Natural Birth
KateLouise
member
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Questions for 3+ Mums
KateLouise
member
So I'm pregnant with our 3rd baby (had a miscarriage last year). I'm only 7 weeks along but am starting to think about delivery.
I've heard it said that second deliveries are typically faster than the first, but that the 3rd delivery follows no rules, and can be all over the place.
So just curious was your 3rd delivery faster/easier than your previous ones? Harder? Somewhere in between?
I know no one can predict what kind of delivery I will have, but I've had two straight forward vaginal births. The first was 7 hours active labour, the second was 2hrs active labour. Both with a longish gradual build up prior to becoming active. It's so easy to assume that another birth would be very similar, but I understand that anything can happen.
So am just curious what other people's experiences have been.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Re: Questions for 3+ Mums
I asked my MW at my first appointment with this one and she said pretty much what you already know. Second labors are usually faster than the first, but she said they call the third the wild card. So obviously I have nothing to add here, just wanted to congratulate you!
My third was my first natural birth (but in a hospital). My water broke at home without warning about five days post EDD. She was born a few hours later.
Fourth was freestanding birth center a few days post EDD. I feel his labor was longer. He was my biggest at 9lbs2oz.
Last guy born at home, in water (first homebirth and waterbirth) six days before his due date (never had a cervix check the entire pregnancy or birth so no one swept membranes - he just came sooner than expected). His was fast and furious. I would have preferred slow and steady. It was the most intense birth.
Don't know what to expect this time. That's part of the fun, right?! Each baby writes his or her own birth day story.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
1st baby: water broke at 2 am, had him at about 10:30 am. As soon as my water broke, contractions gradually increased in strength, so I'd say about 6 hours of hard, painful labor. (Born at 39 weeks, 3 days)
2nd baby: water broke at 4 am (with blood in it). Had him by 6:30 am. So much quicker, and the contractions started hard right after water broke. (Born at 38 weeks)
3rd baby: woke up at 9 am feeling crampy and losing mucus plug. Contractions very slowly increased throughout the day. Went to hospital at 3 pm, had him at 6:45 pm. So active labor was around 3 hours. (Born at 39 weeks, 4 days)
I'm also very curious as to how this 4th labor will play out! I guess you never know.
My first birth (HB) was 4 hours long at 37 weeks exactly.
My 2nd was also at 37 weeks but was a placenta abruption (not in labor) so it was an emergency c-section.
My 3rd (HBVBAC) was at 38 weeks and was 2 1/2 hours long.
My 4th (HBVBAC) was at 38 weeks and 50 minutes long & obviously my CNM was on her way and missed it (but was on the phone for the entire time as I didn't feel the need to call 911). I did not push at all with this labor and side labored in an attempt to slow it down because I just wanted my CNM there. However, because of my fast labors she's always prepared us for in case the midwife doesn't arrive in time so we weren't freaking out.
CLEARLY, I have short births and with each birth they go shorter. With babies 3 & 4, my body literally waited until my kids were tucked into bed until contractions started. Best of wishes to you for a beautiful & healthy birth!!
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
Congratulations on baby # 3. I think it's a little unusual that so many ladies on this board have had precipitous births, on average about 2% of births are consider precipitous, so I think you'll likely be alright since you don't have that prior history of 2-3 hours from onset of labor to the baby in the arms.
Baby #1 - water broke at 35 weeks, contractions started 16 hours after water broke, and time from contractions starting to baby was 14 hours - this was really easy to record since I was in the hospital on continous monitoring
Baby #2 - about 6.5 hours from time of first contraction till baby, it's more difficult when your water doesn't break to be sure of times
Baby #3 - about 6-7 hours from time of first contraction, ironically this birth was labeled as precipitious because the doctor wasn't present when I started pushing(involuntarily) and delivered
So in my limited experience - Labor 2 & 3 were similiar and 1/2 the time of labor 1. It's good that you seem to have a gradual build up so you'll have an idea what's coming, even if the active labor tends to be short and intense.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
My Ovulation Chart
Me: 41 DH: 46. We are TTC our 1st, started July '11,
3 cycles clomid with Ob,
1 cycle Tamoxifen with Ob,
Diagnosed PCOS 11/5/12
clomid, trigger & timed bd 12/12 BFN
1st clomid IUI 1/4/13 BFN.
2nd clomid IUI 2/13 cancelled didn't respond to clomid.
3/15/13 scheduled laparoscopy & on bcp.
May 10 IUI from injectibles - BFN
May 22 done with interventions it will either happen or it won't.
February 2014 No longer actively trying, but not preventing.
SURPISE BFP 4/2/2015!!!!!!!!!!
Miscarriage 4/23/15
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old