Just found out I’m pregnant with my 2nd - positive stories please!

[Goldendoodlelover]

I just found out I’m pregnant with my second and whilst I am happy I am also spiralling a bit and worrying about how we are going to cope when we have so much on our plates at the moment: my husband and I have a lovely but very physically demanding 17 month old, two demanding jobs, plus we were meant to be moving house and exchanging this weekend but our buyers literally pulled out this week. (We really want to move to be closer to family and have more bedroom space). I’m also a bit terrified about going through the first trimester again whilst looking after a toddler again (although I was never sick I had horrendous nausea last time) and I feel like all my Instagram algorithm is doing is showing me stories of how much harder going from 1-2 is!

Basically I’m just looking for some reassurances here / positive stories - tell me all the good stuff about having a second child and reassure me that the second pregnancy isn’t always awful!

Hi OP, first of all congratulations!! I currently have 2 under 2, 18 months between them and my youngest is nearly 4 months. My pregnancies could not have been more different! Second pregnancy was so much easier, obviously I was more tired having a toddler so less rest but totally manageable and they are already little best friends. My daughter adores her little brother, he has slotted perfectly into our family and is a total different baby to my first. Second labour was also so much easier! It is so special, chaos at times, but I absolutely love it and we are all so happy, try not to worry! Good luck x

Cingratulations!

I remember that feeling of being thrilled and terrified at the same time. But you will be fine!

My second pregnancy was worse than my first in terms of sickness, so that was a bit grim, but it seemed to go quicker than my first pregnancy. It also made the newborn stage seem so breezy in comparison to being pregnant. Second delivery was much better.

I really enjoyed having two close in age. So much so, that I had a third (and the third pregnancy was the best of the bunch).

Don't worry OP, you've done the hard bit.

1-2 is a doddle compared to 0-1.

Enjoy your pregnancy!

Congratulations! It’s hard - of course it is - but there are also so many positives. With my first I was terrified - doubted myself, doubted my instincts, and generally fretted the first few months away. With my second, I loved it - I had learned so much already and was able to relax into the newborn stage and enjoy it. It made us feel “complete” as a family. You’ll have highs and lows, but you’ll get through it if you and your DP work as a team!

Congratulations OP! I can tell you lots of positives, my second pregnancy was easy peasy, contractions were way more manageable and the delivery was way quicker. There are 19 months between my two so I had two under two for a few months, and yes it was testing initially 😅 my second was a colicky baby who didn’t sleep and needed feeding round the clock for the first 8 weeks or so, but I am now having the time of my life with them! They’re 2 and 8 months now and they bring me so much joy everyday, they adore each other, make each other laugh constantly and my oldest does the funniest nonsensical chatter to my little one that has her squealing with glee. Every time I look at them together I can’t stop smiling and thinking how lucky I am to have them both, and for them to have each other. Everything just comes so naturally and instinctively the second time as well, no second guessing and you’ll probably be just a lot more laid back in general! Congratulations again and hope it all goes well, it will be wonderful 🥰

Going from 1 to 2 is a million times easier than going from 0 to 1. There was nothing that was harder the second time around. Comparatively, my 2nd baby was a breeze.

That said, we did have a 5 year age gap, very carefully planned to allow career progression and so we didn’t have 2 in nursery. I think the most challenging bit about 2 that little is financial, but you’re planned for this baby so thought that through and know you can do it. The rest will fall into place.

Thanks for all the replies! So lovely to hear some more positive stories. I do sometimes just wonder how practically people manage with 2 (particularly once you have 2 mobile children - like I was struggling to get my son dressed after bath time last night and I was just like how the hell would I cope with another child in the mix?!) but it’s nice to hear that not all second pregnancies are inevitably worse and I want to try and focus on all the positive things to look forward to with a sibling dynamic. I just wish our house situation was sorted so we had one less thing to worry about!