A question for mums who have had many

[Cricket]

I am expecting baby #4, and I have had 3 great deliveries - relatively short labour, no tearing, no complications. And believe me, I am thankful for that!
My question is, did you find that the time leading up to labour got easier, or harder? With my third, I was a wreck before she came! I was just emotionally shot. It was pretty pathetic. I had some false labour/pre-labour, and that was brutal to me - I just couldn't wait to get that baby OUT!
And, how about the post-natal time? Did you find your recovery slower or faster, or about the same? How about afterpains? I've heard it said that afterpains get worse with every baby, and I really hope that's not true!
What has been your experience? I'm not wondering about the labour itself, so much, more the before and after.
TIA!

[Visitor7]

My friend had baby #4 last year, and each pregnancy, labour and recovery got harder with each one. She also said the after pains were horrendous. I think it differs with each person though. I had worse after pains with Nina than with Emily.

[squidipa]

My question is, did you find that the time leading up to labour got easier, or harder? With my third, I was a wreck before she came! I was just emotionally shot. It was pretty pathetic. I had some false labour/pre-labour, and that was brutal to me - I just couldn't wait to get that baby OUT!
And, how about the post-natal time? Did you find your recovery slower or faster, or about the same? How about afterpains? I've heard it said that afterpains get worse with every baby, and I really hope that's not true!
What has been your experience? I'm not wondering about the labour itself, so much, more the before and after.
TIA!

I found the time leading up to labor was harder more so cause i was more full on with the kids and in knowing it was number 4 how much more organized i needed to be. I was like get this thing out lol. Altho i have only had 1 natural and 3 c sections.

I actually recovered the fasted i think this time round with baby number 4 i don't know why yes the c section was done in diff hospital but even still i had more to do. I had loads of support from hubbie but no ones else.

I had NO after pains that was very surprising to me i was very glad too.

the experience now is... i find time rushing very fast and wish it would slow down i find my self making scheduled time in for kids in my head as it seems so busy now. In saying that i wouldn't have it any other way. We are planning on number 5 this year

u might have only wanted all vaginal birth impute but this is myn any way hope it helps.

[Cricket]

Thanks Jodi and Squidipa!
Squidipa - my mom said she never had afterpains either, and she had all c-sections. Maybe it's a side-benefit. Don't know what other c-section moms have experienced though.

[diannescruffy]

Hi,
With my 4th I was much more tired than with the others and went into labour at 33wks but it was stopped but had pre-labour right up til 39wks. Each labour has got shorter, I had vaginal births with all of them and definately the afterbirth pains were much much worse, felt like I was in labour again.

Regards,
Dianne

[mbear]

Ohh cricket...are you sure your not a psyhcic ??? I too am pg with #4....i too have had relatively easy pg's and labours.....my last two were so quick, no tears, no drugs, whammo theres baby....but with DD#3 the contractions were bloody awful....i honestly wanted to die....if someone handed me a gun i reckon i would have happily shot myself....the pain was the worst....but here i am again....
I did find after pains with DD#3 very painful. I felt like i was going into labour again !!! Panadol did help, but pain was defn worse than with Dd#2......

Im a bit like you....im not worried abotu the labour...just getting to the hossi on time and the afterpains....
Good luck...!!!!

[bon]

I am up to #4 too, and have found the last 4 weeks harder with each pregnancy. I think mostly because I have had other children to take care of. But I also think my belly has been bigger with each child too - with #3 I felt (and was) enormous - I felt like I was full term at 36 weeks. As it turned out, DD was the size of a full term baby at 36 weeks, as she was 9lb 9oz born! I think that is actually my main little worry this time - that this baby will be even bigger than that!

[AmandaJ]

I've just had bub number 5, 3months ago. I've had all vag births and this last was drug free. I've found that I'm alot more tired earlier in the third tri as looking after the other kids plus housework ect just really drained me. I still had a great birth got to the hospital and I was 10cm and waters bulging and it was great. I felt great afterwards except the afterpains were shocking this time, I could actually see my uterus bulging with each contraction of the afterpain (sorry). I would recommend something other then panadol for these.

Sorry if I made it sound bad, but I defineately wouldn't change any of it.

If you have any other questions I'm more then willing to answer them.

hugs xoxo