Pregnant with one little one only just 7 months - words of advice/courage needed

[EugenieM]

Hi All,

Just discovered I'm pregnant again (a little too soon!). My son will be a year and 3 months when the newborn arrives. I'm in a bit of shock although because of my age I've always assumed that the gap between them wouldn't be very wide.
Luckily first born is a merry little chap (although still not sleeping through) but I'd love to hear from others who have done it before (and survived sanity intact!).
I was also considering going back to work but doesn't seem too much point now (and Im fortunate enough not to have to right at the moment).

Should also add that I'm without grandparents on my side as my parents died when I was much younger> But having a lovely partner (although absent with travel sometimes because of demanding job).

Wisdom/Advice/Tales would be much appreciated!

EugenieM XX

My first 2 are 16 months apart and even though different genders are the best of friends. It seems some times like they even have their own language and I noticed that from the time they were little. It will be tough sometimes and remember, if it feels like you are dealing with 2 babies, it will be because you are, but soon enough they will be playing off on their own and you watch them and relax (briefly).

Congratulations!

I was going to post something similar as we are thinking of TTC DC2, soon and dd is 8 months.
Just wanted to know how it would be with two young ones!

Congratulations, it will be brilliant.

My youngest 2 are 15 months apart. They are now 16 months and 2 1/2. It was a shock at first for us and sometimes hard work with two in nappies etc but they love each other so much and DS1 is now saying that DS2 is his best friend which is soooo sweet.

Hi,

I got pregnant (planned though) when my first was 9 months, in all honesty it was fine, but I have very good babies.

I had another after so have 3 under 5, its testing but I wouldn't go for longer gaps if I had the oppotunity!

Congratulations, I found out I was pg when dd3 was 5 months old, so a 13 month gap when dd4 arrived. It is the easiest gap I've had so far as we were already accustomed to sleepless nights, nappies etc. They are now 2 and 1 and play so well together it is lovely, they are very close and I hope they remain so.

16 month gap between my youngest 2. Fab gap. Tried for the same gap between dc2 and dc3 (took a bit longer, hence 22 month gap, which by a lot of people's standards is still quite close). Hard work to begin with but you get it all out of the way nice and quickly. Can't imagine get life back to 'normal' and then starting all over again with a newborn.

15 months between each of mine (3 of them in total).

It was mental at first but they were so close from a young age, and now regularly tell me that they're 'best friends'.

I would definitely do it this way again (although it would be so nice to do it with the knowledge I have now, rather than just muddling through ).

My biggest piece of advice is not to forget that the older one is still a baby himself. With a newborn on the scene, your older child suddenly seems so big and self-sufficient, and it's easy to forget just how young they are. Think of them as twins (or triplets) with different skills.

Thanks so much to you all. Great to hear that its not all doom and gloom! And yes, Muddling Thru - even though I was in shock - as I said to my partner, the idea of reclaiming a bit (more) of the adult world and then returning to baby-dom has always seemed a much more tortuous option. Like you, I'd rather get it all in one go while we're going through it anyway. So perhaps not such a bad thing after all. I just dont have much to compare it with as all my friends with babies are much older and they're still on No. 1. There's also a gap of four years between myself and my younger brother.
Thanks for the reminder Misshardbroom - re' the age and needs of the first little one. I imagine its easy to forget with the demands of the new arrival.

Also, suppose when I found out that it also occurred to me to be grateful to have conceived a second time at my age !
I think when you're a bit older you do have a greater incentive to get 'on with it' not that I was Daily Mail induced panicky but it does make you think.

Thanks again.
X