Have a 7 month old and I'm pregnant...

[Whereland]

So, am I crazy?! I can't really believe it..
first baby took two years of trying and nothing happening followed by two rounds of IUI treatment to conceive. He's 7 months old and the light of our lives

Had been using contraception but it felt laughable considering what it had taken us to conceive. So we stopped. We agreed we would be fine about a potential pregnancy but I really didn't think it would happen. First month I've had my period back- and I'm pregnant.

I'm delighted and scared and guilty and all sorts of emotions! Someone tell me they've had two babies this close together and managed?! And also, how?!?

I am due on Thursday and I have a 14 month old (15 months on the 16th). We planned our boys this close together as we figured we are already in the chaos and once we are through the wild sleepless and toddler stages then it's done as we only wanted two alongside our 14 year old. I can't give you coping advice yet as I haven't had to go through the madness myself yet but I things that have helped me cope with pregnancy with a mad climbing and energetic toddler was the following:

Make a safe space for baby to crawl and walk in. Our ds started walking spot on 12 months and we have invested in magnet cupboard locks. They are an absolute God send. You can attach them now and keep them unlocked until baby starts exploring. Both when you are heavily pregnant and have a new baby the last thing you need is to get anxious from having to chase you eldest around like mad!

Wash and organise new babies bedding and clothes now whilst you are still in the early stages of pregnancy and put them into a cupboard ready. Now I am the size of a space hopper I have no energy with looking after my toddler so very glad it's just one thing sorted.

We upgraded our travel cot to a play pen for ds so he would get used to being in it for short bursts by the time baby comes (and so I can pee and cook and know he is safe). This will allow you to keep the babies apart if you need to nip to the loo or deal with any nappy crisis!

I know I have latch problems so this time I have been stock piling colostrum syringes ever time I go to the hospital. From 37 weeks I have been expressing every day to build a stockpile in advance just incase (if you plan on nursing and feel it might help you ofc).

I think the research I have done is to become as organised as you possibly can in order to survive the first few months:

Make up your toddlers lunches in advance, cutting fruit and veg in bulk.

Try to lower your housekeeping standards.

Organise chores with hubby, one keeps kids entertained whilst one cooks etc.

Consider getting todder their own baby doll if they are overly interested in baby so they can feel involved (our children are too small to explain in depth what is going on) but they still want to do "monkey see, monkey do".

I wish you so much luck and joy mummy bear, it will be a bit mad but everyone assures me it's going to be worth it xxx

I’ve a 2O month old and a 4 month old and pregnant 🤰

Good luck!

Will they be in different school years?

Congratulations! That’s lovely news!

I actually think it’s better to have them nearer together as you get all the sleepless nights and domestic drudgery out the way in a shorter timespan. It’s also lovely to see them growing up together. They’re also more likely to have similar interests than if they’re further apart which makes the earlier years easier.

We have 2 girls who are 20 months apart (both IVF babies). Yes there are times when things are difficult - eg there were phases when going to the park was difficult when neither could be left out of sight but they wouldn’t stay in the same place. But everything is just a phase and you come up with ways to manage.

The girls are 3 and 1.5 now and we’re expecting another in November! It was a complete surprise - we were open to having 3 but didn’t expect it to happen as we were diagnosed with male and female factor infertility. Like you I got pregnant the first month after getting my periods back. So we’ll have 3 under 4, all less than 2 years apart. I wouldn’t change it for the world although I’m naturally a bit worried about how I’ll manage!

Congratulations again!

@Vampyress thank you for your reply! Lots of great tips. I've been googling and reading lots of threads, I'm choosing to believe all the positive stories and ignore the ones who said it was a nightmare 😅
Let me know how you are getting on and best of luck with the new arrival!

It will be hard work you’ll be kidding yourself if you think it’s not

@Whereland I will keep you updated on how things go! One thing we have going for us is its all so recent that most of it will be second nature haha. Got my infacol and other bits and bobs I needed with my toddler stocked up just incase xxx

Yes I also feel like everything is so fresh in my mind and I have all the baby clothes and bits that I need. I'm under no illusion that it won't be hard work! But excited too.
Best of luck!!

My DD is 7 months old and I'm 8 weeks pregnant. It took me 7 years to have DD and one try to conceive DC2! Lol!

We did intentionally try for another, but didn't expect it to happen so fast!

@myotherbagisgucci isn't it hilarious?! I'd heard stories of it happening quickly second time round but I dismissed them and bought that only happens to other people. Literally can not believed it has happened. I'm so used to looking at negative tests month after month that it felt so bizarre to see a positive one the first one I took!

Congratulations. I've been there. 2 11months apart. It was tough at the start but they grew up very close.

My three, now adults, are 14 months apart, so closer in age to what yours will be. It was hard, but doable. The last two weren't meant to be as close, but the youngest decided to turn up two months early!

Congratulations!! My sister has 2 boys 18mths apart and they are such great company for each other. As you know it will be challenging at the start but may be easier later on as they can entertain each other!

I've been there. It took a year to conceive DC1 and first time of trying to conceive DC2 when DC1 was six months. There's a 16 month gap between them. It was tough, I won't lie, but so worth it as they are very close & best friends.