labour experiences different?

Just wondering from those who've been there before, were your second and subsequent labours at all similar to your first? With DS I had prelabour pains for 2 days then my waters broke and contractions started a few hours later. This time I've had the prelabour pains on and off for a couple of weeks, then more consistently over the last few days and a show on and off since Sat night. Now I've got some very slight leaking (as opposed to the gush I had with DS) but I have no idea what's really going on... I thought I'd have more idea second time around:doh:

Ohh good luck.
2nd time round for me my pains were no where near as strong and i was quite happy plotting along on my own for a bit, BOTH my labours were quite quick and both bubs required pushing as soon as my waters broke.

I guess you just need to go with your gut, if you have had leaking i'd still suggest to maybe contact your OB or Midwife and see what they suggest.

I wasn't convinced either! I was in early labour at 35 weeks but was on medication to stop the contractions for two weeks. My waters started leaking but they gushed the first time so I wasn't sure if it was really starting to get going I waited until the contractions were stronger before going to the hospital. I was right in the end but it took me a while to believe it.

Started the same but were completely different. With DS1 I had an easy straight forward 9 hour labour. With DS2 he was posterior and I had a long, very very hard and painful 13 hour labour.

All four were completely different.

My first started with a hind water leak, waters then broke in a gush 24 hours later & contractions started, DD born 12 hours later.

Second labour started with BH contractions which developed into early labour, waters broke after about 24 hours & DS born 2.5 hours later.

Third labour was induced.

Fourth started with contractions early in the morning, took me a few hours to work out that it wasn't more pre-labour (after weeks of it!) Contractions lasted all day, I dilated very quickly but bub didn't descend & waters didn't break until about 10 minutes before she was born. About 8 hours of early labour & around 5hours of contractions 5 minutes apart.

Sounds like things could be moving for you, good luck!

My first two were inductions and my third was spontaneous so in that respect they were totally different.

With #1 I had prelabour for a few weeks before I delivered at 38+5. 3hr labour.
With #2 I was in early labour off and on from 20wks and 3cm from 33wks until I was induced at 37+6. 90min labour.
With #3 I had nothing except the odd bout of braxton hicks. It was quite boring lol I ended up having a bit of prelabour the day before he was born (30 March), then that night I went into early labour but it didnt establish until the day he was born (31 March) at 1pm and he was out by 3:01pm. 2hr labour.

Ok, so it sounds like anything goes lol. I don't recall having a show with DS... haven't had any today, just lots and lots of DC and the feeling like I'm leaking a tad but it's not soaking a pad or anything like that. Is it normal for the show to happen and then stop? With DS once I went into actual labour it all happened pretty quickly for a first timer (5 and a half hours) and the MWs have said not to hang around once it gets going this time... ah I have no idea and this one is keeping me guessing! The prelabour 'period pains' are pretty strong compared to last time but nothing like regular or consistent... the joys!

hi
i am 31 weeks pregnant with number 5

no 1. three days before due date waters broke in a big gush, another twelve hrs before contractions started and then baby born 12 hrs later.
no 2. three days before contractions started baby born 8 hrs later waters broke at pushing stage
no 3. two days over due date contractions started baby born 2hrs later waters broke before pushing stage. (waterbirth)
no 4. four days over due contractions started baby was born 4 hrs later in the water sac intact. my biggest baby 10pd 20z birthed naturally no rips or tears. it really is amazing what your body can do, i can't take any of the credit ha

#1 - waters broke at 37 weeks, 24 hours of sloooooooooooooooooow later she was born.

#2 - went into labour at 41 weeks (6 hours before I was booked into be induced), had to have my waters broken by the midwife as bubs was kinda stuck, all happened fast from then on. Still missed my induction appointment by half an hour :) Was apparently a 'textbook delivery'.

#3 - we'll see! About 6 weeks to go.

#1 I had false labour after false labour from about 32 weeks. My waters were buldging from about 37 weeks, and I went into labour early morning and had him later that afternoon, 2 days before his EDD. It lasted 17.5 hours from first contraction to last.

#2 I went into what I thought was labour at mum's house. Last 2 hours and stopped, drove home the next morning. The following morning my waters broke at the shops, very few contractions during the day until later that night where they just hit. The pain was a lot more intense (bubs was posterior), a bit more blood, but from when proper labor started to being born it was about 6 hours!

All 3 of mine so far have been completely different!

DD1 - show, then about 6 hours later waters broke (slow leak). Contractions started 2 hours later & gradually built up til she was born 18.5 hours after waters breaking.
DD2 - contractions on & off for 24 hours, very painful at 30 minutes apart, then bang to 5 minutes apart, waters were broken as she crowned, born 30 hours after 1st contraction.
DS - contractions for about an hour, waters broke, contractions were irregular right from start, to finish...5 hours after first contraction!

Number 4 will be interesting!