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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Tips for 2nd pregnancy

11 replies

chicaguapa · 04/03/2004 20:00

It seems silly to be asking for tips second time around when I should be so practised from having done it once already and dd is only 2.5! But I thought it would be an interesting thread to start.

Obviously though a 2nd pregancy is going to be a massive shock not being able to relax so much when you have a toddler to look after!

I've just found out so am only just over 4 weeks pregnant and the number of people that have told me to take it easy! Like how?

So please pass on your tips girls on how to find a quiet moment of sanity and when to tell your existing dd or ds that they're going to have a sibling.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Dinny · 04/03/2004 20:08

Hello and congratuations on your pregnancy!
I'm 14 weeks and finder it really hard this time round. Miles more tiring, more sick, people are less excited about it.
We took dd1 to 12-week scan and showed her the "babbie". She now prods my tummy all the time and says "hiya". She's 21 months.
Hope it all goes well for you. xx

Clayhead · 04/03/2004 20:15

Just read this and realised that I don't have many tips. I paid to have my ironing done for the couple of months before/after the birth (£6.00 per hour round here) just so I had one less thing to do. Apart from that I have to say that we watched more CBeebies just so I could sit still...

bossykate · 04/03/2004 20:20

have not had a good day so am tempted to say my tip is...

don't

bossykate · 04/03/2004 20:21

dinny, that is cute! ds is under the impression that he can unzip me to have a look!

Dinny · 04/03/2004 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

expatkat · 04/03/2004 20:25

One thing I can say is don't be afraid to ask for help. You won't always get itmy fairly local mil couldn't be bothered & my parents live the USbut if you feel really unwell & are puking all over the place, that's the time to spend a little money for an hour here or there for someone, even a cleaner, to look after your older one. I got run down & had three flu-like infections during my second pregnancy but nonetheless had this obsession with being stoic & "getting on with things" as though to prove to my mil & others that I could handle it. I see now that was stupid. i didn't win a prize for NOT asking for help, and nor did I impres anyone.

This might not work for you, but I had the sort of ds who was a right old pain when left to his own devices around the house, so I used to take him to any number of sort of hands-on museum or drop-ins, leaving him to it while I sat in the corner.

I also bought an inexpensive and tiny little fold up stool from Muji. It fit in my rucksack & I took it with me everywhere, giving me somewhere to sit when I was out & abouta bus stop for instancewith no access to a bench or chair.

johnnydeppsmistress · 04/03/2004 20:43

Hello! Is dd in nursery and if not, can you affort to put her into one? That would give you some time to yourself (not to iron.... have swim or a massage). Also if she still naps, nap when she does! I also found that sneaking upstairs & pretending to "tidy up" when other half is at home and then accidentally on purpose falling asleep is a good one!!!

Original poster

chicaguapa · 04/03/2004 21:38

DD goes to nursery 1 day a week so I plan to use that day to relax properly. DH says I should put her in another day so I can still do the housework.

LOL at the pretending to tidy then fall asleep ploy. Will def try that! Unfortunately DD doesn't nap anymore.

OP posts:

Levanna · 04/03/2004 23:37

Hi, I'm pregnant with my second (15 weeks) and my DD is 22 months old. When suffering with morning sickness, DH used to try the old 'you're not ill, you're pregnant' thing, to which I would answer - 'you try having a stomach bug type thing for months on end and then tell me you aren't ill'!! Grrr.
My tips would be sleep - whenever, however, wherever
Aaand, if you do suffer with morning sickness, try making existing DD/DS's breakfast/lunch/tea with your eyes shut, and one handed, 'cause the other one will be needed for holding your nose

We told DD as soon as we knew, that her baby is growing in mummys tummy, and she likes to kiss and stroke it already

suzywong · 04/03/2004 23:40

Get used to controlling dd with voice, I mean like dog training. My DS1 was 19 months when I got PG with DS2. DS1 loves to run, running around the park, on the Heath etc and I knew there would come a time when I couldn't leg it after him, so I spent a week sounding like the worst kind of fishwife bellowing 'Wait' and 'come where I can see you please' at him, but it really worked and saved me a lot of gried and puffing and panting once I got bigger.

sibble · 04/03/2004 23:53

I agree with sleep, I am 17 weeks now and still sleeping like I have some kind of weird disease. I go to bed between 8.30 and 9.30 to be able to cope with the next day and between 3 and 5 put on cartoons/videos and/or lie on the floor and play games, anything that can be done with me horizontal. In the early weeks when I was very sick (actually drop the early have only stopped feeling/being sick in past 2 days) I would just let DS watch video after video, ring the nursery and see if he could do an extra day/hours. otherwise as hideous as it sounds I carried plastic bags and Ds learnt the 'don't look' voice as I hid between cars, in dark places etc with my bags. I also made DH against his will do the shopping, housework and cook dinner when he got home from work. I cooked for Ds when I felt well enough to, usually at 4ish with all windows open and gave him some toast as a bedtime snack if he was hungry later....
Good luck - I think the bottom line is do what you can and leave the rest until you feel better, as expatkat said, nobody gives you the prize for struggling (learnt that the hard way last time).

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