Similar Pregnancies and Deliveries?

You're right. You're friend doesn't know what she's talking about. Kind of like me before I had kids, thinking I knew everything about raising them... Two kids later I know I had no clue back then!

My labor was different with both. My first, a daughter, had me in labor for the better part of a day (at least 12 hours hard labor). With my son, I was in labor 5 1/2 hours, and only the last hour or so was hard. With my daughter, I was moody and cried at the drop of a hat almost the whole way through. With my son, I was happy-go-lucky. Morning sickness had the same duration, but while I craved sweets with my daughter, I couldn't stand them with my son. With my daughter, Braxton Hicks didn't start until about two weeks before she came. With my son, they started around 4 or 5 months and continued with increasing intensity through the end of the pregnancy. My mom says that she carried me high and my brother low. I didn't notice any real difference with my two, but some women do.

So yeah, each pregnancy and labor is different, unique. There will be some similarities (exhaustion in the 3rd trimester, for instance), but not everything will be the same.

I had a friend whose first baby came early (maybe around 35 weeks, I don't remember). Her second one was a week and a half late. So there's no reason to think that your second one will be too early too.

Good luck!

I delivered my daughter 15 days early so I was expecting this baby to come early too. Nope! Almost 40 weeks and no signs of impending labor! With my little girl, I started dialating at 32 weeks. Every pregnancy IS different. A great way to prevent pre term labor is acupunture!
God bless you and dont worry!
M. M

As a midwife, I can say that both perspectives are partially correct. Many women I talk to tell me how very different their pregnancies have been from eachother. This is normal. However, if a woman has had specific complications with one pregnancy, she may be prone to repeating those with the next (severe nausea, maternal diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.). The same pretty much goes for delivery. First births tend to be the longest and most difficult, but there are no guarantees. If you delivered a little early (or if you went overdue) with your first baby, you may have a greater tendency to do the same with your second, but that's certainly not guaranteed, either. Basically, you have to take each pregnancy/birth as it comes, learn from your previous experiences, but don't expect history to repeat itself!

For myself, I was miserably ill all the way through my first pregnancy, so I was pretty apprehensive about getting pregnant again. This time, my first trimester was about the same--awful!!! But now that I'm well into my second trimester, I am feeling so much better than I ever did during my first pregnancy. I am so relieved!!!

L.,
True. For me, anyway! I've had 3 and was sick all the way till the end with all 3. I also was at the hospital at @ 6am and had all of them before noon. 2 boys and a girl. I know this sounds wierd but my mom was exactly the same with my sister and I. She was at the hospital at @ midnight and done @ 6am...We were born 2 yrs 1 day and 27 minutes apart...6:14a and 6:41a:) Weird huh? My post delivery for all of them was what felt very different for me though! Over all feelings, visitors, worries, etc!

You'll just have to wait and see. Thats the exciting part. Good luck!

Every labor can be different. I can't speak from personal experience, but my sister has 4 children of her own and even though she had 4 c-sections, she says that each one was a different experience.

Whether or not you are at risk for another pre-term delivery, you should discuss with your health care provider, it really depends if there was a reason that could be determined last time, and whether that condition is likely to repeat.

Good luck!

My pregnancies all had their differences. 1st one I carried ALL OVER, I was a rolly poley, and delivered 2 weeks late. Labor was 34 hours as I never dialated and had to be induced. 2nd one was like a basketball out in front and again I was late. Had to be induced and the labor was 10 hours. Both of these, the babies moved like crazy all the time. 3rd one was again like a basketball out front, but very little movement and my water broke at 36 weeks. Labor had to be induced as it never started even after my water broke. 2.5 hours for this labor. Had Pre-eclampcia with the 1st, but no complications with the 2nd and 3rd. Girl, boy, boy. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the pregnancy!!

From personal experience as well as from friends, I believe each and every pregnancy is different as well as each and every delivery. Your instincts are correct.

