Trying for our second - scared of how tired I could be

[Starry4321]

I have an 11 month old. I am 37 so not getting any younger. We want to try for our second soon. I feel nervous as our first is not sleeping through the night and I am exhausted right now. I am still breastfeeding. I guess I’m just apprehensive at how I’ll cope with the tiredness I already have with a pregnancy ontop. Plus I’m also still breastfeeding so I’ll feel bad if my milk dries up before first baby is ready to wean. Just looking for some reassurance I guess. We definitely want a second and don’t have too long to wait just wonder if it ever feels like the right time!

I've just turned 36 and currently 27 weeks pregnant with my second, first is 2 and a half and has slept through the night for around 6 months now,

And I am still exhausted a lot of the time!
Go in with your eyes open, but I agree at 37, if you want another then you should start trying imminently

I'm 38 and pregnant with my 3rd (5yo and 2.5yo) I can confirm very tired. Very, very tired. Husband has had to really step up.

I'm 41 and pregnant with my second (DD1 is 4). I'm also worried about how tired I'm going to be!

If you want another I wouldn't put off trying though. I conceived very quickly with my first age 36 but it's then taken 4 years after she was born to fall pregnant again!

I became pregnant with my second when DS was 13 months. It was tough. Luckily he started sleeping through the night at 8 months. Now they get on well and play together but it was hard at first. I did stop
bfeeding him at 10 months as didn't want to have that battle any later.

36 here and 9w pregnant with number 3 (kids are just turned 3 and 1). I usually deal pretty well with both my kids being poor sleepers, as I’ve never really needed more than a few hours at night. Good job because the 3yo has never once slept through… 😂

The first trimester exhaustion, however, is crushing me this time. It’s that fatigue rather than simple tiredness. BUT, I know it will get better. I’ve started going to bed at the same time as the kids and I’ll figure out the laundry. All this stuff is temporary - you’ll make it work!

Oh, and I actually found I was much less tired after number 2 was born than I was with my first. I think I was more relaxed about it all and just used to feed her in bed at night and go back to sleep, rather than getting up and moving to another room and worrying and worrying and staying awake for hours! I knew the worst sleep phases would pass and saved myself so much angst by not overanalysing anything.

I had my first at 38, 2nd at 40 there is less than a 2 year gap (20m)

Very honestly, it is hard.
I found it less bad than expected but i really was expecting the worst/scared and so was v organised saved/ paid for a lot of support (night nanny for 3 nights per week for 4-12weeks old), cleaner 5hrs pw, batch cooked 8 weeks of dinners).
Oldest stayed in with childcare 4 days pw - this was to keep the place but makes life easier fridaysare carnage 😅
My dm is nearby and hands on and Husband has really had to lean in.

Oldest was a great sleeper (a perfect 7-7) when i got pregnant from 18m her sleep went to hell in a hand basket and that was really hard when heavily pregnant. My dm came and did a few nights at one point so we could sleep.

I love my kids but now dd is 2.5 i think it would have no SO much easier if there was a 26 or 30m gap. What i would say is at 6m it gets easier and having had one you KNOW its a phase and improves. With my first for seem reason i really thought "argh!, this is my life forever!!!!" Which obvs is not true.

Dont know how women do it purely solo....but ultimately i have no regrets

You don't have to have another. There's still societal pressure to have more than one but you don't have to put yourself through it.