5 month old baby and pregnant again - lifestyle advice please?

[Saggybags]

Hey everyone I have a 5 month old baby and I'm pregnant again. I'm not going to complain or say I'm not happy - every child is a blessing and I'm very excited xx

I'm looking for advice from mothers that have had this experience and what are the biggest challenges with a 1yo and a newborn that I can prepare for? I worry I won't have much energy to play near the end of pregnancy etc. How did you manage your physical recovery alongside being active with your older baby? How did you manage giving enough attention to your older baby whilst looking after your new arrival? Let's hear some solid moral support and advice please xxxxxx

I can’t give advice from your perspective but I was 5 months old when my mum fell pregnant with my sister. We are now the absolute very best of friends. It was wonderful growing up with a sibling so close in age; whilst I’m sure it was rough on mum, we really were and still are best pals!

My son is nine months and have been ttc for a few months. I have no advice, but just wanted to say congratulations!
Thinking about it, you'll be in the swing of bottle prep or breastfeeding/sleepless nights//nappies. It will be hard initially but then will get so much easier. No jealousy. All the baby bits ovrt and done with

I was 8 months old when my mum was pregnant with my sister and the GP did blame her getting pregnant so quickly on the delays I experienced achieving my physical milestones. I would often be left on the floor or in a bouncer with my immobile gran when mum was pregnant and didn’t learn how to crawl or walk until my sister was three months old.

both of my cousins who conceived when their eldest was 5 and 3 months old respectively - one was sick and almost died in the second pregnancy but with nursery / grandparents / her DH’s active involvement their eldest is now really sociable and independent. Second cousin was tired a lot and didn’t pick her eldest up as much or play with her but now her DD has a really close relationship with her dad as a result.

I think everything hinges on how healthy you are during this second pregnancy but in the meantime if you have a DP or GP support or can afford childcare then definitely consider nursery for a few days per week when your eldest is over 1, so they can play etc and you can have a bit of a break.

My two oldest are 15 months apart. It was very tiring but I just went with the flow. Didn't worry about being in a routine or baby classes. We focused in sleeping and eating and staying clean, that was it.

Hello. 10 months between my oldest two. My best pieces of advice are to get a playpen to pop the oldest in while you are feeding little one, I sterilised and made up all bottles then shared them, rather than trying to check I had two lots of separate bottles, Ditto for sheets, toys etc! All sharing!! X

Hiya I wouldnt stress too much I think us moms just find a way to carry on and do things it's never easy but we manage I have a 13month old son and I'm currently 27 weeks pregnant there will be 16 months between my 2 it is tiring now my little one is so active and I've also got pgp this time which is so painful I've never had it before but I just have to get on with it and my son is a little heavy to carry while having a bump but it's fine you will do it good luck to you and congratulations

The only advice I can give is that side-by-side buggies are too big to get through many doors, I would recommend a "stadium" pushchair. Second hand, if you can.

Theres 18 ish months between all of mine, and am now on number 4.. the only routine we try and stick to is bedtime, everything else goes out the window. But we find that we need that adult time in the evenings to relax. The oldest two are in bed by 7 and the youngest is usually off by 8. We go to bed at half 9, due to being shattered with the pregnancy and getting up at 6am. But than hour and a half ish down time is the most important thing in the world!! Lol
You will all muddle through! The oldest will get used to the fact that you have to deal with baby, and the baby will never know any different :)!
Congrats and good luck :D x

Congrats.

My sis and I are one year apart and we have always been best friends.

We both have one son each who are again one year apart and they grow up like brother and are so close.

I wish I had children closer together. I always wanted them to grow up together. It’s hard at the beginning but it’s worth it when they grow up.

Hi, I have 13 months between mine, end of pregnancy was fine, I had an easy pregnancy, I was very tired but physically I coped fine, I think you just do what you have to do. Post birth recovery was fine, I found I recovered much quicker second time round. The first year after I had my second was hard though, I didn't find it easy with a newborn and a 13 month old - he was still a baby himself. I didn't have any help at all once my husband went back to work after 2 weeks and my second had colic so that didn't help but you find a way to cope, accept any help offered and do anything to make it easier for yourself. Anyway they are now 2 and 3 and the best of friends and the small age gap was 100% worth it and I'd do it all again, good luck!

