This is a question for especially mothers that have had more than one child. Do the fears of childbirth ever get any easier?

[MickyMacgraw]

I can't even begin to imagine how scary a first pregnancy can be especially when there are many different factors involved as in worrying about the looming pain, money problems, will the father support you, how will the family take it etc.. Ok lets take away the psychological issues as these can show their head at any time in your life. What of the looming physical pain, is this always worst the first time around or does it get easier with each child that you have?

[B00]

You do tend to forget it, right up until you're giving birth once again then you think "Oh crap yeah, NOW i remember!", but by then it's too late :P

[LoftyLottie]

I stopped at one!!

[Bbbananas]

Too true.
You always hope it's going to be better second time round. But it's unpredictable.

[ummmm]

If we didn't forget the pain we'd only ever have one child. No it doesn't get easier. My third child was the worst...but that was because I left it too late to ask for drugs. Then I went into shock...that was quite spooky.

[craft1948]

I'm with Lottie on this.......

[Bbbananas]

It usually gets quicker each time, if that's any consolation......?

[redcrx]

all pregnancies and births are different.
I do agree with ummmm, you forget about the "pain" of a straight forward labour within days of the birth, its only when the contractions start for the next one that you remember again.

But the results far outweight the discomfort anyway and its soon forgotten about again.

[redcrx]

thats true too, salla. My first was 6 hours, second was less than 2. If i ever have another i shall be afraid to cough past 37 weeks lol

[Bbbananas]

A bit like me red - first one 5 hours, second one, 1&half hours. There will be no third!!

[China Doll]

Having read these answers I've decided 'too posh to push is the way forwards'... And clean the damn baby up before handing it to me, I don't want something covered in blood squirming all over me... I'm still working on that maternal instinct... ;0)

[sherrardk]

Hi - I was really frightened on my first and I think because I was so stressed that it made things harder as I was so stressed. On number two I left it a bit late and almost had him the hospital car park. Number three was very quick - still had my legs in my trousers and my husband had to catch her! Four and five were twins and that was a C Section - again very frightening as I am a big baby (on the plus side, they let me go first because I was crying so much!).

[ummmm]

Mine were 4.5 hours, 2 hours and 3 hours.

[MickyMacgraw]

Well it's obvious that the good outweighs the bad as at least after the terrible time of a hard labour or difficult pregnancy you're left with a bundle of joy in your arms.Loftlottie and craft1948 was the reason for only having one seriously because of the pain which you remembered from the first one?
Salla is that a fact? My girlfriends labour was literally one hour, by the time we got to hospital and got her on the bed the midwife didn't even have time to put on her gloves before my baby just popped out! Any quicker then next time she'll be having the baby in the ambulance or as she's being wheeled to the birthing rooms!

[dotty.]

it's ok, never bothered me, looking back lol i had my third at home and that was great, no midwife telling you where you should be.

[ummmm]

I was born in a wheelchair. My cousin gave birth in the car.

[Bbbananas]

It's generally true MM, but not a given.

All I can say is, the pain is bl00dy awful, at least mine was, but the end result is worth it.

[B00]

You might want to rethink the C Section idea Cd. The Recovery time is wayyy longer and alot more painful, so I'm told anyway.

I have to say both my children's births were incredibly quick. The first just over two hours and the second was all done and dusted and I was sat in bed, baby next to me, with a cup of tea exactly an hour after getting there. I'll never forget Mr Boo taking butties (which we stopped for at a garage on the way- which was nice!) and a book, thinking he was there for the long haul- he saw neither butties or book it was that quick.

[LoftyLottie]

1st and only one. Hours and hours of labour, baby facing wrong way, too narrow a pelvic area, emergency caesarian, epidural (went wrong so excrutiating pain in leg - worse than labour) general anaesthetic. Never again. I wasn't very maternal in the first place.

Stay childless China!! ;o)

[Bbbananas]

lol CD.... maternal instinct indeed!!

Ummm - you were born in a wheelchair? Was your mother disabled?