As for early delivery, it's hard to say. When the water breaks, it promotes early labor in many cases and/or possibly forced induction. If the water doesn't break, then there is no reason for you to go into labor until your baby releases hormones signaling the maturity of his lungs and being ready to be born, unless something else interferes.

I'm about about 3 weeks away from delivering my 3rd child. All 3 of my pregnancies have had some similarities and some differences. My first trimesters in each were vastly different. My second trimester in all three were pretty similar, although after your first pregnancy, you tend to get more uncomfortable and have more pains because your muscles and ligaments have already been stretched out once and aren't as supportive as they once were. My third trimesters in all three have been pretty similar as well, although I am having more troubles with this one (just in that I'm having to be careful to not over-do it because I get the quick contraction and cramps when I do). I've carried all three children exactly the same, but I know that's not the case for most of my friends. (I also have 3 boys, and often you specifically carry boys and girls differently.) My labors have all been pretty similar (fortunately fairly easy), just shorter than the previous.

I really think that each pregnancy is unique, but your body type is the same, so there will be some similarities as well. You're also creating a person with genes from two different families, so that can play a role with differences as well. In my case, I think my increasing age plays a small role in the differences as well. Not that I'm old, but my body is 5½ years older than it was with my first. Plus with my first I had no kids to chase around all day, with my second I had one kid to chase around all day, and now with my third I have two kids to chase around all day (while pregnant). That alone makes a difference as well.

I know people that have had DRAMATICALLY different pregnancies and even labors too though. One time the would get gestational diabetes, another time they wouldn't. One time they would carry side to side, the other they would carry straight forward. One time they would be sick throughout, the other they were fine past the first trimester. In labor, I've seen several times where one was a difficult one, and one was not. Sometimes babies are similar is size, and sometimes they are not too.

So to answer your question, yes, pregnancies are typically different. There are different degrees of difference, which are all dependent of many factors.

I hope that helps to answer your question! :o)

Hi L.,
I've had 3 kids - and they were all completely different. My first was my largest baby (8lbs 14oz) and I had him after 3 hours of pushing with an epidural.
My second was my smallest (6lbs 5oz) and I had him naturally after only a couple of pushes.
My last child was 7lbs 5oz and she decided to turn breach and then my water broke so I had a c-section.
The pregnancies had similarities, but the deliveries were very different.
Take care :)

Well I am 33 weeks with my 4th pregnancy my first three were similar in many ways and different in many ways. With all 3 though my water has broke early and in a trickle not a big gush. I had my first at 37 weeks 2nd at 36 weeks and my 3rd at 35 weeks. With this one though I have been on light activity since 28 weeks because I have been having contractions with meds by mouth I never had to do this with any of my others. Anyway every woman is different and every pregnancy is different but I have had alot of similar thing in all of them. We will see how things play out in the birth of this child. Godd luck to you.

I've had 3 pregnancies and all a little different and I totally agree with howmuch movement is related to how they are as a child.. My last 2 moved like crazy and were lets say not as mellow as my last one who didn't move very much at all.. Just like every person is different, every pregnancy may be just a little different as well!

FALSE. I was 7 days early with my first when my water broke and then I went into labor. I was 14 days late with my second and had to be induced. Very different labors for both.

L.,

I'm a little different, both of my kids wound up being c-sections. But, I felt my daughter moving around a lot earlier than my son, and I had more elbows and toes up under my ribs with my daughter than my son.

I tried a natural birth with my son, but because his head was bigger around than I am he wound up being an emergency c-section. I found this out after the fact when we were considering birthing plans for my daughter. I knew at the time of c-section for my son that I was not fully dilated, not fully effaced, there was muconium(sp?) in my water, he was showing signs of distress at every contraction and I was starting to run a fever.