Hi - congratulations!
I'm a single mum to a 14 month old and a 1 month old.
At the moment my life is similar to pp, I focus on getting us all clean fed and watered and then if we have time we go outside for a walk - don't put yourself under any unnecessary pressures.
In the first few days you will need another pair of hands, for looking after your first child while your in hospital to the immediate few days after doing the heavy lifting and important cleaning jobs.
Once I recovered it was just about finding my stride. At the moment I am taking all the shortcuts possible, paper plates, pre made juices, cereal bars, online food deliveries etc to make life a bit easier. A lot of TV is also being watched by us all .
Once the new baby is born your eldest will be starting to toddle so start thinking about baby proofing early to save it later.
Routine wise, I alternate each day they have a bath so it's not a huge job. We all go go in the bedroom at 8pm, the eldest watches some duggee in her cot while I get the baby to sleep and then I get the eldest to sleep.
Also stock up on medicines as your eldest will likely be teething when the new baby comes. Maybe write down some ideas as to different techniques you can use - it took me 2 days to think of giving her an ice lolly to soothe her gums as I was that sleep deprived and clear thinking is a thing of the past!
So basically my advice is to be as prepared as possible, take all shortcuts you can while you have to and just accept you are going to be tired. A bad day doesn't last forever. It's really not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Good luck xx

Hi i have a 16 month gap between my boys. Its not easy. Some days are just hard! However my boys are close and love playing together.
I had a healthy pregnancy but a c section delivery.
While pregnant i would spend a lot of time reading and drawing/colouring with my 1year old. This helped after I'd given birth as he would sit and read next to me on the sofa while i breastfed the baby. I worked at getting my 1year old happy playing with toys on his own so he wouldn't need as much of my time. I also batch cooked a lot of meals. This was a life saver!! Slow cooker meal are also key to the running of our house.
If you dont have a dryer. I strongly advice you get one as washing is a nightmare 🤣
I also stuck with a stricked naptime/bedtime. My oldest boy is exactly on target for his development while my youngest is slightly ahead. I think this is because wants to do everything my eldest does. Hope this helps.

Congratulations. There's 17 months between my eldest 2 and l loved it I would do it again. I suffered a PA when my son was born so I was out of action for 3 months haveing warfrin ect after that I was on a complete possativ one and took them out dayley let my eldest involved with feeding and they bathed together we all ate together loved it. The only advice I can offer is be positive
Positive and content. I am not saying it was easy as it's hard work. Although when you are positive it makes it easier.

I can only share my experience as the big sister of a brother who is just 11 months younger than her! My mum has always said it was easy with us being close together. There was a lot of prep, which I think was key to getting through the day, but she got into a routine really quickly after he was born. I remember her mentioning that he was potty trained not long after me so we were both out of nappies really quickly. She seemed to appreciate him picking a lot up from me as we moved through stages; encouraging to eat, talk, walk etc. He liked to follow my lead so there were lots of natural transitions. The teenage years were probably harder! But we’re good friends now!

I had 22 months between mine. Things that helped me:

Double buggy so I could go for long walks and then have a hot drink when they both fell asleep in it!

Good bedtime routine for eldest

Keeping eldest in nursery 1 day a week

Big pile of books/TV for when I was feeding baby

I'm currently 40 weeks pregnant with a 14 month old and a 5 year old. If I'm honest, the pregnancy towards the end has been hard but you power through it! You feel like you can't do it but then you do because us mom's are (in my eyes) incredible. You will always make time for your babies, include your eldest in the activities you do with the baby, and then when baby is sleeping, you can play with your toddler. When there's a will there's a way!

I have 13 months between my eldest 2. They are 8 and 7 now so it's been a while since they are babies so there isnt much I can remember. I will say that age gap was much easier than my 2 year age gap, so dont worry. They will both still be napping and if you can get them at the same times its bliss! I also remember napping in my late pregnancy with my 1 year old. I absolutely loved it and they have such a close bond now. Good luck x

Every child is a blessing

Thoroughly disagree! Children can be a curse!

I had slightly longer between my 2 (20months) but my eldest has development delay and so didn't walk until 2.

I had a britax b agile side by side double buggy which was fantastic, huge hoods and basket, one side could have car seat and can face both ways and I couldn't find a door I couldn't for through, it's really narrow for a double.

Only other advice is 1 big change bag with separate sides for clothes changes etc.

Hiya just wanted to say im in the sameish boat!! My little girl will be 18months when my next is born (shes 11months and im 9 weeks!) im worried about a double buggy etc!!! Also congratulations! Ive been so ill with morning sickness that ive felt so guilty on my girl, havent been going out with her during the week, just cant do anything!! Her dad is off work on weekends so makes up for it then just typical mum guilt 🤣

She does have a great bedtime routine and sleeps all night so far, hope that stays! She is aso nearly walking so am hoping i wont need to carry her so much soon and she now independantly plays.... just trying to think of things i can teach her now that will make my life easier in the long run!!