How did you prepare yourself for the newborn stage again?

[pinkclip]

Frankly shitting myself about doing it all again in a few months 😅

Everything was such a blur first time around that I feel I didn't truly live in the moments and it all went by so fast. But I remember feeling so, SO tired at the time and thinking why would anybody do this more once willingly! I am mentally not prepared yet for that level of exhaustion.

Anybody have any tips so that I can prepare myself? How can I make it easier (if possible)? It's been a while since my first and there's probably lots of things to help that I could have done back but didn't know about.

Hi @pinkclip lol @ shitting myself 🤣
Honestly you're going to be fine, it's like mother nature gives us strength to get through it 💪
Now that i think back, i maybe would have sorted stuff out that i will never get time to do when baby arrives.
Like my garage needed a good clean out and my clothes cupboard could do with a good sort out. I also have loads of paperwork i need to file away. Good time to do this before baby arrives!
Enjoy your pregnancy xx

It was actually easier. Because I was already used to not getting a full night's sleep and generally being knackered and not getting much time alone. So it was far less of a shock to the system!

I would get everything ready now , because being pregnant when you already have a child is twice as exhausting and in the late stages it’s best to plan to do nothing. You might also need to finish work / activities earlier.

Apart from sleep deprivation, be prepared to realise that the baby is the easy one. First time round I found everything new and a challenge, second time round your body is used to no sleep and looking after a baby feels like a walk in the park, they sleep lots and this time round you know what the baby needs and aren’t as worried about things.

I was surprised by feelings of guilt towards my other child when dc2 came along, I started feeling bad about not being able to give them as much attention, so try to plan in some special time just with them when the baby comes so they know they’re not being left out.

Sleep, bank it all in reserve. Two of everything I can - one for upstairs one for downstairs. Meal prep/batch cook and fill the freezer.

it’s so exhausting with a child already, sorry that’s probably not what you want to hear.