3rd, 4th + moms!

[proudparent88]

So I have had two kids but with my first I went in after having a night of nothing but contractions every three minutes apart. My second I was induced didn't even have a chance for my body to start on it's own. This time I plan to go as long as I can without going in but how do i know when it's best to go in? My labors lasted the same amount of time for both my kids which was 7 hours. I keep hearing people say that each one is quicker. My fear is that I will wait it out too long at home and I don't want to be giving birth on my floor or something because I would have no medical assistance at all and that scares me. So how long should I wait before making my trip to the hospital? I want everything to happen naturally I don't want any intervention such as my water broken by doctors or anything. I want to do this labor and delivery my way. Can someone give me some tips for when to leave how to avoid all pain medication tips to keep them from inducing me from them wanting to break my waters please help me with all aspects of this I feel alone and I am not sure what to do because even though I am 23+2 I really want to start planning and write out my plans and have them readily available for those involved in my labor and delivery. I know it seems like I have a long time to go yet but I know how fast it will fly by and that before I know it that time will be here! Thanks!

 

[Tayla2748]

I found my 3rd delivery was easier to avoid pain medications as i knew what was happening and I had organised my sister to come in and coach me through each contraction. It was great having someone who understood labour to help, my DH wasn't very good with the contractions. I used a lot of breathing with the gas and stood in the shower for hours.
I actually went to the hospital a little bit early but I didn't want to be travelling in the car during active labour. It turned out my DS was stuck but once he turned around he just shot out so if I get to have another one I will probably do the same and go to the hospital early on in the labour.

 

[proudparent88]

I can understand that I just get so stressed out in a hospital especially the one I will be delivering in because my dad had his life saved there and my mom had her cancer surgery and treatments there just a lot of good/bad memories attached to that hospital. Sadly thought there is nowhere else to go. But it does have one of the best prenatal care things there and stuff. I just want to do as much as I can at home for some reason I am not afraid of delivering in a car or anything I mean yea it can happen but I just don't think it's possible since I do live like 15 min away if that. I just can't stand to feel so stressed out or anxious and tense during such an important time just because of the hospital of course I think I would feel that either way. But for me I want it to kind of be a getting there at the last minute type thing not sure why...Just do.

 

[Misscalais]

Both times I arrived at the hospital at 4cm and had them 4 hours later. My que was my contractions changed from painful to having to grip something and make noise through them, my contractions never went regular with my 2nd so I couldn't even go off that lol. 1st labour all up was 41 hours and 2nd labour was 22 hours all up so I'm hoping this one will be about 12 hours

 

[proudparent88]

My first labor was 7 hours and my second was also 7 hours so for me it's difficult to say really what this one will be.

 

[sun]

I will be going in as soon as I need to focus and breath through my contractions. I did the same with the last and got there with an hour and 19min to spare! So hoping I get good timing this time too With my first my water broke (PPROM) and I was preterm so went in before contractions started.

 

[FeistyMom]

My first I had gone in with false labor a few days before the real deal, so I stayed at home MUCH too long. I was in full on transition labor and couldn't even really see straight - the contractions were lasting as long as the time between them! Spent 20 minutes at hospital before DD1 was delivered. With #2, I didn't want to have that happen, so I went in early... and got sent home with another bout of false labor. But I was still determined to not have a repeat of the first time, and went back a few days later and had my waters ruptured and after that point was 5 hours or less. With #3, I labored for probably 10 hours, but I thought it was 'false'... until about the time my water broke! Was at hospital for less than a hour before DS was delivered.

I have to say my 3rd was the best experience so far - in part because he was the smallest, but also because I purposefully labored at home for most of it. I would have liked to have been at the hospital *before* my waters broke, but it worked out pretty well. I am being induced this time around, so I'm a bit freaked out that I'll end up with a super long labor and not know what to do with myself in the hospital, especially since my FAVORITE way to deal with contractions was to be on all 4s on the stairs and rock... not really going to be able to do that this time.

But basically, all of my experiences have been pretty different, so it is hard to say if 3 will be faster for you or not.

 

[xx~Lor~xx]

My first child was a 7.5 hour labour and I managed to hold out to go into the midwife centre till I was 4cm.

My second was 4.5 hours and I held out till 6cm

My third I was worried about going to early, I held out and held out saying I could just about deal with it, a
Until eventually my OH was like "you hardly have time to talk between contractions! I'm calling!" He forced me out and we got in at 7cm hahaha. She was a 3 hour 20 min labour.

My advice is, to time your contractions and hold out until you feel you are struggling to get through them.

 

[MadameJ]

My first was 19 ish hours long,went in at 4 cm at 7-8pm and had him at 11.33pm. With it being my first at 4cm it felt like I must have been about 9cm so was gutted when it was only 4cm.
My second was 7 hours long,used a tens machine at home with lots of pacing and decided at 8.30 it was time to call midwives as I was starting to struggle so they told us to come in straight away,arrived at 9pm was 9cm dilated and spent 40 mins in the birthing pool and gave birth at 9.51pm. This was the perfect labour to me and the reason I knew it was time to head in was when I was pacing I started to kinda squat as I went lol(was the pressure).

