First v Second baby

[SAEJ]

Hi,
Looking for some advice from any of you mums who have more than 1 baby. My DS is 9 months and we are looking at trying for number two in the next few months.

Can't wait to have another, but, selfishly, I have just got back to where I started body wise and a little part of me feels pretty reluctant to go back to maternity clothes.

My question is, while I know all pgs are different, I have been really lucky with my first, no stretch marks, lost the weight and even my boobs seem to have survived 6 months of breats feeding - am I likely to be as lucky after number two or should I expect the worst????

Best to expect the worst then hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised

My 2nd pregnancy was almost identical to the first, no stretch marks (probably thanks to good genes as my mum even had a twin pregnancy and still got no stretch marks ) I went back to my 'normal' size in about the same time and my boobs increased a cup size per baby inspite of feeding each one for 14 mths - result!!
AND I'm no spring chicken - 40 when I had DD, 43 with DS

Fingers crossed its the same for you.

I think it is impossible to predict what will happen, i did get bigger with my second baby (and quicker as well) but not massively so. My body is the same size as it was before babies but a different shape now but not really any worse after number 2 than it was from number 1.

Thanks, been scared stupid by a friend who told me that although I have been lucky this time that i should expect boobs down to my knees and a tummy overhang to match after my second.

Had a sneaky feeling she might just have been stirring and she has not put me off trying for number two but it did upset me.

Fingers crossed I might get away with it on number two as long as I can avoid our family trend of having twins. . . .!

ohh SAEJ you could be reading my thoughts- have dd of same age and been wondering same thing. although fwiw from my friends with two I can't see much difference about how they are after 1/2.

I know it is a bit selfish - it is just that I really do love being in my normal clothes and I am a keen runner and I had to quit at 5 months last time which made me tetchy!!

Poppy - how old is your LO? Poppy is what we plan to call our nest if we have a girl (well, Penelope but Poppy for short!)

My DS2 is now 10months old, and yesterday I went for a bra fitting at M&S and I'm back to my pre-pregnancy size (although not pre-pregnancy pertness!)

The only notable differences to 5 years ago (just before DS1 was conceived) are the wrinkly skin on my tummy and the scar from my 2x CS.

I expected the worst (then again, I do that with everything) and things are pretty good really.

9 months and a bit - and agree its so nice to be back in normal clothes (Although did get into maternity wear when I discovered gap). I am quite lazy but did pilates /walked as much as I could through pregnancy.

yep re bust I could do without the golf ball lump left by the ongoing blocked duct thingy I've got but otherwise can't complain

I also escaped most of the physical signs ie stretch marks and my boobs stayed fairly pert with one and two. I am on pg number three and doing ok so far at 22 weeks. This will be my second section and luckily I haven't got an overhang or anything. I have traumatic deliveries and all kind of gynae problems, so hopefully that is where I pay the price and my figure/body will hold up .

My body hasn't recovered very well from DS2 for one simple reason: Less Sleep = more cake.

Plus sometimes because there are 2 of them I just have to have chocolate

Also, with ds1 I gave up wheat and dairy while still BFing (in effort to curb ghastly eczema - his, not mine) so shrank down fairly quickly.

I'd say if you're generally fit and active sort of person (I'm not. Would rather sit around eating cake) then you'll probably be reasonably okay.

You could maybe leave it a bit longer to start trying again - that way you'll have a bit longer to enjoy nice clothes etc. But don't leave it too long otherwise you'll feel - as I do - I'm not going into that baby tunnel again.

SAEJ, I got pg (planned) with DC2 when DC1 was 11 months and I had just managed to get back into "before baby" clothes. My second pregnancy was pratically identical to the first, but as when DC2 was born I had a toddler to run after, I lost baby weight much quicker second time round.

No saggy boobs, either but then I'm flat chested petit in that department.

My body definitely took a hit with the second baby but I put on 5 stone (yes you read right!) the second time around so when I lost the weight a year after DC2 was born I have been left with some excess skin on my stomach and boobs which doesn't look great I'll be honest. But I know so many women who still have flat tummies after 2 or more kids so just don't put on more weight than you need to (not staying diet just don't go crazy with the choccies!) and try and keep fit during the pregnancy and you will be fine. My 2 babies are worth the saggy skin - am very tempted by a tummy tuck though!

This really does make me feel much more positive!! I feel a bit ashamed to still be so vain but I know I will still want to look like me after two babies.

Thanks all.

Loads more strech marks with no. 2 but also because I ate loads of chocolate and cake, hence getting them on my thighs! I put on 3and 1/2 stone with sencond.

I put on more weight with DS2 (4 stone!) and looked pregnant earlier but I lost it all fairly quickly and am not back to where I started even before DS1. I dont have stretch marks or loose skin on tummy but my boobs have all but disappeared after b/f ds2.... Good luck

I put on less weight with my second and lost it straight afterwards-I also didn't have that awful crepey jelly belly that I had with my first. I think my boobs may disappear to nothing when I stop feeding him though...am only a 32 a now even though i'm bf!