Those with more than one kid already and 1st timers!

[PregnantKitty]

I am a proud Mom of 2 and I was thinking that it would be a great idea to throw a thread together so the first timers could ask us any and all questions, no matter how silly they seem via pm or here. Sooo... if you'd be okay with that just comment here with how many you've got and a bit about yourself and let's see if we can put some of the first time moms minds at ease! ^_^

I'm 26 and have a 6 year old and a 9 month old. The 6 year old is my DD and her name is "Leah". My 9 month old DS is named "Hunter". We live in the states in MI. I have been induced once and have gone into labor naturally once.
My first was planned. My second was not and neither was the one I'm carrying now, but my DH and I love them all just the same.


So yeah... ask away.

 

[NHKate]

I have a 4 year old daughter, and several miscarriages. My successful pregnancy was fairly easy, no real complications there. I had an all natural birth, so I can answer some questions for those interested in going that route.

 

[MyLittleFish]

I have a daughter who is 2, my first pregnancy ended in a mmc at our 12week scan. My pregnancy with DD was easy going but ended with and emergency c-section. Now 11 weeks with no.2! Xx

 

[jessica716]

I'm Jess, 27 and from Manchester,UK.

I have had a previous ectopic and lost my right tube whilst on the implant.
I then went onto have my little boy who is 3 with my ex husband. He wasn't planned and I was pregnant within 5 weeks of my tubal litigation.I had a 36 hour labour and natural birth with him at 37 weeks. I also suffer with spd

And I'm now expecting a new little bundle of joy with my partner, this time round we were planning on ttc, I came off my pill and was pregnant within 2 weeks even with the one tube
So a nice surprise but a little earlier than planned! Haha

 

[sethsmummy]

hey

I'm Tara, im 26 and live in Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland)

I have Seth who is 4, he has suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder, speech delay, development delay, hypermobility and flat feet. My pregnancy with him was hard but more so because of the hospital i was at (furness general.. they've had a huge investigation done into them). I had problems with Seth stopping moving and also blood pressure problems. Seth was born at 40+6 after induction started 40+5 due to pre-e. The labour was horrendous again due to lack of proper care.. he was born in theatre via foreceps after vontouse failed. He recieved bad bruisin/swelling and a cut to the forehead during all of this. He was 5lb 14oz so very small for gestation. It took a long long time for me to heal both physically and mentally after that. He also had bad reflux as a baby and still struggles to gain weight.

Then i have Ethan - it took 16 months to conceive him. Apart from more blood pressure issues my pregnancy with him was good. I was on baby aspirin the whole pregnancy and had growth scans to keep an eye on him. I had a planned section at 38+6, he was 7lb 8oz at birth. So far we have had no problems with him.

And now 12 weeks pregnant with number 3. Started baby aspirin at the 12 week mark and have to take it till 36 weeks. Again i will be having growth scans at 29/33/36 weeks and will be delivered at 39 weeks at the latest.

Im happy to help in any way i can

 

[Dolphinz4]

Hi im laura im 29 and I have a beautiful 2 1/2 year old boy...we are currently going through some intense therapy for him as hes suspected to be on the spectrum...he still doesnt talk, but makes huge leaps every day.
I am pregnant with #2 and last baby bitteraweet knowing im not going to be pregnant again, but this pregnancy has been so much hardee than my first one that im ok with it being my last one lol

 

[HelenJane]

I'm a fulltime working mummy from Manchester, UK. Very proud mum to 2 year old Amelia. Pregnancy was brilliant but labour was a different story! 3 days then ended in an emergency c section. Horrible recovery from that and I hope not to repeat!
Currently pregnant with number 2 and I hope this birth is better, I hear they are but we'll see. Pregnancy this time round has felt different, symptoms are more intense and I had the dreaded morning sickness! Thankfully thats passed now.
I was extremely tierd but have been told I have low iron currently on meds for and its got a lot better
Ummm what else? I am hoping to have just gas and air with this birth. Last time I had all the drugs they could give but it made me feel so out of it. It wasn't nice. As I have never done the pushing stage, can anybody say if it is "bearable pain" or "im gonna need some drugs" pain? How long does pushing normally last? Do you have to use a lot of energy? What if I cant push hard enough??? Will that even happen?

 

[NHKate]

For me, the pushing pain was bearable. I did it without any meds at all. For me it lasted a couple hours (but it wasn't constant), but I hear that it's often much less than that the second time around. I think you'll be able to push hard enough. I've heard of women who were comatose giving birth; their bodies just did what they needed to do without any conscious effort. I will say, I had a moment of doubt when I was pushing with my daughter, after she had crowned but before I'd gotten her head all the way out. It took a few pushes to get her head all the way out, before that she would crown and then go back when the contraction & push ended. Needless to say, I got her the rest of the way out with another big push.

As far as using lots of energy - well, I was tired afterwards. Of course, my labor started just after 11 pm, and I gave birth at 4:41 am, so I had been up all night in addition to being in labor. I didn't feel tired during the labor, not until some time had passed afterwards.

 

[HelenJane]

Thank you!

 

[maisie78]

Hi I'm Debbie and have one dd Gabriella who was planned and am currently 10 weeks with a little but very welcome surprise.

