Pregnant again! Help me

[MrsHJFL]

Hey guys, so I'm really looking for advice/experience from people who have been in similar situations. I really can't handle any judgement from people right now, so if you have nothing helpful to say I kindly request you please move on, as I really need to talk to people who can understand and help me.

6 months ago I have birth to my first child, he was 4 weeks early but healthy and is doing so so well, the light of mine and my husbands life. No issues during the pregnancy.
I've recent found out I am pregnant again. About 4 weeks. No we wasn't trying and I was on contraception. I've spoken to my doctor and there are reasons why we have fallen pregnant again, but it's irrelevant to my questions..

I'm pregnant, and I am happy about it, we both are. However.. I am worried.. naturally.. about having a baby so soon after my first baby...

So I was wondering if anyone else out there has had a baby very soon after their last child, and can shine any advice, experience, comfort on any of the following worries I have...

Here we go..

1.ive read online your body might not be ready to have another baby after 6 months of birth, did you have any complications during your 2nd pregnancy or was it normal (could your body cope again so soon?) I am a forumla feeding mum BTW if that helps :)

1. How did you juggle having 2 very young children at the same time? My son will be around 1yr 3months when my 2nd child is born.. Did you still find time for baby number 1? How was it for you mentally?

3.if you work, how did you tell your managers you was pregnant again? And how did they take it? I'm still on maternity leave from work.. And I'm scared to tell them I'm pregnant again before I'm even back!!

I feel like I have more questions but my head is in such a spin at the moment I can't focus..

Whe. I think of the others I'll post, just hope there's someoneh out there who's going/been through the same as me.

xx

No personal experience, just wanted to say congratulations on your pregnancy, even if unexpected I hope the worries don’t get in the way of the excitement too much - you can do this :) I’ve seen previous threads with lots of comments from people with small age gaps so hopefully some of them will be along shortly to comment for you.

I’m 14 weeks with number 2
DS was 6 months when we conceived.
So far I’ve not had too many issues. But if bleeding on and off but nothing overly worrying.

Whether your body is ready has more to do with the type of Labour you had. That’s what my midwives and HV told me. If you’ve had a very difficult Labour, significant damage or a c-section they advise to wait 12 months minimum. If your Labour was ok then there’s no real reason to worry.

I’m breast feeding and was warned that could slightly increase chance of miscarriage in the early days but luckily didn’t happen.

God knows how I’ll manage two of them but everyone tells me ‘you just do’ I expect it’ll be a very difficult 2-3 years but will hopefully pay off after that. Everything I hear is ‘it’s so hard at first but then they start to amuse each other and both grow up a bit and you’re done with the baby/toddler stage in one go!’

*16 weeks

I've had no health issues from having mine close together, but it was an 8 months gap for me. I doubt that extra 8 weeks made much difference, but you never know!

They took my bloods when I told them I was pregnant again and all my nutrient levels were healthy.

This has been me twice! There is 16 months between my first two and 17 months between my second. The first time we were actively trying for another baby and I had had a CS with my first unfortunately I had a miscarriage and conceived the month after or we would age had the same gap as you. It's a busy few years but the kids are ever so close. My eldest is 5 now DD 4 and DS 3. Of course they bicker but that's normal I try and ensure we have one in one time or do an activity that we can all do together like a jigsaw. You won't regret having them close together it's lovely! Congratulations by the way!

Congratulations OP!

I have 10.5 months between my two, was meant to be 11 months but I went into labour at 38weeks
My 1st was an emergency c section after 3 days in labour, he was back to back. The Dr's main concern was whether the embryo had implanted in my c section scar so I had an early scan to make sure all was ok

I will say that my iron stores were very low from having two close together, and I didn't get my booking blood results for 8 weeks after they were done, I don't know what the delay was but I received a letter saying I needed to be taking iron supplements.

I didn't have any complications during my pregnancy and it was all fine, number 2 was also a c section due to how close they were, and the fact that I didn't want to go through 3 days of labour again!

My kids are now 2.8 and 21 months. I'm a SAHM. It's hard at times, but their dad is awesome and we take it in turns to have lie ins on the weekend and give each other breaks.
You do just have to get on with it really! I find it hard when they both run off in different directions but you learn to manage :)

I still find time for them both, the eldest doesn't really nap anymore so we get 3 hours on our own together during the day.

In regards to work. I waited until I was 6 moths pregnant (I think) to tell them. I had a lot of anxiety over this! Because mine were so close in age I actually didn't have to go back to work for a period of time in order to receive SMP.
You'll need to have a Google to see what the rules are as I can't really remember clearly enough to be reliable!

My manager just said "well, this is a first for the company! I'm not sure what to do I'll get back to you" and then they were fine.

I planned to go back after number 2 but nursery fees are more than my wage, and for both kids 3 full days a week would be £2400 a month so I'm heading back to work when they go to school!

Feel free to ask me anymore questions!

Congrats OP, I had a small gap between my two DS’, it was fine.

Personally, I think a small gap is much easier than a big gap, for me there were many advantages, one being we didn’t need to get anywhere in the mornings, no nursery school etc. We could take our time & get ready. My two liked the same programmes on tv, the same toys etc. No jealousy as older DS can’t remember a time his brother wasn’t there.

Don’t get me wrong of course it was hard work, I am not trying to deceive you. But you get used to lack of sleep, you haven’t forgotten anything, BF was easy as not long finished from DS1. I honestly think a small gap is preferable for so many reasons. I can’t think of anything worse than having a newborn & needing to get a child aged child ready & out in the morning.

My two are 19 and nearly 18 now, no regrets at all in having them close, they are completely opposite in personality but best friends & very close brothers. They love each other so much & always consider each other, they would be lost without each other I so wish I had a relationship like theirs with my siblings.

I would do it all again if I could. Good luck OP & many congrats

15 months between my DDs. Overall positive. Now teens.

Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and kind words, you've helped me more then I can express