Are first labors any indication of when subsequent labors will begin?

[kaharris83]

I'm wondering if subsequent labors typically begin around the same time as first labors? DS came at 39w5d. We don't have anyone nearby to watch DS so my mom is coming but I have no idea when to have her come. Just wondering what others have experienced.
Thanks!!

[BabyBearsMom]

DD1 was 39w5d, DD2 was 41w1d. So in my experience, no.

[acmom]

I went into preterm labor with both DD and DS at the same point in my pregnancies, almost to the day - between 27 and 28 weeks (and then went on bedrest). But DD was born at almost 38 weeks and DS was born at almost 36 weeks. So in my case, my first was sort of an indication for my 2nd...

[brittone2]

My first was 6 days early
My 2nd was born 2 days (barely, as she was born just after midnight) after my EDD
My third was born on his EDD.

They all basically came within 7-8 days. No major postdates, and they also weren't really early either.

[coolae]

DD1 was born at 38 and 3 days; DD2 at 38 and 6 days...my midwife seemed to think the second would come before my due date or at least before 41 weeks but i was surprised how close in (gestational) age they ended up! They were also within an ounce of each other birthweight-wise.

[mommytoC]

IME, no...DD#1 was born at 37 2/7 weeks, and DD#2 at 39 4/7 weeks.

[SnuggleBuggles]

42 weeks with ds1 and almost 42 weeks with ds2.

[georgiegirl]

Dd arrived 54 min after her due date (eastern time)
DS arrived on his due date (central time)

My kids are punctual

[MommyAllison]

Mine were 5 days late, 7 days late, and 10 days late.

[swissair81]

None of my subsequent kids were as late as DD1. However, that was my only pregnancy without u/s dating. So we could have been off, because she was small for gestational age. Dd1 was 40+2, dd2 was 36+5, DS was 38+6, and dd3 was 38 even.

[elliput]

My first was an unplanned induction at 36w6d due to pre-eclampsia. Second was 4 days past due date. No way to tell, IME. :)

[nfowife]

DD1- 40w5d
DS-40w4d
DD2-39w4d

[maestramommy]

I thought so, but my first two were a week early. My 3rd was a day late.

[MSWR0319]

DS1 39w1d
DS2 38w4d

What I found interesting was that my labor pattern was the same with both. Contractions started, lasted about 8 hrs then stalled for about 10 hrs then restarted. Second labor was shorter, but anything could be shorter than my 38hr first labor!

[mom2khj]

My doc always said no. I was convinced DS would come by 37 weeks. He showed me wrong, LOL.

I went into labor with all three on my own.

DD1 - 37w5d
DD2 - 36w
DS - 38w6d

[lizzywednesday]

I'm the eldest of 4 (so no direct experience) and I can say emphatically NO.

From what I understand with my mom, I was early (not sure by how much, as Dad thought I was late when I asked him for my "birth interview" in high school) while my brother Ger (2nd born, 3.5 yrs later) was "late" ... so, I guess what we're all saying is "it depends."

[MamaMolly]

Lula- 36 weeks
Dolly- on her due date (we did IVF so we know pretty much exactly)

[ilfaith]

DS1 arrived nine days before his due date. DS2 and DS3 each arrived eleven days before their due dates (although I was sure DS3 would be even earlier with all the B-H contractions I had.

[o_mom]

Mine were pretty predictable. All three were born on the Friday on or before their due date. I had one 2 days early, one on his due date and one 4 days early. All three were dated very early with ultrasound which matched my charting (for 2/3), so I think my due dates were accurate. ETA: None were induced, either.

[roseyloxs]

ds - induced at 41 weeks.
dd - on her due date.

My mother was 3 weeks late with me. One week late with her second. Induced 2 weeks late with her third. I was shocked dd came on her due date, I just figured with my genes that I would cook my babies longer then most.

My parents want to come out as well but I decided we would have to find someone else to watch the kids because I would rather have my parents here to enjoy the new baby not watch me waddle around the house. As a compromise I told my parents to come out at 41 weeks. I don't know who is going to watch my kids but I know we will find some kind soul to do it.

[BabbyO]

Well with DS I was 1 week late.

14 years later (my doc told to to treat it more like a first pg since there was so much time between the two) DS1 was 4 days early.

2 yrs later DS2 was 13 days early

All were average size 7 lb 9 oz, 7 lb 3 oz, 7 lbs

[kijip]

My mom had one sibling more or less on the due date and one several weeks early. I was freaky late. Like 44 weeks, and they were sure of the dates. I was born with all of the signs of post-term birth.

I had one son at 39.5 weeks and the other was a c-section at just under 36 weeks for pre-e. You never can tell. If she is too far to drive and needs to buy her ticket now, I would suggest buying it for the longest window she can stay.

[kaharris83]

Thanks for sharing your experiences!! Sounds like what I learned with DS, babies come when they are good and ready and in their own time. We have never left DS with anyone but family for a few hours so leaving him with someone else would not put me in a good headspace for labor. We don't have any family within driving distance. Luckily my mom is retired so I guess we will just have to have a houseguest for a few weeks. :)

[citymama]

I don't think so.

DD1 came at nearly 42 weeks, labor started the day before
DD2 came at 40 weeks, day before her due date, labor started the day before

[theriviera]

For me, no.

DD1 came at 41w after a VERY long labor.
DD2 arrived at 39w after a lightening fast labor.

We have no family around so I arranged for my neighbor to come if it was on a weekend. If it was during the week, my nanny would have stayed.

[edurnemk]

I'm also wondering about this, DS was born at exactly 38 weeks, and I'll be 37 weeks this Friday.

I'm the firstborn and was born 6 days early, my brother was born 2 weeks early, my youngest brother was induced 9 days before his EDD.

[kaharris83]

I don't know!
I was induced for all three so far.
DD at 40w 5 d
DS 39 w 3d
DS2 37w 3d

So I will never know! Is your mom flying?

Yes she will be flying. I feel bad for taking her away from my dad for so long but we just don't have other options. These are the times living away from family is most difficult.

[kaharris83]

I'm also wondering about this, DS was born at exactly 38 weeks, and I'll be 37 weeks this Friday.

I'm the firstborn and was born 6 days early, my brother was born 2 weeks early, my youngest brother was induced 9 days before his EDD.

I'll be watching to see how it turns out for you!!

[longtallsally05]

I'm wondering if subsequent labors typically begin around the same time as first labors? DS came at 39w5d. We don't have anyone nearby to watch DS so my mom is coming but I have no idea when to have her come. Just wondering what others have experienced.
Thanks!!

Not in my case.
DD: 37 w 4 d
DS#1: 39 weeks
DS#2: 40 weeks (ob-gyn was starting to talk about induction, so I asked him to sweep the membranes to kickstart labor & it worked).