Pregnancy first time was pretty uneventful although I did end up with horrible carpal tunnel and De Quervains tendonitis. My waters broke at 38+5 but I ended up needing an emergency section after 48 hours and failing to progress. Recovery was pretty good with no major problems. I did try to breast feed but dd wouldn't latch so I exclusively expressed for 6 months.

We found out at 3 months that dd had some problems with her eyes and spent the next 4 months on a rollercoaster of almost constant hospital appointments and surgeries but sadly she lost her sight at 7 months. We found out that she has a very rare genetic condition. We are currently deciding whether or not to have this baby tested via CVS or amnio and will be finding out the sex this week sometime after having a blood test last week.

So I have lots of experience of dealing with Drs, geneticists and hospitals if anyone needs any advice in that area

 

[kellyrae]

Hi

I am 33yrs old, type 1 diabetic for 26 years.....I have girls 3yrs and 1yr, Maisie & Rosalie.

My first pregnancy was good throughout the 9 months, though a lot of complications with Maisie when she was born at 36 weeks via emcs. We spent a week in nicu, She was born with lactose intolerance & heart defects and had open heat surgery in Feb 2014 at the age of 3yrs.

My second pregnancy was also good, no problems. Rosalie was fine when she was born at 38 weeks via planned section, no complications or problems after and home within two days.

I am hoping for a repeat of my second pregnancy hopefully again this time.......

 

[emily3399]

hi im Emily 27 from north Yorkshire,

my first dd now 8, was born 1 week late after succesfull stretch and sweep complete labor from very first contraction to delivery was 24 hours no complications, weighing 7lb and half an oz. I had gas and air then pethidine which I found slowed my labor and made me sick then I opted for an epidural 6 hours before delivery.

my 2nd dd now 5, was induced 1 week early after a 2 week stay in hospital due to pre-e, I was in labor 5 hours had my waters broke at 4cm at 7.00pm I then had gas and air briefly and after a rapid progression she was delivered at 7.15pm weighing a chunky 9lbs.

my 3rd dd now 2, was induced 1 day after due date due to spd I had blood pressure issues on and off during pregnancy and also had hyper thyroid which settled during pregnancy. I had my waters broke for induction at 3pm as I was already 2cm dialted contractions took about 2 hours to establish by 4.30ish I was having regular contractions 2 mins apart and then she was delivered at 6.20pm with gas and air weighing 7lb 6oz. During labor and after pre-e kicked in and then I had a few days in hospital after and then daily bp checks and then it settled.

Currently expecting #4 definitely our last and currently have a subchronic heamatoma hoping it will have gone by my 12 week scan hoping for team blue after 3 team pinks hehe x

 

[lynnikins]

Lynette, Im in the Uk raising my 4 boys, aged 6,4,2 & 9months and currently 7 1/2 wks pregnant with baby 5,

2 of my children suffered a blood incompatibility complication that was unexpected and fairly rare and all my babies are chart toppers weight wise at birth. I homebirthed the last 2 one dry and one waterbirth after 2 hospital births one with complications from SPD and I tend to go past due all but one of the boys were born after 41 wks one after 42+2! Oh and I suffer from actue anemia both non pregnant and during pregnancy.

 

[PregnantKitty]

I'm a fulltime working mummy from Manchester, UK. Very proud mum to 2 year old Amelia. Pregnancy was brilliant but labour was a different story! 3 days then ended in an emergency c section. Horrible recovery from that and I hope not to repeat!
Currently pregnant with number 2 and I hope this birth is better, I hear they are but we'll see. Pregnancy this time round has felt different, symptoms are more intense and I had the dreaded morning sickness! Thankfully thats passed now.
I was extremely tierd but have been told I have low iron currently on meds for and its got a lot better
Ummm what else? I am hoping to have just gas and air with this birth. Last time I had all the drugs they could give but it made me feel so out of it. It wasn't nice. As I have never done the pushing stage, can anybody say if it is "bearable pain" or "im gonna need some drugs" pain? How long does pushing normally last? Do you have to use a lot of energy? What if I cant push hard enough??? Will that even happen?

With my first, it was extremely hard to push her out and took FOREVER nd even with the epidural I was in such terrible pain I passed out from the pain several times during labor. Buuut, the reason for it became clear after she was born and had a HUGE head circumference (sp?). They had to measure her head every month for her first year because her head circ was literally off of the charts. Lol.

but with my second, I also had the epidural and it was a breeze. It didn't even really hurt to obad and I think it was 5 or 7 pushes and he was out. One bit of advice is to push with ALL of your might and don't be afraid of pooping. It happens to 80% of women during birth and is nothing to be ashamed of.

That said, every person and baby is different and we aren't allowed "gas and air" here in the states so I'm not sure how different that is.

Lastly, depending on your reccomendations and your docs if the baby gets stuck they can use a number of methods to get him/her out but I would reccommend getting a c-section before considering foreceps as some babies have suffered permament damage and even death from foreceps. THOUGH, my son had a bit of help from them, but only to keep him straight as he kept trying to turn when I pushed.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much as these days most women do not face many complications during labor and when they do the doctors are prepared for every circumstance. Just make sure you have a birth plan and don't be ashamed if you want meds or an epidural. Whatever it takes to have a health and happy baby is the most important and it should be a happy experience for you rather than a scary one.