Second pregnancy big age gap

[LeahPaige]

Hi,

I was just wondering if anyone has experience of their second pregnancy being YEARS after their first?

My son is 12 years old now, and I've just found out I'm expecting a new baby and I'm intrigued as to whether my body will "remember" pregnancy or whether it will feel like a first all over again. (Thinking things like showing sooner, quicker birth etc)

Hello! I'm currently pregnant with my 2nd - my son is 6. it's been really interesting- definitely felt movement sooner, felt niggles, aches, stretchi ngpains, ligament pain and much much bigger this time round. people were guessing I was pregnant by 9 weeks cause of how bloated i lookand suchstretched stomach musucles. I've also had a bit of 'phantom letdown' whenever I think about BFing this one- one of those weird 'my body remembers' things. Also, knew I was pregnant a week before I tested - in contrast to my first, no clue, drank a bottle of whiskey a few days before tetsing as I had no idea.

@Psmith83 that's really interesting to hear! I've had such bad back ache and tummy ache this time round which I never had first time and I'm still really early - I did wonder whether this was all stretching pains. I also found out a week before my missed period!

Yes I had a teen year gap and then a three year gap.

I read that the idea your body will reset if it's been too long is just a myth - your body still had the effects of the previous baby.

However my labours were no shorter unfortunately, all three were ridiculously long. Definitely showed faster the second time around and third about the same as the second. Third pregnancy was harder on my body. I think partially due to being older as well.

Breastfeeding way easier having done it before.

Congratulations. I absolutely loved going back and doing all the early years stuff again and DS1 loves having little ones around, which I know isn't the response of all preteens so I think I've been very lucky there.

Hi congratulations on your pregnancy! I’m 6 weeks with my second. My DD is 10 , so will be 11 year gap. I’m about aprehensive about it too. The pregnancy and how the age gap will be. So far I’ve had hardly any symptoms other than sore boobs. I can’t remember when I started being sick with DD but I think was by now 🤷🏻‍♀️.

What's weird is how much things have changed in terms of guidelines, products, parenting methods etc! You think 10/12 years isn't a long time but apparently it is in the baby world :o

I also have a 12 year old son and am 39 weeks pregnant with number two. I definitely knew way quicker that I was pregnant. It was a very different pregnancy. I showed way faster but not bigger by the end. I am hoping the labour is better

I had my first dc at 23 and got pregnant again 18 years later at 41. I won't lie, it was a godawful pregnancy, but that's cos it was twins!

@BertieBotts I was thinking the whole reset may not be true! Our bodies will most definitely remember doing it before. Ahh I'm so glad to hear your first was happy to have babies around I hope my son will be too!

@SlothMamaToBe I'm literally only 4 weeks so I feel exactly the same as you! Fingers crossed for a smooth ride

@Crunchingleaf congrats and good luck you're so close to the end! I feel like I may show sooner too! I feel super bloated out already.

@ladygindiva oh wow twins! Yeah I can imagine that wasn't the easiest of rides for you

I have 11 years gap from first 2. Baby no3 i can't comment on labour as not done it yet lol but from early on i was massively bloated. Been bigger earlier from the start, like massively bigger!! I was really toned before this pregnacy so definitely my body remembered and ruined all my hard gym work 😄 I don't think i will be bigger by the end, just in the beginning got bigger quicker.

Currently 5 weeks with no. 2. DS is almost 5. I swear I'm huge compared to last time and far more aches and pains. 😫