If you escaped 1st pregnancy and birth with body mostly unchanged..

[Catsbinoculars]

... What was the second one like? The same? Or everything a bit looser? Wider? Harder to lose the weight? Stretch marks when you didn't have them before?

[Catsbinoculars]

Apologies I think "escape" is the wrong word. There is obviously something very lovely in a changed body, but I was just wondering what the difference was between pregnancies one and two.

[finova]

No stretch marks 1st time.
3 2 inch ones 2nd time (faint).

Gained less weight 2nd time.

Spider veins on ankle appeared 2nd time.

[Strokethefurrywall]

I found it slightly harder to get back into shape after the second one, but that's really only because I ate my weight in chocolate.

In reality though, my body adapted to my second pregnancy far quicker than the first (i.e. I got a bump a few weeks sooner, boobs got bigger more quickly), but I escaped both pregnancies and births with little to no effect on my body at all. No stretch marks or anything like that.

Genetics played a big part, my mum and sister were the same.

[Rowanhart]

PFB at 8lb exactly caused no problems.
DS at 8lb 13 caused a small patch of stitch marks on the right hand side of my tummy two days before he came out.

Weight came off apart from last half a stone with each, which just wouldn't shift easily like it did before. At 16 months I am finally back to pre-baby weight.

So I think it depends on size of baby.

[Tiggywinkler]

Absolutely no difference, except I've now got 2 section scars instead of one.

I think it's a matter of genetics mostly; there's not much you can do either way!

[MilicentKing]

10 years between mine and I'd say my body reacted just the same.
Small bump, a few stretch marks, lost the weight very quickly.

2nd birth was much easier than the second, aside from a little tear.

Both babies were about the same weight and I went into labour naturally both times.

[RandomMess]

Fine after the first, twin skin after the 2nd but there again she was 3lb heavier and I was 5 years older

[Raines100]

1st time: Had a boy. 2 barely noticeable stretch marks. Was back in size 8 jeans at 8 weeks post partum.
2nd time: Another boy. No new stretch marks, but existing 2 got a little bit longer. Took 6 months to lose a significant amount of weight, 9 months for all the weight to go.
3rd time: A girl. No further stretch marks. Put on weight round the back of my hips for the first time ever! Have just about lost the weight now, 12 months on, though my hips are definitely fuller round the back and I haven't braved low rise jeans yet. Had to work to get my stomach muscles back and the skin is saggier. I am hoping that another year on, there might be more recovery still.

[UnikittyInHerBusinessSuit]

No real difference except my scar was in a different place (VBAC). I don't get stretch marks.

[datingbarb]

4 pregnancies and natural births and no Stretch marks, really don't think my Body changed at all, still a size 8, 8st 4oz I was when I was 20

I'm a lazy fucker, don't do exercise/diet think I'm just lucky to have good genes

[waitingforsomething]

I had mine two and a half years apart. A girl 8lb8 and a boy 7lb 14. My boddy went back to normal both times within a couple of months with regards to weight. I never got stretch marks either time which was very lucky.
I felt no looser or stretchier after the second but I was under 30 both times so that could have helped!

[Heatherbell1978]

Glad I found this! I'm pregnant with #2 (8 wks just) and after DS1 my body sprung back within a year without me having to do much, no stretch marks. Was wondering whether I'd be as lucky this time round but sounds quite hopeful!

[Starduke]

DS1 : lost all baby weight (except breasts) in less than a week

DS2 : started off heavier and less muscle because DS1 was a high-needs baby and I was exhausted and ate crap and never exercised. Took 4-5 months to lose the weight (again except breasts - they only went back to normal size once I stopped BF at 18 months)

Never had any stretch marks.
Hips are definitely wider now though.

[Roomba]

No difference after my second pregnancy, other than another c-section scar and one teeny tiny stretch mark on my stomach that arrived the day before DS did. I lost all the baby weight within a few weeks on both occasions.

[FenellaFerranti]

No stretchmarks after DS1 (9lbs+) and I got back into shape within 6 months. Horrendous stretchmarks after DS2 (10lbs+) and struggling to shift the last of the baby weight 8 months later. Am finding my saggy tummy quite hard to get my head around to be honest

[Havingkittens04]

No stretch marks with DD, got back to my pre-baby weight within 3 months (sure breastfeeding helped weight drop off) body back to pretty much exactly the same after stopping b'fing.

Lost my second at 17 weeks so body didn't change much (lost 2 stone due to HG but put back on within a couple of months)

36 now. This time I'm almost 13 weeks and have put on almost a stone in weight already. I look about 6 months pg. Eating constantly is the only thing that helps ease the nausea. Last night I'm sure I saw the start of cellulite on my thighs

It'll all be worth it x

[SouthDownsSunshine]

Currently pregnant with 2nd, so pleased to read some good outcomes! I snapped back in shape after dd, but then piled on the weight breastfeeding.

I put on a lot of weight in the first trimester this time, but now at 20 weeks things have levelled out. I do feel more 'maternally shaped' this pregnancy - bigger boobs, bumps, plumper face.

[MunchCrunch01]

dc2 was 2 lb heavier, definitely more of a pronounced pouch now, but nothing that'd make me not consider a dc3 or worry unduly!