What is it like to have a baby MANY years after your first?

[mywrencalls]

I'm 37, newly pregnant. Initial plan was to come off the pill and spend the next year or so casually trying without pressure. Although it seems there wasn't much trying involved as I am now pregnant five weeks after taking my last the pill
Hubby is thrilled, as am I... I am just feeling a little overwhelmed and somewhat concerned about the fact that my first and only child is 20 years old and I am, to say the least, very much out of practice with anything baby related!

I almost feel as though I am a first time mum since it has been so long since my child was a baby or even a young child, not to mention I was a child myself when I became a mother.

Has anyone been through a similar situation? Did it work out well? Did you enjoy motherhood more being older and wiser etc?

Any reassurance would be gratefully received! Everything is so different now, there are apps, and new baby gadgets, and the internet full of advice (and opinions). I didn't have all that the first time, it's so daunting

I had my first aged 19 and then my second aged 38 - my dc have a 19 year age gap! DC2 is 18 months now and I found the physical side of pregnancy and childbirth easy both times. No sickness and active up until the due date.

Second time around has been much, much easier - obviously I'm more experienced, not just in parenting but in 'life', and I have a great DH to support me (first time I was a single mum). Financially we are much more comfortable and that makes a huge difference. I'm not stressing about saving every penny, can pay more for convenience,
we spend a lot of time doing paid baby activities which saves my sanity, and I plan to be a sahm. I've found all the internet advice, FB groups, apps etc, really helpful this time around. Have to admit that I sometimes feel pangs of regret that I didn't have that those advantages with DC1. I also have a sense of wanting to savour every moment with DC2, because they will be my last DC and I know just how quickly time flies!

I don't feel more tired this time around - perhaps because I have a lot of support from DH so he has helped carry the load, but also because I've survived on low amounts of sleep for years before I had DC2, so I was just used to only getting 5-6 hours sleep every night.

DC1 has SN so is still at home and not going to uni. DCs get on brilliantly, no conflicts or issues at all.

I had my first at 17(!) and DD will be 12 in March, DC2 due February - I'll be 29.

My gap is not as large as yours but I've found pregnancy so much harder. Shortness of breath, soreness in my hips in bed, fatigue etc is so much worse. I am also massive, comparatively, even though I was slim before getting pregnant. With DD I was back in size 8 jeans within a week and I don't think that will happen this time!

On the other hand, I'm very relaxed, financially secure and won't feel paranoid about people staring at me when I push a pram! I'm enjoying it all a lot more. Last time I sat my A levels - and got 3 As - when DD was tiny. SO STRESSFUL. Then went to uni with a toddler whilst working. I'm soooo looking forward to doing it all again with better support, the ability to work part time and money to do fun things!