Are second pregnancies harder?

[PairOfPears]

Newly pregnant with my second. I was 31 the first time round and 35 now. So far it’s been quite different! It took longer to fall pregnant, I’m more anxious, had a bit of spotting and lots of strange twinges and pulls but no sickness as yet (felt awful by this time with my first!). I’m around 6.5-7 weeks and a lot of my friends seemed to find it more challenging and harder on their bodies second time round so just wondering - am I in for a rough ride? What is/was your experience like?

Yes my second pregnancy's first trimester was far worse!

In my second tri now and it's fine again. Hang in there!

So far 18 weeks with my second

I wouldn't say it's harder so far but I felt more sick but that's gone now

Yea im 7 years older too but im taking it in my stride!

Not in my experience. My first pregnancy was awful, sickness until about 30 weeks and utterly exhausted.
Second pregnancy was an absolute breeze. No sickness at all, wouldn't have known I was pregnant.
Good luck with yours, I hope it's not as bad as you fear!

My second was harder, BUT, my DD only turned 1 a month before I was due so had a baby to look after while growing a second, and my body hasn't recovered from the first pregnancy so I'm sure that made it harder too.

Well, one big difference is that in my first pregnancy I could pretty much go to bed when I wasn't working. My second, not so much.

I didn't find out I was pregnant with Dd2 until I was 5months. Absolutely No symptoms, No weight gain. Nothing to suggest I was pregnant.

It was 23 years after dd1 was born my body had obviously forgotten what being pregnant was like 😂😂

@ampervis oh gosh, glad you’re feeling better now! That first trimester can be awful can’t it? I remember first time round being genuinely shocked by how badly it floored me!

@DaxtheDestroyer wow that is the dream isn’t it! That would be amazing although I’m sure I would be stressing that no sickness was a bad sign… you must have been so relieved not to go through that awful sickness again

@redandwhite1 yes I feel like age might be a factor for me, I was definitely in better physical shape the first time round! Great to hear you are doing well though!

Yep. My first pregnancy was grim. I'm
now 37+2 and this pregnancy has been sheer hell...

My second was much much easier. I was very unwell on my first and had a lot of issues, none this time however I did have gestational diabetes again. But it made me happier to have a third soon than I had felt to have a second with the worry I might have a repeat of the first pregnancy if that makes sense!

@Mommabear20 yes I’m sure that will have had an impact! You’re a superhero! Small age gaps are so hard.

@BuffySummersReportingforSanity yeah that’s definitely a worry, first time round I was in bed by 6 some nights 😅

@ParkheadParadise oh wow! That must have been a surprise!!! That pregnancy must have felt so quick 😂

@MCMelon yes this is the kind of story I seem to hear most of in real life…which bits have been the most challenging?

@Yummymummy2020 I know exactly what you mean, that feeling and my first trimester with my first is exactly why I have a four year age gap and not the two year one I initially imagined!

Much harder for 2nd for me. 1st pregnancy I had barely any symptoms right to the end. This one I’ve been so sick, achy, unable to sleep. I think it’s a combination of a few years older (28 with 1st, 31 now) and lack of sleep, early starts etc.

I don’t know if it is as a rule, but I have found my second pregnancy much harder physically (I’m currently full term with my second).

I think a lot of this was down to not getting fit again after the first so my body just isn’t able to cope as well with the extra strain and I’ve had painful PGP and sciatica. I also had a lot more downtime to rest with my first pregnancy whereas this one has been spent running around after a toddler.

If I could go back to the start of this pregnancy I would probably try to do something like pregnancy yoga or swimming to help my body to be a bit stronger.

I'm finding it much harder because I have zero time to rest and enjoy it!

My second pregnancy was much much easier. I wasn’t nearly as nauseous, didn’t have SPD, heartburn was far milder. With my first, I went on ML at 34 weeks as I was struggling not to fall asleep during the day and couldn’t focus on anything. With my second, I went on leave at 38 weeks and felt I could have worked for longer. I was also walking up to 8 miles a day at 39 weeks pregnant. There are various other niggling ailments I had with my first that I didn’t have with my second. Hopefully it’ll be the same for you.

I was 24 with my 1st Pregnancy, was super tired the whole way through it but not much sickness.

31 now and in 3rd trimester is DC2, I am full of energy this pregnancy so feel great. Sickness was a little bit worse on 1st trimester but that went quickly. I feel more able to cope and manage with any pains and more relaxed, probably due to knowing what to expect now.

My first pregnancy was awful and this one is even worse. My husband is booking a vasectomy. I’m 34 weeks and it has been relentless since I found out at 5 weeks.

I had no issue with either of my pregnancies.

Think it’s just luck of the draw.

My second pregnancy was much easier than my first in medical terms but it was harder because I had a toddler so I couldn’t just lie on the sofa when I felt rubbish etc

I’ve been pondering this… I’m 29 weeks with my first, but I’ve not been napping or resting or going to bed early. I haven’t had nausea or any symptoms really… if anything I feel “worst” when I’m trying to sleep; as my hips hurt, and I’m generally fine in the day.

I don’t know if I’ve had this pregnancy remarkably easy, or if it’s just one of those things… I’ve never been a napper, even when ill. I know my mum found pregnancy easy, too; maybe there’s a genetic link.

I've had 5 and it's really varied

1st at 21 (with exh) emotionally hardest but physically OK. Birth was shit.

2nd at 29/30 (with dh) physically and emotionally fine. SpD towards the end. Birth much better.

3rd at 30/31 SPD, vomiting heartburn until Birth. Looking after a toddler (17m gap) definitely harder/more tired.

4th at (39/40) felt great. Got omeprazole for the heartburn. Probably the best I've felt pregnant to be honest.

5th at 41/42 felt awful. Really sick, anaemia, heartburn obvs but got omeprazole, bleeding at 12wks. SPD. And homeschooling in a pandemic with no toddler groups 🤪

So i think for me it's been less about age/parity and more about having a small sleep dodger to take care of when I would have in my 1st/2nd and 4th had more opportunities to rest.

Second pregnancy much harder but I was chasing a very active toddler around. I don't know how I'd have coped if I wasn't WFH. I napped during most lunch breaks in the third trimester which made it slightly more manageable. Also had sciatica on and off in second pregnancy which hit fairly early on and meant I struggled to walk at times.

Second being worse so far....

I was actually physically better (less sickness, less tired) in my second pregnancy but I found it harder because of having a preschooler to look after at the same time. Third time around, I feel worse than I did in my first two pregnancies combined but at least my other two children are both at school so I can rest. It has made up my mind that this is my last baby though. I had forgotten how horrible the first trimester is, I really don't want to ever do this again

For me personally my 2nd pregnancy was much easier. Now on my 3rd (and final!) 3rd has definitely been the hardest physically

My first pregnancy was horrendous. I swore I would never ever do it again. I was violently sick constantly right up until giving birth. I honestly thought I was dying . This time has been a lot less sickness thankfully though I have felt hungover throughout.