25 weeks pregnant. DS will be 16 months when DS2 arrives. Advice?

[Kittycatcat]

Hi all

Panic is setting in. This pregnancy is v much planned, i am 37 this year and wanted my children close together. However, would love advice on how to cope. I was thinking about when DH brings DS to the hospital (i am booked to have an elective at 39 weeks) to meet his baby brother, how to go with it. Should i hold baby etc. Then once DH goes back to work. I intend to BF but remember expressing being time consuming with DS1. And DS1 is obv very active. So anyway. Any advice welcome. I have friends who work PT or are on mat leave too so will see them lots. And my inlaws currently look after DS1 three days while i work. But i want him at home with me when i am off, tho we will see them once a week as both children are going to them when i return to work.

Thanks

Ahhh Kittycatcat - no advice to offer here although I would be very interested on what other mumsnetters have to say about the coping with 2 children so close together. I'm 10+1 and have a 10 months old so when DC2 arrives in January my son will be about 16 months also.

I'm still getting my head round the whole thing TBH. I know both me and DH would've had more DC's but never expected it so soon.

I hope all goes well for you and will be watching for that sort after advice.

Hi Kittycatcat and Stormbird, I am currently 32 weeks pg with DS2. My DS1 is 15 months old so I'll have the same age difference too. My DS1 was 3 months premature though, so developmentally is more like a 1yo.

I'm finding the best way to prepare for 2 under 2 is total denial. I'm just trying not to think or worry about it too much and figure that once DS2 is here I will just HAVE to cope.

Hoping to get through the first few months using the following tactics:

• distract DS1 with Ceebeebies/ toys/ books/ food whilst I BF DS2
• lots of walks with the pram and fresh air every day no matter how knackered I feel
• starting DS1 at nursery 1 day or 2 half days a week to give him a change of scenery and me a chance to bond/ spend 1-1 time with new baby
• DS1 will continue to spend 1 afternoon per week with GPs
• planning to go to some baby/ toddler groups (don't currently) and possibly a baby cafe for help with BF

I think that's it. Also, I'm going to take every offer of help from family that I can!

Also, I've told DH that he has to get up with DS1 during the night I'd he wakes as I can't BF DS2 overnight AND get up with DS1 as well. DS1 sleeps pretty well (unless poorly) so it shouldn't be such a problem for DH.

I'd = if

I've also bought a fancy double pram for out and about (Bugaboo Donkey) and a sling so I can get on with stuff around the house and with DS1 whilst DS2 (hopefully) sleeps.

My DS1 will be 18 months when DS2 arrives. At the moment I am praying.

Congrats all :) and thanks for replying.

snowboarder We have a lovely park a 10 min walk away, with a lake and swings etc. just hope the weather is better in Sept / Oct than it has been for June. Maybe i will go back to the breastfeeding cafe, but i never really felt that comfortable there. Our DS1 is a good sleeper too. If he wakes he usually goes back to sleep to his music. He woke at 1am and did just that, but i went in to find he had been sick this morning :( Poor thing, his bad mummy had just left him cos he went back to sleep. We bought a jane powertwin. And i have a normal fabric sling which i am pretty useless with plus a normal more upright one. Now need a bigger house and bigger car :).

Kitty - I have stages of panic too, I am 5 months pregnant and have a 15mo DD, and even though this baby was planned I keep worrying about how i'm going to cope.
I try to remind myself that hundreds of mums do it, in fact I have a friend with two boys 11 months apart and she said it's a lot easier than you think!
I suppose you just manage, however that may be, and i'm looking forward to when they are both a bit older and able to play together.

Definitely getting a double pushchair though