did you/are you finding second pregnancy tough?

[crazychemist]

Very early days with second pregnancy, I’m only just 6 weeks. I’m finding it really tough! I’m so exhausted, especially early afternoon and I’m finding it incredibly tough being in lockdown with 3yo and DH. I keep getting really impatient with her and I don’t feel like I’ve got a proper handle on my temper.

This is going to get worse, isn’t it? For those that have two or more children, any advice on getting through pregnancy? I’m absolutely delighted to be pregnant but I’m starting to worry it’s going to have a negative impact on DD.

I feel the exact same. I am 9 weeks pregnant and have a 9 month old daughter at home. My daily walk is helping a lot!! So hard when all you want to do is sleep or be sick. I am just thinking, it's not forever and most likely you will feel much better when the first trimester is over. Sending hugs!!

Hoping to feel better after first trimester! I don’t remember being this tired or grumpy last time

I keep saying I don’t remember it being this awful. I think it’s harder because you still have little 1/1’s to look after.
Sorry my response isn’t helpful, but you’re definitely not alone xx

Yes - I'm 12 + 5 now and weeks 5-10 were horrific. I had to take 3 of them off work sick tomorrow with constant vomiting (which I didn't really suffer with when pregnant with my first) and the exhaustion has been overwhelming. But things are slightly improving now.
I'm fairly anxious being pregnant in the middle of a pandemic. Maternity care is already differing from my first, even though I'm high risk and on meds to prevent pre-eclampsia.
Can't wait for October and safe arrival (and raising a glass of wine to NEVER BEING PREGNANT AGAIN!)

Just realised my post is quite negative. Yes, it's been fairly shit but even at not quite 13 weeks I already feel 75 per cent better than four weeks ago

6 weeks here and I actually feel alright - I was terrible with my first, completely exhausted and vomitting daily so anything is an improvement. I'm lucky DS still has a very good nap so I'm looking forward to some lie downs while he snoozes.

I could have literally wrote this post myself. 8 weeks with a 3 year old running round during lock down and I am exhausted, my last pregnancy was tough as back then I was obviously going to work daily with morning sickness but for some reason I'm finding this lock down situation even harder. I find some days I can't even get off the sofa I'm so tired!! Xx

I’m 10 weeks with an 1.5 year old. It’s worse in some ways but better in others. I’ve got hyperemesis (again 🙄😭) and the sickness has been worse but having something fun to focus on and stuff to do has meant that I haven’t just lay in bed crying like I did last time (or at least not as much)! I’m pretty shattered but I just get into bed once he’s in bed and am asleep by 9 most nights.

@YukoandHiro, actually that cheers me up quite a bit! I wasn’t expecting to find it this tough this early on, so thinking that it might get better later on is cheering. I’m just finding the crushing tiredness really tough! I’m really snappy too, and I hate not being patient with DD.

@sarahc336 I was wondering if part of it is lockdown rather than being pregnant.... DH would normally take DD out for trips like swimming, and that would give me a good few hours to get on top of tidying (difficult to do with DD!) and then put my feet up. He’s taking her out for a walk each day, but that doesn’t give me much time, and certainly isn’t enough for a nap.

@Bienentrinkwasser I’m worried about hyperemesis...... I had it with DD1. So far I just feel queasy, I was trying to remember when it kicked in last time and I think it was around 8 weeks, so I’m dreading that possibility! I suppose this time I’ll likely be at home anyway, so at least I’ll have a bucket at the ready! Really hoping it’s not as bad this time. I still remember how wonderful that post-birth toast was.... the first thing I’d eaten without feeling sick in 7 months! I couldn’t believe it finally stopped the moment DD was born!

Urgh yes it's hard.
I feel so nauseous.
I have a 3yo and a puppy. DH and I are both trying to work from home too although thankfully I'm only PT.

I totally feel your pain and please don't judge me but just every now and again I question wether I've made the right decision having another baby.
This is my third and I'm 8 weeks suffering horrendous morning sickness, can't keep anything down, migraines and feeling the need to sleep at least 20mins of every hour during the day, I can barely keep my eyes open.

I've lost all motivation and have no routine at all and it's really starting to get me down now but I have no energy to change it 😭
I wasn't anywhere near like this with my other 2 and carried on working upto 38 weeks so I really wasn't expecting this xx

No one is judging you @LRHR it's so tough at the start isn't it and especially with other kids in the house, you can't just nap when you need to or sit down when you want, take care of yourself xx

@N12345625 same! 8 weeks today with an almost 9 month old. I live for my daily walk!