After talking with the doctor that did his C-section she told us that I'd have a 50/50 chance of being able to deliver my daughter vaginally. We chose not to take that chance and she was a planned c-section. Good thing too. She was just a few ounces, yes ounces, lighter; half and inch shorter and their heads were the same circumference.

While my doctor was prepping me for the planned surgery she asked me if I realized I was having contractions. I felt nothing.

Anyway, I could go on and on about my kids. I was working retail while pregnant with my son, and was in school while pregnant with my daughter. Thus, both pregnancies were different in that aspect.

Are any two children exactly alike? Why would any two pregnancies be exactly alike?

Hope this helps and sorry for the length,
M.

Each and everyone's pregnancy are different. There might be some similarities, but for the most part, each pregnancy is different. You'll experience this for yourself. As for me, I recently had my second child (was born 9/11/09) and she was COMPLETELY different from my son. But, I don't know if this was because she was a girl, had a different father...or what. Who knows. For example, my son was a week late. I was dilated to a 3, but he never dropped so eventually I had to be induced and labor with him was long and drawn out. With my daughter, she came all on her own. She was 2 wk early and was REALLY fast (like so fast, from the time I entered the hospital, til I gave birth...7 min! The hospital kept record. LOL) Even now, I notice the small differences and similarities. Congrats on your 2nd!

My first and second pregnancy were pretty similar. I had a small amount of nausea with pregnancy #2 and non with #1, other than that they were the same.

Both of my deliveries were also similar. I was in labor for around 27 hours both times. My contractions were every 5-10 minutes until transition. The only difference is that #2 came out with only a few pushes and with #1 I pushed for several hours. Once everything has been opened up it's a lot easier to push the second baby out.

Good luck!

Both of my pregnancies and deliveries were different. The only similarities are that I carried "out front" with both and had 2 c-sections after laboring. First one I had no morning sickness, craved sour things, had gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Second I had morning sickness and craved fruit salad.

Congratulations on your 2nd pregnancy and enjoy all it has to offer.

My first 3 were all EXACTLY the same. All boys
My 4th and last was so totally different. This one was a girl.
Maybe you are gonna have the opposite sex from what you have now.

Every pregnancy, and labor and delivery experience is VERY different in my experience. Also, because you know what to look for when baby starts moving, you will feel it earlier than you did the first. My first pregnancy I was VERY VERY sick, I carried really high and back...I had preeclampsia diagnosed at 34 weeks, was induced 15 days before my due date and had a healthy baby girl. My second successful pregnancy I only got sick if I ate sweets, carried super low and out front, felt him move at 13 weeks, began going into preterm labor at 32 weeks, my blood pressure actually was rather low at that point, was in and out of the hospital on lots of meds to stop labor and delivered a baby boy at 36 weeks. He had some trouble breathing but was a good size for his age and is now a normal healthy little guy.

Briefly:

Each pregnancy is different as is each delivery, and each child. Listen to your body and your heart. It will guide you.

Congratulations on the new baby.

I am currently pregnant with our second, and this pregnancy couldn't have been more different from my first. That's the reason we didn't have a clue I was pregnant until I was 3 months along (I was just getting my period back after breastfeeding by daughter for 15 months). I did hear that the length of the pregnancy is about the same (some women have slightly longer pregnancies, others shorter ones), but probably you won't have a premie again (any reason why the water broke that early?). Just in case be prepared to have an early baby again.

I have had 4 children and each time everything was different!! No pregnancy start to finish is quite the same. Sure there could be some similarities, but none are just the same. When doctorsn write their material, they are goin on averages. Every person is different. Your doctor/midwife should be able to tell if your new edition will be early or not.

I had two, just two years apart and the pregnancies were quite different (both boys). I had Diabetes with one, but didn't with the 2nd and instead had pre-term contractions starting at about 5 1/2 months.
Deliveries were similar length (6 1/2 hrs, 5 1/2 hrs) and both were natural but felt very different. The pain and patterns of contractions were different.

Good luck!

