nhappy · March 2014

My labors/delivery were completely opposite of my mother's....her shortest labor was 17 hours, my longest was 5....all four of us kids were a minimum of 10 days late, mine were all 7-12 days early...she had horrendous back pain/labor and large babies (smallest of 4 being 9#2oz)....I had zero back labor and my largest of three was 8#1oz....so in my case, most definitely not hereditary!

noellemari · March 2014

Nope. Opposites for me and my mom.

megaroo64 · March 2014

My mom and I had really similar experiences. Both of us had pretty easy labor/deliveries. Of course, that is just anecdotal - I have no idea if it is actually genetic.

squeenut · March 2014

My mom had 5 C-sections. I have had one vaginal birth. She had a shitty doctor who never gave her a chance and just scheduled her for her first, and then told her VBACs were impossible. So, who knows what she was capable of? We'll never know.

cerad5 · March 2014

I've never heard that there was a connection. My mom and I had completely different pregnancies and labor/deliveries.

BreandMikewedding · March 2014

I don't think so. My mom was early with both of us and went into labor on her own. I was 2 days late with both mine and had to be induced both times.

AppleGrapeMSTK · March 2014

My labor nurses asked me how long my mom pushed. My mom pushed for less than 30 minutes with all 7 of her kids. When I told them, they panicked and called to make sure my doctor was close. I only pushed for 35 minutes.

The nurses seemed to think that the pushing was related, but anything else I haven't found a correlation.

MrsRoy07 · March 2014

Ugh I wish- my mom had quick easy labors with my sis and I, while I labored for 30 hours, pushed for 2, DD got stuck and I ended up with a c/s. So yea- no.

manateeliz · March 2014

My mom and I also had very different labor experiences, but that could be a result of hospitals now vs. hospitals then too. She had precipitous labor with both my brother and I and I was a bit worried about that when pregnant with DS, but I didn't need to be.

WiFiMom2be · March 2014

None of the women in my family have had MS, and I'm very grateful for that! But my mom had to have c-sections (I think the problem was her pelvic bone is tilted in such a way that a baby can't fit through), but my sister was able to have a vaginal birth. No idea how mine will go!

DaniW1984 · March 2014

I asked my midwife this very question as my mom had terrible pregnancies & births. Midwife said your pregnancy is not linked with mother's. Here's why: you have only half your genetics from mom & the other half from your dad - and environmental/generational
factors certainly matter. IE: medical practices in the 80's have changed a lot to now, and my mom had very different stress levels & diet than I do which can contribute to more challenging pregnancy & labour.

She said I'm more likely to have pregnancy & labour similar to my sister who is genetically more alike & also raised in same generation (& has similar lifestyle to me too).

Hope that helps.

tacosandtums · March 2014

This is good to know... my mom keeps telling me she has M/S until 20 weeks. (Kill me)

Maggie6424 · March 2014

Mine was the opposite of hers. My first was nausea the entire pregnancy. I couldn't sleep and the labor was long and traumatic. My Mother (not nice) bragged the entire time about how perfect all her pregnancies were and she was hardly ever nauseous and she slept like a rock. Her labors were short and easy except for my next oldest brother, that one was long.
I think sometimes there may be similarities, like if a tiny pelvis runs in your family or something along those lines.

TinyTRex321 · March 2014

I wish my mom and sister had easy quick deliveries. I on the other hand was in labor for 66 hours with my son, I was induced though so that changes things. My doctor said there isn't any
correlation in how your labor/ pregnancy will go compared to family members.

mer313131 · March 2014

My mom had a really long labor/delivery with me and I had the same experience with DD.

cactus5 · March 2014

Our pregnancies were similar, but I have only been induced and she was not. Induced or not we both had very quick labors with each child. My MIL had the same-easy pregnancies and quick births.

My sister on the other hand had horrible pregnancies (lots of ms, pain, lots of swelling) and long births though.

ariel06 · March 2014

No connection. I think remember reading something about sisters having similar pregnancies,but that there was no connection between other family members.

jesslinnn · March 2014

My mom gave birth 3 times (1 set of twins), and my two births have been completely different than hers.

