What was your 5th labor/birth like?

[*Efjay*]

I am overdue & bored LOL. So just wondering, what was your 5th labor/birth like compared to your others.? I remember being told that with 3rd & 5th babies the afterpains are horrid. My 3rd probably rung true to this.
Just curious if you found your 5th any different to the rest...

So far mine have been
1st - 9.5 hrs active labor. Labor was augmented with the drip to speed things up. Mostly because I was naive & did what I was told & didn't question anything. Born 2 days post dates
2nd - posterior birth, 14.5hrs of active labor. Refused any intervention/drugs. born 4 days post dates
3rd - 2 hours of active labor (woo hoo), although to me it was more like 40 min tops. At least thats how long it was till she was born once I arrived at the hospital. No intervention/drugs, born 12 days post dates with about 2 or so days of prelabor.
4th - 2 hours of active labor with a good 3 or 4 days of prelabor, born 7 days post dates. Again no drugs/intervention.

All have been born with in 24 hours of a bloody show. Waters ruptured as baby was crowning. Oh I guess maybe intervention could be classed as the waters being ruptured. I think the midwife nicked them with #2 & #4 as there were bulging as baby was crowing. I don't mind that was done as it did make it easier to push out their 37cm heads! LOL

Here we are at 41+2. No signs of anything happening yet. A few tightening now & then but nothing at all worthy of a second thought. No plans of intervention. But my Mum has flown up from Sydney & leaves on the 17th. So I guess while I am in no rush for myself ( I do full term pregnancy quite nicely) I would feel bad if he doesn't come before she leaves. But again, what can I do? I don't have the final say in when things happen, thats all up tot he little man inside.

Anyhoo, like I said mostly bored & just interested in others experiences 5th time round.

[Lisa]

With my 5th, the contractions were 7 minutes apart right up until she was born. Not hugely strong or painful contractions either. I had no idea I was in labour until my water broke. She was born under 2 hours later. I had my bloody show just before she came out. The afterpains were the worst ever. They were definitely worse than the contractions I had during labour. They lasted for 3 or so days.
I really enjoyed my last labour, probably because she was born how I have always wanted a baby to be born but also because it was just easier and much less painful.

Good luck hun. I remember you told me the 15th. You might be right! I had the 10th in my head for a while and Lucy came out on the 10th.

[*Efjay*]

Yeah I don't know why the 15th but its what I have thought from very early on. Thats Friday... to be honest I don't really see it happening.

[hannanat]

My fifth was the hardest after my first, but only because my son had such a huge head (they thought hydrocephalus at one point). To make matters worse, his hand was up on his face so I birthed his arm next to it. When I was finally able to push him out, the midwife actually cried. My 6th was a walk in the park - relatively speaking.

[Beach Mama]

to be honest I don't really see it happening.

You are so cute hun, I promise he/she's gotta come out sometime FJ darls although after getting to 42 weeks I know the feeling of it lasting forever Can't wait to hear your BA! xoxoxo

[mummydreamer]

wow i didn't even realise we were at the 13th!! i've completely lost track of days, you might yet get that 15th date baby you were talking about

sorry, i know i just didnt answer your question.....but hope everything goes well xxx

[DANNIIM]

Sorry i know a little off topic but you mentioned the afterpains eeeeek!! I know after #2 my pains were pretty full on but i was to brave to ask for anything, so what can be offered in regards to pain relief? I'm not talking serious stuff but does some of the stronger paracetamols work etc?

[Feijoa Mum]

My after pains were worse than some of the contractions!
I had a young "green" midwife in the hospital who told me that a wheatpack might help when I requested something stronger than panadol. The older one who was with her said "Oh this is your fifth baby, hang on honey I will be back!" She came back with another senior midwife and handed me the good stuff

Labour wise I did have quite a significant loss after she was born but I didnt have to push her out AT ALL (hmmmm dunno if thats a good thing) and I didnt tear either.
I was induced with her and the gels did take straight away as my cervix was squishy which it is always going to be apparently because I have had so many babies.

So all in all I wouldnt say it was any better or worse than the others but yes the after pains killed!

Good luck and fingers crossed Mum gets to meet the new little man.

[AmandaJ]

With my fifth I had pre labour for about 4 weeks on and off then he arrived 3 days early, the birth was good I went to bed with really dull ache on the Tuesday night and when I woke Wednesday they were a bit stronger and about 5 mins apart. Got kids to school and called DH home from work, went to the hospital as I was in a bit of pain and got checked out and said I still was dialated, so got home about 1:30pm and pains were getting worse still, was trying to write a shopping list with DH and just couldn't concentrate so went for a hot shower and they ramped up. I got out of the shower and every second contration had me sitting on the loo. DH went to pick the boys up from school and I was not coping so rang and told him to come straight home as we were going back to the hospital, by that time I knew this bub was coming, DH rang his friend to watch the kids, got home from the school and his friend turned up about 10-15 mins later, I got in the car and had one more contraction before we left and told DH to hurry or we'd have the baby in the car on the side of the road (I think this is when I went into tranistion), I did have another contration in the 10 min drive but felt pushy, got out at the hospital and had a massive contration and nearly pushed him out at the reception of the hospital, got wheel chair to maternity trying not to push got there and he was born 5 mins later.

That is the longish version, now I think it was about 2hrs or just under of active labour, no drugs, no intervention waters broke as he crowned, after pains were horrible as was when he would first attach for feeding I could actually see my uterus pop up and out, very weird only last maybe 3 days then settled, so make sure you take panadol or panadine for the pain.

Goodluck on your up coming birth too.

[Lisa]

Sorry i know a little off topic but you mentioned the afterpains eeeeek!! I know after #2 my pains were pretty full on but i was to brave to ask for anything, so what can be offered in regards to pain relief? I'm not talking serious stuff but does some of the stronger paracetamols work etc?

I'm allergic to Codeine so I can't comment on any meds with codeine in them but I took panadol & ponstan after having Lucinda. The afterpains were horrible and would have me close to tears at times. I needed to make sure I timed the meds so that they'd have kicked in before feeds.