DS is going through some kind of sleep regression / teething so I’m not sleeping well at night either. I have no time to worry about symptoms so at night I’m lying awake wondering if everything’s ok (I had very few symptoms in my first pregnancy too).

Roll on that 12 week scan and the second trimester!

@crazychemist I’m totally exhausted and had a go at DH tonight for not being sympathetic. You’re not alone!

We’ll all get through this.x

@excitednerves
Ditto!! My daughter is not sleeping well at all at the moment (not that she has ever slept well) but now 5am wake ups are the norm!! Hoping she sleeps much better when the new baby arrives!!

Yes I found the first trimester very hard this time round but once I got past 13/14 weeks I’ve felt great and actually enjoying it now the tiredness and sickness have passed

@N12345625 it’s hard isn’t it? Not sure how I’ll cope with a newborn if DS is not back to normal sleeping. I guess I’ll be up anyway! I’m thinking of the long term and that they’ll be great friends - aka easy to look after - in a couple of years

How is everyone doing today? I'm really feeling awful again. Almost 16 weeks but still getting nausea and woke up with a headache this morning, just feel absolutely drained trying to cope with wfh and my toddler in lockdown on top of normal pregnancy tiredness.

Also feeling anxious as a couple of weeks ago I felt the first flutters and then nothing at all since. And my16 week appt has been cancelled so no reassurance with the heartbeat check next week :(

2nd pregnancy was absolutely horrific for me too.

I had a 2 year old while pregnant and felt ok until about 15 weeks and then was constantly exhausted. I had iron tablets but could get iron levels to normal throughout pregnancy. Had a seizure at about 5 months pregnant and just felt beyond exhausted the rest of pregnancy.

I was actually dreading having another baby and often wished I wasn't pregnant because I thought I wouldn't cope. Once she was out of me Though, I felt absolutely amazing. Even with the lack of sleep, I suddenly felt alive again and had loads of energy. Hopefully the exhaustion will life ASAP for everyone x

I'm glad I came across this thread! Im 6 weeks with a 2yo who's behaviour is completely up and down due to lockdown. She's fed up of seeing us and wants to go to grandparents, nursery etc so some days she tantrums all the time. On top of me feeling tired and nauseous, and both me and DP working shifts. I feel more anxious this pregnancy for some reason, like I'm not convinced it will all go to plan. I don't know why, I've never had a loss and with my first it never occurred to me to think about miscarriage but this time I'm worried for some reason. I'm not due until Christmas so I'm hoping everything will be back to normal by then, but I'm definitely going to be worrying until my scan!

It was harder for me when I was pregnant with my second, because with the first I would nap when I was tired, I could relax etc but with a dc to look after I still had to be on the go all the time even if I was exhausted.

Also I struggled with my second because I had really bad pgp. I had slight twinges of pain with dd but nothing compared to my second pregnancy. I had to have physio and crutches and it was so painful. I’m still young (early 20s) but my first I was pregnant as a teenager and it felt a lot easier.
Plus I’ve had two big babies, and ds being over 10lb my body felt like it had given up and was falling to bits. I ideally wanted more children but my joints don’t seem to cope well
Don’t feel bad for questioning your decision, just try and stay focused on the end result and even though it feels like forever (week overdue for me) it will be over soon and I can promise ds is totally worth it all.

So pleased to have seen this thread. I’m 9.5 weeks pregnant with a 16mo and I’m really struggling. Just nausea and exhaustion but I can’t bring myself to do anything fun with my DD and I’m feeling like such an awful mum. She’s bored out of her mind and I’m alternating between TV and reading the same books over and over. Lockdown has made it so much harder as no nursery and no option to go to a friend’s house/soft play so she can play.

I know the nausea improved at about week 11 last time so I’m pinning all my hopes on that this time. Commiserations and congratulations to all of you!

@hayley2257 second what you say about feeling so much better when they’re out. I remember people smugly telling me I wouldn’t complain about pregnancy if I knew how bad the sleepless nights are - not a chance! I felt absolutely amazing once I’d had my first. The tiredness was nothing like this!

Second pregnancy wasnt too bad but my eldest is alot older so was in school 5 days a week and weekends with her Dad.
This pregnancy on the other hand has been exhausting! My DD2 is only 8 months and I'm nearly 15 weeks, the sickness has passed but I'm just drained all the bloody time. I've also suffered SPD in my previous so no doubt I'll suffer this time too which I'm dreading!