Hoping my next is just as easy (yeah right)

 

[Beneli]

My first was 5 hrs. My second was a planned homebirth and I waited to really know I was having real contractions before calling. Bad idea. I delivered alone with dh catching the baby before the midwives could make it. 1.5hr labor. Hoping this baby doesn't just fall out on the kitchen floor!

 

[aimee-lou]

43 long and painful hours with my first. Was in the birth centre for 18 hours of that and got sent home twice before they admitted me! I now know of course that he had his hand up by his face and his shoulders got wedged as a result. I also wasn't pushing correctly either (again only know that now lol) So I was pushing for 35 minutes, the first 20 not really doing anything then I got mad lol. he weighed 9lb6 and was 5 days late when he eventually arrived lol.

2nd was totally different. I was in slow labour for nearly 4 days. I had a MW appointment on the morning of the 4th day and was measuring 3-4cm already with no signs of labour actually kicking off. That afternoon it all kicked up a gear but I still wasn't progressing much, just slightly more painful. I went in to be examined (it was the middle of the night! lol) After that I was given a sweep and sent home. hubby had to do a u-turn on the drive as by the time we got home I was in my 'moany' stage as he calls it, which means I'm pretty far gone and about to start transition. I arrived back at the hospital at about 1am and he was born at 4.30 - I hardly had to push lol. He weighed in at 10lb14oz 10 days overdue! God bless gravity! lol

3rd was a completely unknown quantity. my previous 2 deliveries were so different even the MW's said it could be days or I could end up delivering in the kitchen! lol In the end I started with regular contractions about 8pm, by 11pm I was in full swing but still very much in control and pain level not massive, by midnight I was in my moany stage and hubby took me in. He arrived at exactly 4am but I have to say I was a bit lazy and hoped to not have to push again. I probably could have had him out a good hour or so earlier if I'd just gone for it! lol He was 9 days late and weighed 8lb10oz.

All my delieveries were very straight forward. I have been told though that I'm likely to go quicker next time (given the 8 hours start to finish of DS3 that doesn't surprise me!) but I have a fab hubby who knows my behaviour so well and it was all his call when to go in with both DS2 and 3. Although I have said if we do opt to have another (highly unlikely but still) he may have to brush up his midwifery skills! lol

I wanted to stay home as long as possible but couldn't have done the latter half of any of my deliveries without G&A so was glad I went in when I did. Good luck and I would definitely try to stay home. Is a Home birth an option for you, or could you hire a MW or a doula to help you at home and with the transfer when the time came?

 

[proudparent88]

43 long and painful hours with my first. Was in the birth centre for 18 hours of that and got sent home twice before they admitted me! I now know of course that he had his hand up by his face and his shoulders got wedged as a result. I also wasn't pushing correctly either (again only know that now lol) So I was pushing for 35 minutes, the first 20 not really doing anything then I got mad lol. he weighed 9lb6 and was 5 days late when he eventually arrived lol.

2nd was totally different. I was in slow labour for nearly 4 days. I had a MW appointment on the morning of the 4th day and was measuring 3-4cm already with no signs of labour actually kicking off. That afternoon it all kicked up a gear but I still wasn't progressing much, just slightly more painful. I went in to be examined (it was the middle of the night! lol) After that I was given a sweep and sent home. hubby had to do a u-turn on the drive as by the time we got home I was in my 'moany' stage as he calls it, which means I'm pretty far gone and about to start transition. I arrived back at the hospital at about 1am and he was born at 4.30 - I hardly had to push lol. He weighed in at 10lb14oz 10 days overdue! God bless gravity! lol

3rd was a completely unknown quantity. my previous 2 deliveries were so different even the MW's said it could be days or I could end up delivering in the kitchen! lol In the end I started with regular contractions about 8pm, by 11pm I was in full swing but still very much in control and pain level not massive, by midnight I was in my moany stage and hubby took me in. He arrived at exactly 4am but I have to say I was a bit lazy and hoped to not have to push again. I probably could have had him out a good hour or so earlier if I'd just gone for it! lol He was 9 days late and weighed 8lb10oz.

All my delieveries were very straight forward. I have been told though that I'm likely to go quicker next time (given the 8 hours start to finish of DS3 that doesn't surprise me!) but I have a fab hubby who knows my behaviour so well and it was all his call when to go in with both DS2 and 3. Although I have said if we do opt to have another (highly unlikely but still) he may have to brush up his midwifery skills! lol

I wanted to stay home as long as possible but couldn't have done the latter half of any of my deliveries without G&A so was glad I went in when I did. Good luck and I would definitely try to stay home. Is a Home birth an option for you, or could you hire a MW or a doula to help you at home and with the transfer when the time came?

The midwives in our area is out of a drs office and wont do home birth. And i cant afford to hire a midwife or doula. So not sure how to approach this because i would love a home birth i wanted to last time and couldnt. This is my last chance.