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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

DILEMMA!! When's a good time to try for baby number 2?

24 replies

hub · 14/09/2007 22:19

New to this, seems a great way to get advice from other mums. Already have a 13 month old baby and are cosidering having another when she's just over two? What do people suggest about age gaps?

OP posts:
Quootiepie · 14/09/2007 22:21

Whenever you are ready... 2 -3 years seems ideal to me, but other people think bigger or smaller is better.

MarsLady · 14/09/2007 22:22

Now!

Original poster
hub · 14/09/2007 22:23

wow, what a quick response! Wish I'd known about this site when I was pregnant and in early days with DD.

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TwoThumbsDon · 15/09/2007 07:33

Definitely whatever feels good/is right for your situation.

We're starting ttc #2 now ds1 is starting nursery, but if things go well if I want a #3 that will have to be a closer gap because hubs has issues with having a newborn when he's over 40! He's such a grumpy old man these days!

SittingBull · 15/09/2007 07:41

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beansprout · 15/09/2007 07:44

Also consider that this may end up as a rough guide, depending on when you conceive! In the end, it's not always up to us! We tried for a 2 year gap and will have a 3.3 gap (and ds was conceived at the first time of asking, so we assumed, that this one would be straightforward too!)

Good luck!

SittingBull · 15/09/2007 07:46

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CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/09/2007 07:54

Any age gap will work out for the children. But I found it very difficult being pg and having a 2 year old to run after. I really felt I didn't have the energy for her that I needed. Much easier when I was pg with her and my DS was 5.

TheBlonde · 15/09/2007 08:17

I didn't know how long it would take to get pg so went for the smallest age gap I thought I could cope with
Ended up with a 2 year gap

If we try for another I think I will aim for a slightly bigger gap so my eldest is in school

anniemac · 15/09/2007 08:55

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sweetkitty · 15/09/2007 08:58

Got pregnant with DD2 when DD1 was 9 months have never regretted the gap it's great. Am ttc#3 and will have at least a 2 1/2 year gap between 2 and 3 which I wish was smaller but was not meant to be.

fawkeoff · 15/09/2007 09:02

i got preg with ds a month after dd had her 2nd birthday,didn't find it a problem at all

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 15/09/2007 09:05

i started trying for ds when dd was 9 months, there is almost exactly 2 years between them so e was concieved when she was 15 months! brilliant age gap!

Original poster
hub · 15/09/2007 11:38

Thanks everyone, all those comments are really useful. I conceived easily the first time but it seems that's no guarantee it will be as easy next time. It's reassuring that others have found around a two year gap managable. Think that's what we'll aim for!!

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littlelapin · 15/09/2007 11:41

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belgo · 15/09/2007 11:42

hub - go for it. I concieved easisly first two times but no. three has already taken 6 months of TTC so there are no guarentees!

Good luck

aviatrix · 15/09/2007 11:44

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aviatrix · 15/09/2007 11:44

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Wisteria · 15/09/2007 11:49

Mine have 2.5yrs between them and it was fantastic, close enough to play together when small but now they're teens they're far enough apart to not be too competitive and 'fighty'

Original poster
hub · 15/09/2007 13:10

Just a thought...I'm still breastfeeding DD. My periods are back and seem to be fairly regular. Does it make it harder to conceive if your'e still bf or have recently stopped??

Also, how did baby number one react/cope with arrival of baby two??

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1dilemma · 16/09/2007 10:08

Although I have average age gaps (I think) it's because I'm not getting any younger and it kind of fitted with work and meeting dh. However personally I would wait until each was at school in an ideal world, and now that's only 3/3.5 (I'm talking the 5 mornings a week bit)

1dilemma · 16/09/2007 10:10

My understanding is it's actually easier to get pregnant if still breastfeeding an older child or recently stopped so lookout!! (That could be an old wives tale I have no idea where I got it from)

rozzyraspberry · 16/09/2007 20:23

We have 23 months between our first 2 which has been great. They're both boys and are really close.

Also I find that when they are younger they amuse themselves. DS2 who is 3 next month will sit and play by himself quite happily for a long time. DS1 however, who is 5 in December constantly wants you to play with him/read to him etc. So I think in some ways being pregnant and having a newborn with a smaller age gap is easier. I also found we had no issues with jealousy.

Am now pregnant again and will have 3years 3months between DS2 and DS3. The nice thing this time is that both DSs are old enough to understand that we're going to have a baby and are so excited!

Original poster
hub · 16/09/2007 21:15

Thanks for advice. I think I'm getting the hang of this now!!:

Thanks 1dilemma, I see your point. If I had baby 2 when DD is 2.5 or thereabouts, my mum can help out until she goes to playschool at 3.

Good to get some feedback Rozzyraspberry of what it's like to have two with that age gap. It's just a bit daunting if you think about it too much!

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