My baby is 9 weeks old and I'm pregnant again

[giraffewithalongneck]

Oh hell. My baby is 9 weeks old. We've had sex twice since she was born. Past 3 days I've had every symptom of pregnancy but thought there is no chance. I had a preg test in my bathroom cupboard so thought I'd do it just to ease my mind. Low and behold I'm pregnant.

I am in complete shock. It took us 3 years and fertility treatment to get our baby so this is a huge huge huge surprise.

Please tell me it'll be ok.

[iMatter]

I have 12 months between mine.

Hard work (very) to start with and my body took a battering (em section with dc1)

But so worth it. Honestly, I wouldn't change it for anything.

Good luck op

[bigbuttons]

4 of my 6 dc are 'irish twins'

[PCDC]

Apologies, I posted before reading the full thread.

I'm from Irish Catholic family so it's a common phrase, meant no offence.

[Mehfruittea]

Oh shit! Congratulations! We took 5 yrs and IVF to get our DS so I can really understand how shocked you are.

DH is a twin and has an older brother, by 10 months! MIL is catholic but lapsed soon after!! 3 kids were enough!

[giraffewithalongneck]

Oh goodness, thank you for all of your replies, I never expected so many.

[NEScribe]

How amazing - after waiting so long, you've won the double. Just watch out for a hat-trick :)
Congratulations!!! And if you need any more convincing that this news to celebrate ... think back to those 3 years of trying and how awful it was not getting pregnant.
It's wonderful news - they will be close in age so you will avoid the "big gap" issues.

[HappyFlappy]

I would congratulate you on your "Irish Twins" but from another thread I've learned that some people (usually not Irish) find it an offensive term.

Know two people who were in your situation (in fact one had four children in three years - singleton, twins, singleton). They both managed superbly!

The girl with four in three years had the logistics planned like a military operation - no-one even got a biscuit without being in high chair with a bib etc. It's one of these situations that seem overwhelming when you face it, but when you are in it, you just buckle down and get on with it.

So - congratualtions. Your babies will be close enough together to entertain each other, but far enough apart for you to spend time with each individually. You will be shattered, as any mother of young children is, so make your DH step up to the occe! But you will have your family growing up together and they will be off your hands at the same time (which you may regard as good or bad).

Hope all goes well for you - look after yourself - if anyone offers help, take them up on it, put your feet up whenever you get the chance, and get your DH to the vasectomies asap!

[HappyFlappy]

Bluesky

Thank goodness humans never have twins then...

Touche

[Littleballerina]

I had an 8 week old when I fell pregnant the second time. Second dc arrived 3 weeks early. That was fun.
It was hard but also really nice. They kept each other company and we were already doing the whole baby thing.

Congratulations op

[Bananamanfan]

Congratulations! At least you will get the baby years over with quickly.

[iMatter]

Yy NEScribe - agree totally.

This is wonderful news - congratulations!

[Choccywoccyhooha]

Congratulations! My eldest two are 11 months apart and i'm not going to lie, the first year with two was HARD. However, it was totally worth it, they are eachother's best friends, they like the same things, have the same friends and keep eachother company. In fact, it's hard for my younger one to not be able to do everything with them.
They share their toys, so Christmas is like getting two sets of presents, we do joint birthday parties and clothes are easily passed on or shared.
It will be fine, in fact, it will be lovely.

[alpacawhacker]

13 months between my eldest and the next. It was hard work but also a lot of fun! They were and still are very close (now aged 24 and 25!) I understand you're shocked right now, but it will be fine!

Congrats!

[Loopyloo80]

This happened to my cousin. Her girls are now 10 and 11 and so close, it's lovely. They've always been best friends and played together beautifully. Their names are almost said in one breath they're such a twosome!

The only thing that I think is tricky (long term) about how close in age they are is how much they're compared to each other: "the pretty one", "the fun one", "the clever one" and so on. But that would probably happen if they were further apart in age.

My cousin was trying to persuade me to have the same gap as it worked out so well! But her mum did move in with them to help when her DD2 was born. I wouldn't have had that...

I had 2.5 years and - to be honest - found that hard as their needs are so incompatible.

I agree with PPs that it gets the hard bit done all in one go. Napping, babyhood, etc.

Do you have help? I met a mum in soft play who had an 11 month gap between her two and had a nanny with her. Expensive but she seemed happy!

(Not that I want to weigh in on the Irish twins thing... said cousin is Irish and refers to her daughters as Irish twins ALL the time. So I actually had no idea it was offensive to some until I read this thread...)

[Loopyloo80]

*nappies not napping!

[Bellenddingdong]

I have 11 months between my two dds and would not change a thing. I can honestly say it wasn't as hard or as scary as I worried it to be or that other people tried to scare me to believe it would be. I can't imagine it being any harder than having a 3 or 4 year old and a newborn.

Mine are now 10 and 11 and it makes it so easy that they can do the same things, they always have a playmate with each other and most of the time get on just fine.

My midwife referred to them as Irish twins during my second pregnancy, I had never heard of it before and I myself do us it as a term of endearment, not for one minute thinking it could be offensive. I shall be refraining from it now. TBH In my experience, not many people from these parts have even heard of it.

Please don't worry OP, you will find your own way of coping and dont listen to scary stories, these are usually from people who haven't gone through it themselves.

[justdontevenfuckingstart]

I would have been due on dd1 birthday, unfortunately not to be so now have 14 months between mine (now 18 & 19) not going to lie, right at the start it was hard. I chose to do it this close. They are a super team and have a great relationship. You will be fine, many congratulations.

[saoirse31]

Congrats op

[Jaysis]

Congratulations

As an Irish person, living in Ireland, "Irish Twins" is a common phrase here and not at all offensive.

But if one believes that you/ your babies being referred to as Irish is somehow derogatory to you, then I would find that offensive.

[BellonaBelladonna]

People cope with twins, triplets etc. You'll be fine. Congratulations.

[ThisMorningWentBadly]

As an "Irish twin" (from Ireland) to me there is nothing offensive about the phrase. It simply implies a lack of contraception.

[ItStartedWithAKiss241]

Congratulations! My children have ten months between them and are like twins! I wouldn't change it at all! Get a good double buggy is my only advice!

[SoggyBottomBoys]

As an Irish twin myself I grew up in an Irish catholic family/community where this term is used as standard.

Gutted now thinking of all those golden opportunities for taking offence I've missed out on...

[MrsMeeseeks]

So happy for you, OP. I can imagine how terrified you must be - I had a scare at a similar stage - but there are so many advantages to having two close together. Good luck!

[AmberNectarine]

It will be ok. My two are close in age and though it was hard work initially, now it is so easy - they have a built-in friend with the same interests and the bond is just wonderful to see.

Congratulations!!