Those who have had two (or more) kids...

I've heard from a bunch of different people/places that babies tend to get bigger each time.

I'm just curious, has that been true or false for other people?

My first was 8lb 11, and I'm not too worried about having a bigger baby, long as they're healthy enough (I mean, it's going to hurt no matter what, right?). Head size...well that's another story, lol.

Another is that labour/birth gets quicker each time, which I kinda believe since it's been true most people I've known.

Just wondering if there is any substantial truth to them.

My mum had 4 babies:

#1 7lb 2oz 1.5 hour labour
#2 7lb 5oz 30 min labour
#3 6lb 10oz 8 hour labour
#4 8lb 9oz 4 hour labour

I was her smallest baby but also the hardest labour. The first labour happened really quick. Second time around she wasn't pinning hopes on another quick labour but as it happened she almost didn't make it to the hospital, she started pushing basically as soon as she got there. By the 3rd time she was quite confident that she would have another quick labour but I decided not to play by her rules (which just goes to show I've been stubborn since before I was even born). When things didn't happen as she'd expected she started stressing out and getting worried which made things worse for her.

My younger sister was the biggest baby (with the biggest head) but mum said she was actually to easiest labour. After the ordeal she went through giving birth to me she studied up and learnt as much as she could about child birth and techniques etc and giving birth to my sis was easy as a result because she knew and understood what was happening each step of the way.

mum2emj wrote: my first was a 6 hour labour 6lb 2oz girl (39 weeks) second 3 hour labour 7lb 3oz girl (41weeks 3 days) third 1.5 hour labour 5lb 15oz girl (39 weeks) fourth 1.5 hour labour 8lb 8oz boy (40 weeks 6 days) - this labour could of been halved if i had of pushed when ready! lol just didnt want to!! congrats on your pregnancy

Thanks.

So the labour getting taking less time each birth did ring true for you? Awesome.
I had a 17 hour last time, which isn't too bad for a first time birth I suppose, I wouldn't mind if it went down to 9 or 10 hours this time.
A friend of mine was only in labour for an hour with her first, apparently it was awful and she went into shock afterwards.
I can imagine...I think I'd need a few hours at least, to prepare myself.

I might be the different one here (that's not unusual)

Conor  4hrs - 9lb 9oz

Nyah 1.5hrs - 9lb 6oz

Cooper 2hrs - 7lb 2oz

 

 

i can't really help you on the labour thing as jack was elective c/s....but sizes were

1 5lbs 12oz at 39+2wks
2 7lbs 6oz at 41wks

1st baby, 38 weeks, 7lb 3oz, 5 hour labour, (2hours pushing)

2nd baby, 37.5 weeks, 6lb 2oz, 3.5 hr labour, (10 mins to get from 7cm to 10cm, and another 10 mins to push)

2nd baby you dilate and efface at the same time so yes, your body is more effective at doing 2 things at once, hence pushing tends to be much quicker.. that and everything's already streched and buggered anyway

I've had three babies, all punctual!
#1 7lb 3oz, things went wrong mid-labour and was a c/s
#2 8lb 4oz from ARM to birth was about 2 1/2 hours
#3 8lb 0oz from ARM to birth was about 1 hour

They say that the first stage of labour varies depending on the baby and the second stage of labour gets quicker each time - certainly true in my case.

You guys are all quoting active labour hours, aren't you? My early labour stage with Briona was 30+ hours

Maya was 9lb1oz at 38 weeks, 17 hours of clinical labour, 2 days of latent first stage.
Gremlins were 6lb8oz and 7lb1oz at 36 weeks, 6 hours from start to finish.

I was frightened about how big this baby will be if she goes to 40 weeks coz of Maya's size at 38 weeks, but so far scans show she is bang on for dates, measuring slightly *below* average if anything, so I have my fingers crossed for an 8lber.

DD1 - induced 38 weeks - 7lb 2oz and approx 2hrs labour

DD2 - spontaneous labour at 41 weeks 3 days - 8lb 7oz and 50 minutes labour (several hours of pre-labour before this, though).

I went into shock after my first birth too, it was so fast! Second was faster but I was prepared it could go that way. Both were pretty intense so can't say which would be the easier birth.

Jack 39+6 7lb 4oz Its hard to say how long established labour was but i'm going for about 16hours maybe? 45 mins pushing
Caprece 39+4 7lb 7oz 6 hours established labour. I know thats not as fast as some but man it was way more intense and I felt really out of control. I pushed once and it broke my waters and second push she was out. I went into shock after as well, I was shaking and just felt really weird.

Jacks head was 2cm bigger than Capreces tho.

Edited by RachandJack