37 weeks with 2nd child and all getting very real!!

[SnowWhite26]

I am 37 and 2 with second child my first is 2 and 3/4. I have been quite relaxed (which is unlike me) for majority of pregnancy and everything has medically been great. This week the heat has got to me and I have been having sleepless nights and swollen feet and also a serious case of nesting! I made my oh get cot up yesterday and have slept really weirdly coz it's right here next to me! My love is obviously starting to realize her baby brother is Def coming back home but what a baby brother is is still hard for her to understand. I am starting to feel guilty and very odd about all baby stuff invading dds space.We live in a fairly spaceous 2 bed flat so am trying to keep it not spread out but it's tricky. I am sure this is normal and prob hormones. Today I have woken up tired headachey and emotional with a panicky feel. Please tell me other second or third etc time parents have felt this way? Thank you xxx

@SnowWhite26 - hi op. I'm expecting my second but only 13 weeks so don't have any personal experience. However, my best friend had her second 7 weeks ago and I know she's really conscious about including her oldest and has said on a few occasions that she has 'mum guilt' about it all. I'm sure it's normal. I'll probably be right there with you in another 20 weeks! X

Hi OP,

I have DD1 who's 3 and DD2 who's just 7 weeks. For the first few weeks I felt extremely upset and guilty about how we'd impacted DD1's life and how things would never be the same for her again. Now DD2 is that teeny bit older (and she's still teeny so it's not taken long) I realise I was totally wrong to feel that way. Yes it's different but DD2 tracks DD1 round the room, smiles at her and my eldest loves to comfort the baby and seems to be the only one that can calm her down at times. In short they have a wonderful relationship forming and it's amazing we've given them that gift.

I've involved DD2 from the outset and she has her 'jobs' that she does for the baby. I was careful at how I introduced them initially and also made sure they bought each other some gifts. DD1 loves having things she's responsible for and having her own jobs works particularly well with her.

From my experience what you're feeling is totally normal. The guilt has been the hardest part of having a second for me so far but as I say it's eased as I've seen their relationship begin to develop x

Thanks for you Ur responses. I think it's coz we are starting to put the cot up and get the place baby ready and friends keep asking about it all so DD is obviously very aware. I am off work now and my mil and my mum are keen and more than happy to have her so I can sort best and rest but I feel I Wana spend time with her. It's do difficult as I no I'm getting tireder and more hormonal by the second. She is great at playing independently doesn't want to ATM. I then get annoyed then feel guilty etc I have bought her a doll from the baby when he is born. I just feel like I have million things going on. X