Is conceiving a second child harder for everyone?

[TheDuchessofDubai]

DS is 2. He was a one-shot wonder, conceived immediately in one night when we started trying. I know we were super lucky.

Anyway, we started trying for a second and final baby when DS was about 18m old as I'm almost 36 and don't really want to wait if I don't have to. 8 months later here I am again in a TWW. Every month we DTD at the right times, every month nothing - not even any weird symptoms.

Periods are still regular (though my cycles have shortened by a day or so) and I know when I ovulate as I get pains and opks confirm. But nothing.

Admittedly I didnt expect another one shot wonder but I wasnt expecting this - not only is it not happening but not even a sniff of symptoms to spot or change to the norm.

There are probably a few things at play here - cycle changes might mean I'm less fertile as I age, we're often far too tired to do more than perfuctory sex (first couple of days each month is great but by day 3 I dont think either of us has the energy to do anything wilder than missionary at 9pm). etc etc.

Anyone else finding conceiving the second much harder than the first?

On average it takes a woman a year to get pregnant.. If you got to the 2 year mark then you should maybe speak to your doctor but until then stop worrying keep trying

It might just be back luck?

It took us 6m to conceive our first at 35, at 37 we managed to accidentally get pregnant (so first time) though ended up ectopic.

I had my first at 24, got pregnant straight away.
I am now trying for another at 40… 6 months later still trying. 🙁

I don't think it's harder for everyone, it depends on lots of factors including age/fertility. For me it pretty mixed, my first took over a year, then we found out what the issue was so conceived my dd, then 2nd pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, then third we conceived on the first try.

Absolutely. My first took 16 months/10 cycles (due to thyroid issues - once that had been identified I conceived her in 6 months), my second took 12 months/cycles, despite my TSH being under control. I then had a surprise pregnancy last March (pill mishap), swiftly followed by an early MC, and now have been trying for 18 or so cycles 😭. I'm 41, so both conceived very quickly being slightly older and have had huge problems ever since (even with my second I had 1 or 2 CPs, but this time nothing in the last 17 months..)

I fell pregnant with my boy whilst on the pill so all happened a bit crazy. Hes now 4 and a half 🥰

We decided around September of last year that we wanted another one as soon as possible as our second would be our last one too and didn't want a huge age gap between them... came off the pill and waited for normal cycles to start and 9 months later still trying. Although this month I am currently 9 days late and having lots of cramps and emotional moments- but I have been extremely stressed lately too so who knows 🤷‍♀️

I conceived my son straight away on first month trying at 35. Started trying for a second at 38, I've had early 3 mcs and 2 failed ivf transfers. Unexplained reason other than probably age. 40 now and pregnant again. Crossing everything this one sticks.

Maybe not what you want to hear but we actually conceived our second quicker - probably because we knew what we were doing a bit more in terms of ovulation and timing etc. First took 6 months at 34 (with an ectopic before her) and the second was conceived on the 2nd month at 36. I was expecting it to take longer as I was older so started using opks straight away and it worked for us luckily. Best of luck but hopefully see my example as a positive that fertility after 35 didn't seem to be any different for me.

Ours were both around the same. 5 months ttc DC1 and 4 months ttc DC2. I think we probably had slightly less sex second time round too tbh.

I was 29 and took 2 months with my daughter. Im
now 33 and took 6 months this time around, currently 5weeks3days pregnant.
I panicked as well because I expected it to be as quick as the first time round but it just wasn’t.
I think if you’re 35+ and have been trying for 6m or more you can contact your GP! But I def wouldn’t be worrying at this stage, just keep trying. Crossing my fingers your get your bfp soon