Third trimester, here we come...
The Braxton Hicks have started this week. Bring 'em on. I know, I know, it doesn't really mean I'll have an easier birth, but I might as well hope they're doing some good. After all, last time around, I started having a lot of them quite early. Yes, I went two weeks late, but I had a great birth, so I'll take 'em.
posted by Crystal Paine at 3:47 PM
10 Comments:
How exciting! I've been having them for quite awhile now....since before I even felt my baby move....but then again, this is baby #3 so I guess that's why I have been feeling them from early on.
I hope we all get to see that pregnant little belly before you go and have that baby! =)
Have a great day!
Heather in Pa
Crystal, I'm sure you didn't know it but the Braxton site you linked to has abortion adds on it.
I was just thinking to start asking around if going overdue means an easier birth. I was over two weeks late last time and it was an amazing (short!) birth.
I'll be watching the comments to see if your other readers had a similar experience
Cappuccinolife -
Unfortunately, no, going late doesn't mean easier. LOL And you're right, Crystal, neither do Braxton-Hicks.
I was 8 days late with my first, dilated to 3 cm before labor started, had back labor for 12 hours, contractions every 2 minutes before pushing for 3 hours to deliver her.
I was 5 days late with my 2nd, dilated to 4 cm. before labor started, and labored for 12+ hours before his delivery.
I think it has a lot more to do with the shape of your pelvis and other intangible things. While I did all of the "recommended" things to get labor started, keep it going, help progression none of it really seemed to make that much difference.
Although it would seem like that is the way it should be. ;)
Melanie
CappuccinoLife: I think with some ladies it can mean easier, at least I'm sure it helped for me. I think I was also so ready to have that baby by the time I'd gone two weeks overdue and had so many false alarms that it made the birth easier as well. :) My first labor seemed really fast to me - even though I think it was around 16 or so hours and I pushed for at least an hour and a half. It was just uncomfortable up until the last few hours and then it started to hurt but by staying focused and taking one contraction at a time and praying or quoting a small portion of Scripture through them, the pain was definitely bearable. And pushing - I just didn't know what I was doing and had to have some coaching there, otherwise it would have been a lot quicker, I think. I don't know about you, but to be laughing and joking in-between contractions when you are complete is what I term "easy." I also think that having such great attendants, a great coaching husband, midwives who well-prepared me for the birth, and a Jacuzzi (!) helped tremendously as well. Honestly, I thought birth was a really cool experience - so much easier than all these women had made it out to be. Reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth really helped me have a good perspective and not buy into the myth that birth has to be a horrible experience. I need to read that book again soon. I'm anxious to see how my second birth goes. :)
Easy is relative when it comes to labor! I had some really short labors, tons of braxton Hicks, but the shortest labor was one of my hardest. My longest labor was 7.5 hrs. and shortest 1 hr.45 min.
My sister did that recently, telling stories between contractions in the pushing stage.......
I had Braxton Hicks with both of my pregnancies, starting around the sixth month. Towards the end they were so strong I kept thinking I was in active labor! I was induced both times...with my son I was ten days over due and with my daughter I was a week over due. The first birth I was in labor for nine hours, with twenty minutes of pushing. Second time around I was in labor eight hours, mainly because I had a tough water sack that was blocking the baby from descending. Once the doctor broke that, she was born in three pushes. I wouldn't say the pain or length of labor is less with subsequent births, but it is mentally easier to handle once you've been through it before.
Martha,
My shortest labor was my hardest too. It was too much too fast. The contractions were so fast and so frequent that I didn't have time to relax and find my happy place. :-(
I'm just entering trimester 2! :)
Short labors are much more intense, but I just tell myself it is almost over. :) Last baby (#4) was only about 1.5 hrs, so it makes me wonder how this next one will be.
Wow, you are almost there!! I bet you all are getting pretty excited to meet the new member of the family :)
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