I have two kiddos and their pregnancies and labor were different for sure. The pregnancies were different in how I felt, how much energy I had, how much baby moved, and just a general different feeling.

L&D was different too.
#1: 20 hours, doctor broke my water, 2 hours of pushing, born at a hostpital 7 pounds 5 ounces, 7 days early
#2: 4.5 hours, water broke when I started pushing, 15 minutes of pushing, born at home 8 pounds 11 ounces, 11 days late

The one big similarity with both L&Ds was that I had horrible back labor. I don't remember my front hurting with #1 at all. #2, it hurt, but not like my back.

Each of my 3 pregnancies were somewhat different, however each delivery was vastly different--2 girls & 1 boy. All were over their estimated due date. One thing I learned from the 2nd birth experience that helped me immensely with the third was that they ARE all different. Unfortunately with the 2nd I was a little overconfident (I thought "knew the drill"), that when labor began suddenly & progressed quickly with way more discomfort than I expected, I kind of freaked out. With the third I was able to notice what my body was doing & be ok with whatever pain level, knowing it was doing what its supposed to. (I went naturally with 1 & 3, epidural with 2).
Its hard not to be apprehensive about the unknown, but we were made for this :)

I think every pregnancy/birth is unique. That being said, most women notice a pattern, I think. I'm on pregnancy #3, right now, and noticing a lot of similarity. My first two births, however, were quite a bit different. #1 was 22 hours, got stuck at 5cm and had HARD contractions for hours that weren't getting anywhere and then finally delivered in the water with no complications. It just took a long time. My second, on the other hand, was only 10 hours and the contractions were mild and easy all the way up till the last hour when it got very intense. Both were several days late, both times the midwife had to break the amniotic sac, and the pushing was under 15 minutes. My SIL, on the other hand, had a 44 hour labor at 43 weeks that ended in c-section followed by a 2 hour labor at 34 weeks which was vaginal! So you never can tell! Blessings on you whatever happens!

I agree that you should ask a doctor about what the chances for preterm labor are, but, as for the pregnancies and births, they are incredibly likely to be different. And it sounds like you are already experiencing the difference with this one. Also, subsequent births are known to be easier than the first, as your body has been there before and partly remembers what to do. Have a wonderful pregnancy and birth!

My sister also makes the claim that women's pregnancies and deliveries are all very similar, because hers were, and she seems to think it is due to her and her abilities. As you probably can sense, it's a very condescending view. She's the only person I've heard say that. Most women I've talked to say that they can be somewhat to very different pregnancies, and somewhat to very different deliveries, but usually easier labor and deliveries after the first. Labor and delivery easier because the muscles have done it before. Pregnancies being different is a mystery, I would just plan on dealing with it as it comes. I'm on my second baby (had a miscarriage inbetween, so obviously another different pregnancy), and it's somewhat different from my son's. I'm less stressed but more depressed, and I feel less sick. The baby feels different when moving, and when I asked my doctor about it, she said it depends on where the placenta is. So I feel a lot of movement in the front and on one side. I have heartburn this time and don't get hunger sensations, so I think she's pressing on my stomach and esophogus. Also I didn't really stop drinking tea this time, though with my son I didn't drink tea the whole pregnancy. Just tell your friend it feels different for you, and hope she's willing to learn from others experience, and support each other during your pregnancies. It's helpful to have that support from friends.
best wishes.

Each one was different. There are some things during the pregnancy that I could count on.. like puking for five months and being a sleeping zombie the first six. But there were differences.

As for the deliveries. They were all different and I have discovered that each delivery really matched the temperament of my kids. My first was very by the book, and my oldest is very ordered and rule bound in his life. My second was more flighty, as if the baby couldn't decide what she wanted to do to. And my daughter changes mood and desires like people change clothes. My third, well.. he waited till the doctor has left the delivery room because I was expected to take another hour and shot out on the bed on his own. And he's very much a "do it himself" type of kid.