How on earth will I cope with two children?

[Verytiredmumofone]

I'm 6 and a half weeks pregnant with baby 2. My first child is 2 in a couple of weeks and she's been very ill for the past week and a half. I'm finding it impossible and getting very very depressed to the point of regretting getting pregnant. My daughter has a virus, cough, ear infection, conjunctivitis and a fever which sometimes makes her vomit at night. Husband and I are frequently doing nurofen and calpol, eye ointment and antibiotics for ear. She's hardly sleeping, crying and or moaning all day and just seems to be getting worse. I'm losing hope and can't cope anymore, it's making me just want to go to sleep and not wake up.

How on earth will I manage with two?
Has anyone else felt like this?
Please reassure me.

You will be fine. Because you just will be. As you have to be. We are all capable of doing more than we realise. I am living proof of this. You will be fine

It is so rough when children are ill! Even worse when you’re ill at the same time. Being at an early stage of pregnancy is difficult too, I remember feeling very nauseous around that time. But this will pass - your daughter will get better, you will all get more sleep, your pregnancy will progress. Remember all your reasons for wanting to get pregnant. Keep an eye on your mood too, if you are feeling more low or anxious than normal please seek help. You are definitely not alone with the feeling of overwhelm!

You rise to the occasion because there isn’t another option. I spent a lot of time with the baby in a sling so I could deal with the toddler and preschooler.

It becomes your new normal. As long as you have someone to step up so you can get a kip at some point, it’s not as bad as you think.

Having 2 is hard, particularly when they’re unwell. I have 2 little ones and we’re getting through it by tag teaming but with nursery, school and both of us working it’s so hard. But the good times hugely outweigh the bad, and watching them bond and play together is so amazing. I don’t regret having 2 for a second,

You adapt quickly. Your daughter will be nearly 3 when the new baby comes and which is world of difference to nearly 2.

You learn how to survive - I had to get out daily and had a list of places I felt safe with tiny baby and toddler - ie fenced in playgrounds.

I am typing this while enjoying a cup of tea with 3 and 6 year old while they play together.

It’s awful when they’re ill and you’re not feeling great yourself but your daughter will get better and everything will seem much more manageable!

It's daunting but you will be totally fine. It just...works out. Can't tell you how. Mine are 16 months apart. First few months were rough but then I'd go so far as to say it got easier than having one.

Also, it is way easier having a baby and a toddler than being pregnant with a toddler. Promise.

You’ll be absolutely fine. You’re having a really hard week, and everything is awful right now. But it will pass and you’ll all be ok again and life will be manageable. And then in future you’ll have more hard weeks but you’ll get through those too, and in between you will have happy, lovely times.

Do what you need to to survive this week and don’t worry about a future which will honestly all turn out fine.