I'm trying to figure out a deadline for having my house in order for baby number 3. My first came 5 days early, my second on his due date. Any guesses as to when this one might come? I have to have the house mostly in order by week 35 as that is when the midwife does a home visit (I home birth), but I have a long list of things to do, meals to make, activities to plan (I homeschool and run an educational co-op), and I function best when I have a "deadline."
For those of you with multiple kids, did they all arrive at about the same time?
I should have also asked how long your labors were!
My first was over 30 hours. The hospital and I didn't agree with each other. It was a horrible back labor. My son was an easy 11 hours or so, with only a few hours of intense labor.
Mine were 42w5d, 40w5d and 41w6d.
Personally, I'd set my "done by" date at 38 weeks and hopefully have a little extra time to relax at the end.
Happy birthing! All three of mine were born at home and the third was my easiest birth, by far.
I'll give you my mom's timelines, since I have never gone into labor on my own:
Baby 1 - on time
Baby 2 - 2 weeks early
Baby 3 - on time
Baby 4 - on time
Baby 5 - 2 weeks late
My first born was about a month early with an emergency c-section because the cord was wrapped around his neck. I had nothing ready, so for babies #2 & 3 I tried to have everything in order 6 weeks ahead of my due date.
baby #1- 10 days late, 12 hours of labor
baby #2- 1 day early, 5 hours of labor
baby #3- 6 days late, 2 1/2 hours of labor
Both of mine boys were induced once I hit 14 days late, so for me I would just be sure stuff was in place by week 40, but a normal person I would say week 37.
I initially thought my third was going to pull my strings and make me wait. But as the pregnancy progressed I KNEW he was going to be just like my 1st and come early. I had a weekend picked out and everything.
Turns out all those who were supposed to come help out with the older boys decided they were going to make out of state trips that weekend.....I was like come on really, but how many people really have 2 babies 3 weeks early, I really couldn't be sure either. But sure enough at the 3 week mark (the weekend i thought he'd make his entrance and the weekend everyone left) I started my labor.
I thought I had prodrominal labor, didnt know for sure, and retrospect it definitely was. this lasted for four days before His delivery. I think this lil' guy knew how stressed I was about not having anyone I truly knew watching my other two so he held off until all the grandmas made it safely home.
Unfortunately, it was a very fast labor, and since I had on again off again labor the last 4 days I wasn't too sure. Epidural (which I really wanted) didn't get to me in time, he was born less than 20 minutes after I was triaged and put in the delivery room, and the kicker my Hubby MISSEd the delivery. It was just me and the nurses and on call dr.
Sorry for the long winded story-- and to answer shortly my first came 20 days early, my 2nd on his due date, my 3rd 18 days early.
Good luck and happy birthing!
4 days early (12 hours of labor), 2 days early (7 hours labor, with 1 1/2 weeks of prodromal labor), 10 days late (2 hours labor with 3 weeks prodromal labor) and 11 days early (30 minutes of labor, 3 weeks prodromal labor)...so no, they didn't arrive about the same time.
ETA lengths of labor
Mine were 6 and 10 days late. Labors were 23+ hours and 7.5 hours.
#1 1 day late 2.5 hours labor
#2 12 days early 4 hours labor w/pitocin
#3 6 days early 4hours labor w/pitocin
#4 6 days early 40 minutes labor
baby 1 -3 days early
baby 2 - 9 days early.
All three of my children were born 1 day after their due date. I was in labor on their due date, but I didn't know. (I had a check up) I would say that once I entered the hospital the time of arrival shortened with each one. I swear if I have a 4th baby, there won't be time to drive to the hospital!
I would suggest by 36-37 weeks so you are ready and have time to relax a bit.
Baby #1 was two days late, with 5 hours of labour. Baby #2 was four days early with 3 hours labour.
#1 - 5 weeks early (21 hr labor - with pitocin, because my water broke)
#2 - 1 week early (4? hr labor - all natural - my ideal labor/delivery!)
#3 - 5 weeks early (7 hrs labor (because my water broke, followed by STAT c-section due to placental abruption, baby & mom OK, least favorite arrival though!)
So, similar, if 'early' was what you were going for? I thought I knew what I was getting into with #3. Turns out that I had more to learn!
Not sure that is helpful. :)
I would say without any history of delivering early you should be fine with a deadline of 38 weeks. But you may want to prioritize your list so in case you go earlier than that anything not done is not a big deal.
MIne were:
#1 - on due date, about 4 hours active labor
#2 - one da early, about 4 hours active labor
#3 - 5 days early, about 4 hours active labor
#4 - 2 weeks early, after my water broke (completely out of the blue, no contractions happening at all) the contractions started within 3-4 hours, also about 4 hours of active labor
I wish you the best of luck!
10 days late, 7 days late, 5 days early.
I think a reasonable "deadline" would be two weeks before your due date.
From a family with lots n lots of kids....
Have everything ready at 38 weeks.
Any earlier & you'll be in the NICU
Any later & you'll already be prepped.
_____
My son was given a 4 week window (June 15th -July 15)... Or as my midwife/OB said: Sometime in June or July. Yay :P. he was born the first week in July. (My others miscarried before 7mo).
Labor was 5 hours
TRANSITION (got stuck in it) was 7 hours.
He was born after 14 hours total
All three of mine came early:
#1 @ 39 weeks
#2 @ 37 weeks
#3 @ 38 weeks
It's impossible to plan. I thought #3 would come at or before 37 weeks. He was the one that gave me the most trouble with preterm labor at 32 weeks and constant contractions after that. He stuck it out until 38 weeks.
