do you ever wonder if your childs personality is a reflection on how they got here?

[JessyG]

Belle is a fiesty little diva with an aversion to sleep also. She was born by emergency c section due to undiagnosed breech. My waters had gone 12 hours before it was noticed. I think you may be on to something.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

All of mine were 'easy' relaxed, fast labours but all have different2 personality. They are all fairly laid back though x

 

[Pearls18]

A traumatic labour can have a big impact on a baby (and mum of course) to what extent it affects their personality long term I don't know, I can imagine it could have an impact on them in the short term. Both my boys were born very quickly, stress free and pain free births, I've only been in labour for a total of 5 hours in my life with both boys, neither were very good sleepers, they both BF fine though, both were content babies but in terms of personalities I would say they're different.

I think what has a bigger impact is what order a child is born, I think older children generally tend to be higher strung because they're used to being centre of attention, by the time we have our second child we're much more relaxed, don't fret as much as we do first time and we probably continue to parent this way, so I think this is more likely to affect their personality long term than something like labour. Most younger children I know (as children and adults) seem much more chilled out people, I can quite often tell if someone is an older or younger child lol, but of course everyone is different it won't be like that for everyone.

 

[AP]

yeah well, Alex was a bit impatient to come into the world (27weeks)and 5 years on she's impatient with her autism. Gotta laugh, we joke about it.

 

[catty]

I do agree with the older sibling thing Marinewag.
we were pretty laidback when Lucas was born though, I actually have had much more scares with Evie as Lucas was such a bruiser I kinda thought nothing would harm him. Whereas Evie would wear a snowsuit in summer hahha as she was such a cold little thing. Lucas didnt even wear a snowsuit in the snow. I can tell with me and my siater though im more laidback than her and im the youngest.

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I agree with birth ordera but only to a certain degree because depends on age gap. I am certainly a middle child lots of stuff I see about 3rd baby is untrue though, for us. My 3rd is with me all day and has my undivided attention because other 2 at school so is almost like an only child during the day lol

 

[JessyG]

I am the youngest and definitely not laid back but then I am not sure my sister is either so maybe we are just a highly strung family. My oh couldn't be more laid back if you tried. I think Belle has definitely taken after me in that respect.

 

[RosieRosieP]

There is 18 months between me and my brother (I'm younger) and we are polar opposites. I was via emcs and my brother naturally I am very laid back and independent and my brother is high maintainence and needy (my moms words not mine) she has always said she can't understand how we are so different when she raised us exactly the same.

I had a quick labour with DD. 5 hours (2 1/2 pushing) but she wasn't distressed and is the most chilled out baby but my mom thinks it's down to me being so relaxed with her x

 

[Pearls18]

I am the youngest and definitely not laid back but then I am not sure my sister is either so maybe we are just a highly strung family. My oh couldn't be more laid back if you tried. I think Belle has definitely taken after me in that respect.

It doesn't work at all with my DH's family as they're all so laid back they're horizontal but I've just noticed it in a lot of other families, but thinking about it a lot of the families I know where it's a boy then a girl the boy seems laid back and the girl more highly strung so gender may play a part? I think I need to work on my theories haha! I do notice it a lot though.

 

[sethsmummy]

nope lol. ds1 was a very traumatic delivery... and hes a very very feisty child (also has special needs). almost 2 day labour... so much intervention, taken to theatre for failed vountouse then delivered by forceps.. they cut his head during this. he was taken straight to scbu.. i didnt see him for a good few hours.. wasnt given help to bf when i did get to see him then he was taken away again till the next day.

ds2 was a planned section, skin to skin and bfing straight away in recovery. and he is even more feisty than ds1!

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

My DS1 was a majorly placid baby,slept perfect, never cried etc didnt fuss EVER. This lasted till 3 then he has quite hard work and obsessive over stuff. He has diagnosed Asd and is pretty highly strung but not active lol lazy but very temperamental.

My middle daughter is the most laid back child I know and not like girls her age at all lol she really dont stress or fuss over anything. Maybe because she was growing up as M was in full swing? But everyone comments on how easy she is. Never had a tantrum,will do what shes told at school and works well with anyone. You honestly dont know she is there sometimes.
Last DD is more of a diva but still fairly laid back.

Me and OH don't stress and do not have busy lives or deadlines. Go with flow jobs!

 

[Eleanor ace]

My DS's labour was full on from the word go, it started out of nowhere and the contractions didn't really increase in intensity, they were just strong from the start. He passed meconium and his heart rate was eratic so I had to be monitored and in the most uncomfy position- mean LO . After 2 hours of pushing he forced his way out with his hand up by his head- the MW said he was fierce and determined . He was a laid back, smiley baby and is pretty easy going now. He is quite determined and likes to get his own way but is a very considerate child and he certainly wasn't considerate during labour/birth .

DD's labour started off mild I wasn't sure whether I was in labour for a while. I laboured in water and it was nice and relaxed (but more painful than with DS) Everything was textbook until just before delivery where it was found she had shoulder dystocia but then when I got up to get on the bed for delivery she moved and then I sat back down and pushed her out, so it was only a couple of minutes of concern. So all in all a calm and easy labour. DD is anything but calm and easy , her birth definitely doesn't reflect her personality. Maybe with the next one I'll try for a dramatic delivery, in a helicopter or up a tree, and I'll get a nice placid baby .

 

[LoveCakes]

From my experience no.

I had a straightforward natural birth with skin to skin and my LO is a hyper nosy baby. My friend had her lb 2 weeks before by failed induction and emergency c section. His heart rate kept dropping and he is such a chilled out wee thing.

Oh and his brother were both born by normal delivery, oh is always on the go and bil is sooooo laid back.

That's only a few examples but most I can think of disprove it

I think it's mostly genetic.

 

[Gingerspice]

Just curious.

my son was a 12 hour hard labour and wasnt breathing when he was born. We had no skin to skin and he was rushed away from me and I didnt see him again for about 4 or 5 hours with a 2 day hospital stay. He wouldnt feed as he was so sleepy from the morphine so breastfeeding was so so hard.

my daughter was a 3 hour labour. I got to the hospital and gave birth to her within the hour. I was the first to hold her even before the midwife and she didnt cut the cord for a long time and we had skin to skin and went home the same day.

my children are polar opposites, my son is a fiesty, confident crazy child who is soooo demanding and hates sleep.

my daughter is a placid lovely little thing that rarely cries and adores sleeping.
Were the same parents so I cant help but feel that the way they came into the world could have contributed to this?

We often wonder the same. DD was a very long labour. Traumatic arrival. Ventouse and whisked away as they needed to sort my bleeding. Didn't get to try to bf for ages. She was a very unhappy baby. High needs baby. Still rarely sleeps through, doesn't need sleep. Active and hyper. We tried cranial osteopathy as a baby to try to calm things and he commented on trauma to neck as she'd turn one way only. School says she's an anxious character, highly active but intelligent.

DS was a lot quicker. Relaxed delivery. No panic. So far (only 6 days old) he's super chilled, feeding easy, laid back. Happy to be put down and sleeps really well

 

[modified]

My daughter was a bad IUGR baby with fetal heart distress and lack of movements. I had an emergency c section after her heart almost stopped during induction. When she was born, she had swallowed a LOT of meconium.

From day 1, she's been the most content, laidback baby. She didn't cry at all for 4 days. Now, she'll only cry if she's very, very sore (teething) or I've missed her cues and she's extremely overtired. I've never met a more laidback, content baby!

 

[Gnomer]

I can't say the birth order works my me and my siblings either, I'm the oldest, my younger brother was a nightmare with aspergers, and our younger sister is 10 times worst than he ever was.