2 under 2 - reassurance!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

So I'm currently almost 9 weeks pg with dc2, there will be a 20 month gap when this one arrives. I'd got my head around that and all is fine but after my booking in appointment yesterday the midwife mentioned taking extra iron due to having two pregnancies close together.

I'd not heard of this so then I fell down the Google rabbit hole of two babies close together and possible low birth wait, pre term labour and the rest of it. Please put my mind at rest and tell me it's all just ifs, but and what ifs!!

[NorthLondonmum83]

Oh actually I second what showgirlie said actually I was hugely hugely grumpy for the whole second pregnancy tbh, felt endless - but still zero regrets about the small gap! How we forget

[NorthLondonmum83]

Congrats!! 20 months between my eldest and it's fab. Take iron supplements religiously as it does have a bit of an impact on the body when babies are so close (or it did on me anyway but I'm old and knackered ) Getting a good double buddy and managing simultaneous napping is the holy grail! It's a great gap, I call mine 'the twins'. I had a third and for many reasons the gap was larger (2.5 years) and I realised how good that smaller gap was in lots of funny ways...It's tiring but hugely rewarding :)

[showgirlie]

I have a 20 month old and a 2 month old, i found i was a bit more fed up in the second pregnancy but i think it jist felt like i was either pregnant or breastfeeding for ages. I had a really straightforward waterbirth, no complications and actually easier than my first birth, my DD was born on her due date and a healthy 8 pounds 4

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

Wow you guys are absolute troopers! Thank you all for the words of encouragement, it means a lot!

[MoreCookiesPlease]

I had a 14 month age gap between my first two and had no issues at all. 2 under 2 was wonderful. You just need to look after yourself and ignore Google for now. Good luck OP! It's great having 2 under 2.

[DSsnmum]

I had 3 under 2, my eldest was 18 months when my twins were born. I did take iron but that was because of having multiples. They are all fine as am I! The twins were 6lb 3oz and 5lb 6oz which is massive for 35 week twins! And the 35 week birth was a twin thing too, not having 2 pregnancies so close together. Congratulations, it’s chaos but brilliant having them close in age, mine are 4 and 3 now and best friends most of the time.

[BurningBenches]

My second and third were 17m apart. I had a healthy pregnancy although my SPD was awful. Dd3 was 9lb10!!! They are in consecutive school years and have always been close. The early years were a blur but I loved it. Double buggies are brilliant for napping at the same time.

I am currently 10+6 with DC5, there will be a 22m gap, so just squeezing into 2 under 2 again.

It's always scary when you Google and I remember having similar fears with 2&3.

Good luck!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

Aw I feel like I'm joining a two under 2 club. So glad to see me and my other half aren't the only nutters that think it's a good idea!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

Haha amazing @TheBabyAteMyBrain will definitely take on that advice! @3rdtimelucky2019 I say almost 9 weeks, I'm actually 8+4 so nearly the same, agreed, fingers crossed everything carries on smoothly for you! @ArialAnna me neither, I'm sure she said it was standard procedure 🤷‍♀️ I may find out more when I have bloods taken!

[TikTakTikTak]

I had a very small gap and low iron was the only issue. It was hard but the pregnancy was fine, I was the size of a house though

[GoingBackTo505]

I have a 20 month old and I'm 38 weeks pregnant at the moment and my midwife hasn't said anything like that to me. I was anaemic in my first pregnancy too. I should t worry too much if I were you. This baby is definitely going to be bigger than my last, I'm bloody huge! Good luck!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

As someone above said once you start looking you only ever really see the worst of things! I think because that side of things hadn't even crossed my mind I started to panic! Like you say @LimpLettice it's not actually that small age gap and when it's almost a year down the line from giving birth, and you feel perfectly healthy, of course it seems like a good idea to do it all again

[ArialAnna]

Oops l didn't know about the extra iron!

21 months between mine. DS2 a week and a half overdue and just shy of 9lbs. Aged 2 now and a picture of health! (so far much healthier than his older brother, who gets colds more badly and has viral wheeze).

[3rdtimelucky2019]

@GoodVibesOnlyPlease

So I'm currently almost 9 weeks pg with dc2, there will be a 20 month gap when this one arrives. I'd got my head around that and all is fine but after my booking in appointment yesterday the midwife mentioned taking extra iron due to having two pregnancies close together.

I'd not heard of this so then I fell down the Google rabbit hole of two babies close together and possible low birth wait, pre term labour and the rest of it. Please put my mind at rest and tell me it's all just ifs, but and what ifs!!

I'm 8+3 and have an 11 month old. Nothing to add other than solidarity. If this one sticks, I think I'll have my hands full.

[TheBabyAteMyBrain]

18 months between my two. Dc2 was born at 38 weeks but I put that down to the fact we were idiots and moving house at that time. Plus DH was working in the new area for 6 days a week so life was full on.

I love having my children so close together, their bond is so strong and they utterly adore each other. It's wonderful that they can both enjoy the same age toys and activities, and play together at the same level.

One bit of advice, if you ever get them napping at the same time in the day, fuck off everything else and lie your ass down for a nap too! We had a double floor bed we would all nap on after lunch. It was bliss

[LimpLettice]

I've just graduated from 2 under 2, they are now 2 and 4 months. 6lb 10 followed by 7lb 4. I had GD in both pregnancies but otherwise textbook and honestly, it's all fine. Extra vitamin D is a must especially if you're BFing but it's not that close really. My DH is 11 months younger than his brother! Also both fine, altho
MIL claims to have no memory of the first year!

[Grimbot]

Really sorry to hear that @BloodyMuppet

[Grimbot]

Honestly, do not worry about that. By all means take pregnancy supplements but the vast majority of people who have babies close together don’t have problems.

I had my boys 18 months apart. Ds2 was 9lb and 9 days overdue. I have loved having 2 under 2, it’s just been great. Good luck!

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

I'm sorry to hear that @BloodyMuppet, thank you.

[BloodyMuppet]

For any pregnancy situation there are good and bad stories. I had 4 births in 3.5 years. Sadly, ours was one of the low birth weight tragedies. It's a slightly increased risk, but just take care of yourself as much as possible

[GoodVibesOnlyPlease]

Oh thank you, so many positive stories! You've all put my mind at ease just need to prepare ourselves for the carnage that is the first year then!

[imamearcat]

20 months between mine and DS certainly doesn't have a low birth weight - he was 9lb 8!!

You'll be fine, don't worry!

[lorisparkle]

I had 2 under 2 and it was fine - hard work for the first year but there are definitely advantages as they get older (e.g similar interests). In fact it could not have been that bad as I had ds3 just before ds1 was 4yrs.

[Roselilly36]

Oh forget to say, DS2 was a fortnight early and 9lb 3ozs

[Roselilly36]

Congrats OP .

I had two under two, it was the best thing ever, so many advantages, you haven’t forgotten anything, you are used to broken sleep. Of course, it’s busy & hard work at times.

But I would do the same again if I could. My two are 19 & nearly 18 now and very close brothers.

Enjoy, they grow so quick.