people with 3 children

**Funkychicken** · 03-09-2006 21:57

Ooohh, I just posted some thing about this in the 30+ thread for you! In regards to knowing the drill etc...it is definately easier. I have found having number 3 to be like the first but without all the worries, concerns, fears etc... I have found myself being quite indifferent to the whole milestones thing and when someone else mentions that their baby is doing 'such and such' I think Yay for them with no concern that my baby may not do that yet.
I will say that life is very hectic but I thrive on being busy, so this is a good thing for our family.
In regards to afterpains, I won't paint any pretty pictures here, just let you know how I managed them. They were awful and painful but I found if I fed bub sitting upright, they were less intense on letdown. If I layed down to feed, they were as strong as contractions. I took Arnica homeopathically from the moment after he arrived and continued to do so for about a week. Warm water and washing myself often helped to make me feel more together as well. The good news is, I bled so much and so intensely it only lasted a week! I did bleed again a week later but without pain and minimally.
All the best and happy planning!

PS My labours halved in duration with each-12 hrs, 6 hrs , 3 hrs!

**shellsbubs** · 03-09-2006 22:13

thanks Funkychicken - yes i just read your message in 30+ - thanks for such a great positive

response. I feel so much more in control with parenting now and look forward to the opportunity to be a mum again, i guess i was worried about the crappy after pains - they are still in my mind!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

but just like everything else i guess they dont last that long i suppose!!!!!!!

**Funkychicken** · 03-09-2006 22:37

I didn't want to rain on your parade about the afterpains but felt this wasn't something I should sugarcoat. But, as you said, they are over with soon enough and then you can just do all the lovin' and snugglin' of your new bub!!

**Mariposa** · 03-09-2006 22:45

hi, i also have three childre;

DD1 is 7, labour 27hrs posterior bub! no afterbirth pains, she was 13days late.
dd2 is almost 3, labour 7.5hr anterior bub, afterbirth pains were absolutely shocking. couldnt walk properly for 3 weeks

dd3 has just gone 7 weeks, labour 3.5hrs, afterbirth pains very mild ( ithought that they would be heaps worse)

managing with 3 children is certainly hectic. but i wouldnt change it for the world.
we are slowly getting into a routine.

**RuthK** · 05-09-2006 11:52

My pregnancies were pretty similiar- nausea all 3, bleeding in first trimester all 3, fed up with being pregnant after 7 months as well. The first signs that I was pregnant differed though. Gained less weight each time, probably because I learned previously that any weight you gain has to come off sooner or later.

Labour got easier, although by the third the Braxton Hicks were much stronger and inevitably I couldn't tell them apart from labour pains.

Afterpains were horrendous, worse than labour pains!

Much harder in the earlier days dealing with a newborn and 2 toddlers who want their routine to remain pretty much on track. Breastfeeding was harder each time too, which I didn't expect.

Now that No.3 is 8 months they're all good friends and although life is never quiet, it's never dull either.

We'll go for 5 if we can get them out before I get too old!

**TigerBlueBear** · 05-09-2006 23:03

I found my third baby easy to cope with until we went away on holidays and buggered up her sleep routine - long story. My eldest was 5 when she came along and was great at helping by being able to pass me things etc, the next in line was 3 and he was no longer needy on me. I involved both boys in the care of their sister and had no jealousy issues from either. I found going from one child to two children harder than going from two to three. We already had our routine down pat and she just fitted into it.

My births were all very different from each other:

Tiger - uncomplicated pregnancy, private obstetrician, born on due date 7.45am, heaps of unnecessary intervention leading to an emergency csec. Hospital stay 10 days. All the normal issues of recovering physically and emotionally from a csec with a newborn to care for. 8lb 12oz. Minimal afterpains but lots of csec scar pain for 6mths finally subsiding to nothing by about to years later. Breastfed for 6 months.

Blue - uncomplicated pregnancy, much fitter this time, private obstetrician, VBAC birth -10 EDD at 6.15pm, 27 hr labour well supported by a fantastic midwife I hired to be with me. 8lb 1oz. Hospital stay 3 days. Some afterpains, needed panadol. Breastfed for 9 months.

Bear - uncomplicated pregnancy, put on heaps of weight, birth centre midwives, waterbirth, 4.5hrs labour, born EDD +4 at 12.40am. 9lb. Went home later that day - felt fantastic. Some afterpains maybe slightly worse than with Blue but panadol still worked. Breastfed for 15 months.

**MummyCharmzy** · 05-09-2006 23:15

A few things already mentioned I agree with... positive wise... you know what you're doing and do it. You don't worry so much about 'milestones' because after having your second you realise how incredibly different every baby REALLY is and they do things when they're ready.. not when you are

Also the after pain thing.. I had my 3rd csect and the afterpains were 100times worse than the csect pain... I've never experienced a 'real' contraction in labour but trust me.. it must have compared... they built up in pain and lasted around a minute each time for me, I could not speak all i could do was basically moan and pant through them.. and beg for drugs... morphine was my saviour for the first 5 days.... they were KILLERS... I had bad pains like this for a good 5 weeks after giving birth... not sure if its normal or not but when I was feeding especially I just wanted to curl up and make the pain go away. they scare me about having my 4th much more than the csect pain ill experience again.

**iamstephyc** · 07-09-2006 10:56

I now have 5 and I think each one gets a bit easier. You know more of what you are doing as well as more of what a child can handle, what's normal and whats not.
I find that I am more relaxed with more kids (most of the time...

)

In regards to the after birth pains, for me they seemed to get worse with each baby, but I have friends who had no trouble with them at all. I have a laxy uterus and wonder if that may have something to do with the pain...

Anyway, Just wanted to let you know that I think the more the merrier!!

Go for it!! And good luck!

**LoopyLyndaLou** · 08-09-2006 21:01

Hi,

I have had four babies but only have three at home, all pregnancies and labours were very similar apart from the third which had very different circumstances.

Our fourth son was born after being induced but it was still very similar to the first two, quite quick but yes the after pains were worse with each one, I had none with the first, a few with the second, I can't remember with the thrid and had some with the fourth.

There are quite big age gaps between our three which has been great as we have never had the need for a double pushchiar and have only had a small overlap in nappies and only at night.

I am definitely more laid back with our little one, he does tend to get left til last a lot, especially when he was newborn, my priority was to make sure his big brothers' routine stayed the same. I used to let him cry whilst I ate my dinner or drank my drink. With the first everything went cold where as I realised this time round that five minutes would make no difference to him really where as it made a huge difference to getting fed myself!

Things like holidays are harder, you can't go in a family room in a hotel as insurance won't cover more than 4 in a room so you need two rooms, even if the youngest one is under two (we used to sneak him in!). The car can be a bit of a squash, it is hard to find something all three enjoy but not impossible and it is great fun!!!!

I love having lots of kids around, if pregnancy wasn't so hard for me I would have loads more, we are currently having discussions on whether to try again or not!

I look on having a second a 100% increase on the amount of work you do, when you go from 2 to 3 it is a 50% increase and 3 to 4 would be 33% increase - so the more you ahve the less it affect you!

One of my friends has a five year old girl and is due triplets any day now - that is a massive increase, one at a time is enough for me!!!

Lynda xx

**blessedmummy** · 09-09-2006 12:52

i have no idea as yet, as we have two girls aged 3 and almost 2 so, i dont spose i count do i? we will be ttc#3 in the near future though, prob when the girls a bit older... my labour for my first dd was 30hours... much to my body deciding to stop labour and do absolutely nothin..after pains wasnt too bad. with dd2 labour was 5hours and after pains was terrible... hope the third will be ok...