question for anyone

[lwseymour]

Hi ladies,
I'm about to take the plunge and try for baby #2. My son turned 4 back in May, so I figure I don't want a much bigger spacing than I already have. I guess my question is "how was your second pregnancy different from your first?".
I have read several times that each pregnancy is drastically different and I was just wondering in what ways. Did you gain more or less the second time? Were you sick less or more the second time
around? Everyone says that fatigue is much worse the second time (which seems logical). Were you're children anything alike or drastically different?
Thanks for any response.
Lisa

 

[Andrea]

Hi!

I probably didn't have a typical first pregnancy cause my husband walked out at 3 mo., but I'll tell you the differences. Also I am only halfway into my second (successful) pregnancy. I had one miscarriage in between.

I was god awful sick with both till about 4 mo. I didn't really have fatigue with the first at all. Now I have a husband and a very rambunctious son and that makes a HUGE difference. I still get very tired when most people say they have tons of energy.

I felt the baby move much, much earlier. My dh even felt it last night! I have been feeling the baby since about 17 weeks and with my son I didn't feel him till about 23 weeks. And this is one strong kid!

I have gained 15 lbs so far. Gained 25 total with my son. I definitely pooched out sooner and my boobs grew with this one. I would have to say that so far my first one was a bit easier, even with the emotional stuff that was going on. Maybe that took my mind off some of the physical symptoms though. But it is a lot of fun when you kind of know what to expect with number 2! BTW my son is going to be 4 when my baby gets here and I think he will be a big help. He is also old enough to understand what is going on and VERY EXCITED!

GOOD LUCK!
Andrea

 

[Jabakk]

Hi Lisa!

My two pregnancies were not all that different. Gained about the same amount of weight with each (28 - 30 lbs), same amount of morning sickness (not much), both deliveries were early - one by about a week and the other about 2 weeks. I did start showing sooner with the second than with the first and I also felt the baby moving earlier in the second.

One thing that was drastically different with the second was that I had a toddler to chase around! Whew! With the first one, everyone babies you and keeps telling you to rest and put your feet up, etc, and you can do just that! But with the second pregnancy, well, you're pretty much on your own as far as attempting to squeeze in any rest time

. At least I was anyway.

Ok, the last thing that was different was that the first delivery was a c-section and the next one was a normal delivery. THAT was a BIG difference! Oh My! I'm quite certain there are parts of my body that will never be the same. hehehe

Best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress (well, not your progress in TRYING to get pregnant but after you ARE pregnant). **Now if we were on the new forum already I would insert one of those little devil smiley faces right here** heehee

Bev K.

 

[lwseymour]

Thanks Andrea!

Thanks for your response. It's so interesting to hear the different stories. I'm very worried about being able to keep up with my 4 year old when I'm big as an elephant. I guess that's a common concern. Although Daniel is 4, he just started talking right about his 4th birthday. He is developmentally delayed, and has been seeing a speech therapist for 1 1/2 years. He is starting to make alot of progress. My only point with this is that although he is 4, he is more on the level of a 2 1/2 or 3 year old. Still quite active.
Are you gonna find out if you're having a girl or boy, or do you want to be surprised?
Take care.
Lisa

 

[lwseymour]

Question for Bev?

Hi Bev,
Thanks so much for your response. I'm kinda confused though, in your 3rd paragraph you say "That was a huge difference". What do you mean by that?
It's hard to imagine what a second pregnancy will be like. Like you said, the first time you can rest whenever you want and focus on yourself. Next time, will be very different with another child around. The last time I gained around 26 lbs, however because I'm 5'2, I looked like I had gained about 50 lbs. In fact, I don't think my own mother believed me when she asked how much I had gained and I told her 26 lbs. Oh well.
Next time, however, I wont be near as worried with how much weight I gain as I will be about more important things like "will this baby have colic and how long will it take to get the baby to sleep thru the night". The worries I have this time are definitely different than the first time around!
Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Jabakk]

The difference...

Hi Lisa!

The difference I was referring to was the difference between a c-section delivery and a vaginal delivery. Sorry if I didn't make that clear.

And I agree, the worries the second time around are different too.

Bev

 

[Andrea]

Surprise me!

My husband really wanted to know, but the ultrasound lady said since I was carrying the baby, it was my choice. I also agree that the worries are different. I'm wondering how in the world I am going to get up during the night again for feedings.

On another note, I'm happy to hear of your son's improvement. It has to be hard dealing with not only his speech, but other people too. As I said, my son is very active and I have a hard time dealing with people's opinions of how I am parenting because I really do care. I hope your son enjoys his Mommy's belly as much as mine does

Andrea

 

[BLinda]

my two were quite different-

the first I had morning sickness till about week 14- not terrible, but enough that I felt sick all day. The second I could eat anything. The first I gained 60 lbs (most of which I still have), the second I gained 29. The first I felt great the second two trimesters, and slept the best of my life, the second I felt great the middle trimester, my back and hips ached for the third, and I couldnt sleep a lot of nights. I exercised the first time until I got a terrible infection in my leg, and the Dr. told me not to exercise until the antibiotics were done, and then I was just too much heavier to restart, so didn't really exercise the last 2 months. The second time I exercised the whole time (forcing myself at least 3x a week after the first trimester). The first I was induced 10 days late, the second I went into labor 3 days early.

I found in the first trimester of my second that my son spent lots of time watching TV. I was sooo tired some days that I figured that if we were all still safe when my husband came home, I had done my job.