Justabean3 · March 2014

I don't think so with my mom. They were totally different

bayhunter6 · March 2014

My mom and I had very different pregnancies and deliveries. She had no morning sickness and quick labors. I had severe morning sickness til 18 weeks and intermittently after that and a long difficult labor with three different complications.

BeanNut · March 2014

Your L&D is more likely to be like your mother's than a complete stranger's...

but who knows how likely.

My first L&D was similar to my mom's first but second was pretty different (I was worried about getting to the hospital on time for #2 because she almost didn't but that was not an issue for me). Also, my mom's first 2 babies were late and my first 2 were a week early (still full term).

jellybean0110 · March 2014

My experience was completely different from my Mom's. Also I heard that your mother is the best indicator of whether or not you will get stretch marks so I had my hopes up since she doesn't have any. Well....I look like I was attacked by a tiger (

trisharenee0316 · March 2014

My mom gave birth to all her kids before 39 weeks. My sister had 3 kids before I had my daughter and her latest birth was at 39 weeks. I had my daughter at 40w3d. They both had vaginal labors for all. I had a c-section for failure to progress. All this to say no, not necessarily the same.

whiterabbit5 · March 2014

Surprisingly my mom's pregnancies were a lot like mine. Very similar in symptoms, we both had large babies, and she was late every single time. In all three cases, she should have had c-sections but they were not offered. So far, my 2 have been c-sections and this 3rd one will be as well.

IrishHoney123 · March 2014

I don't think there's any truth to this, and you can have completely different pregnancy experiences/labors/deliveries from child to child yourself.

My mom had extremely long and difficult labor and deliveries (she had 6 kids). I have had 2 somewhat easy and fast labor and deliveries.

IrishHoney123 · March 2014

I don't think there's any truth to this, and you can have completely different pregnancy experiences/labors/deliveries from child to child yourself.

My mom had extremely long and difficult labor and deliveries (she had 6 kids). I have had 2 somewhat easy and fast labor and deliveries.

IrishHoney123 · March 2014

I don't think there's any truth to this, and you can have completely different pregnancy experiences/labors/deliveries from child to child yourself.

My mom had extremely long and difficult labor and deliveries (she had 6 kids). I have had 2 somewhat easy and fast labor and deliveries.

Sofia2529 · March 2014

I've never thought about it but doubt there's any truth to it. My own pregnancies and deliveries differed drastically and neither were similar to my mother's.

LEP424 · March 2014

My grandmother had a long labor with her first (not sure how long), my mom was in labor with me for 72 hours (her first) and I was in labor with DS for 60 hours. Not sure if there's scientific backing, but it sure seems like there's a connection.

ladybug0088 · March 2014

My mom swears that that is actually incorrect.

Her mom all had tiny 6 pound babies. My mom had my brother and I. My brother was almost 10 pounds and I was 8 lb. 14 oz.

She also had a horrible time having us. My brother kicked her gallbladder as they were delivering him and so she had to have emergency gallbladder surgery. She also had to have a 4th degree episiotomy with him. Ewww...I think I'd rather have a c-section at that point.

I actually pooped inside of her while I was being born so it was 50/50 if I was going to be blind or deaf if I ate it while still in the womb (ew,... seriously?!). They then had to go inside of her after I was born and clean her out due to the mess that I had made.

I'm hopeful my pregnancy will be nothing like hers. HA!

nightowl1989 · March 2014

Both my mother and grandmother had no nausea and like no symptoms, which correlates with me. My mom was in labor for 4 hours. I don't know about Nana, since she doesn't talk about that stuff. I wouldn't mind having an easy labor. DH says it sounds like my mom to have such a short labor--"let's just get it over with."

Want a personalized experience?

Is pregnancy/labor experiences heredity?

Re: Is pregnancy/labor experiences heredity?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards