If Your First Baby Was Early Will Your Second Be
Your Second Pregnancy, Labor, and Commitment
Your Second Pregnancy
If you're here, you already know that 2d pregnancies aretotally different… in more means than one. We asked 100,000 moms about their experiences and distilled information technology into the about important, common issues to know and call back virtually equally yous movement through your 2nd pregnancy.
Be forewarned: as you learned from the first get 'round, nothing goes as expected.
Your Torso, Pregnant… Again
Considering your abdominals have already been stretched out (congrats on that), yous'll probably look meaningmuch sooner with babe number 2. Every bit Alicia'southward midwife described it to her, your uterus is like a balloon — easier to blow upwardly the second time.
Remember howtired you felt when you were meaning with your outset? Well, plan to feel precisely 157x more tired this time effectually, on account of chasing afterward your firstborn all the time. Whether y'all're working full-time, at home, or annihilation in between, beingness pregnant on top of managing a child (or children!) is tough work — and the exhaustion quickly escalates.
Weathering pregnancy fatigue as a mom is a unlike game, then don't hesitate to call in whatever reserves you have, whether it's a partner, friend, sitter, family, or, yes, even the dreaded screen when y'all need to. On the upside, though, second pregnancies tend tofly by because yous're a lot busier and more preoccupied with being a parent.
Another deviation: moms in their 2nd pregnancies tend to feel the baby moving a lot sooner. During the showtime pregnancy, many women don't feel the "quickening" until 18-22 (or more) weeks. With the second (or more) pregnancy, you're more likely to experience fetal movement sooner, even as early equally 13-sixteen weeks; this is partly considering yous're better able to recognize the sensation. Similarly, you're also more likely to feel and place Braxton Hicks contractions earlier than with your get-go.
If you lot didn't accept any complications during your first pregnancy, it'south unlikely you'll encounter them during your second.
Unfortunately, mothers who suffered complications the first time around, such as preterm labor or preeclampsia, are at risk for a repeat experience; on the bright side, you and your doctors will know what to look for and can care for your pregnancy accordingly. If yous've moved or switched doctors, make sure your new doc knows your entire medical history and then you tin get the best possible prenatal care.
Statistically, are Second Babies Built-in Earlier?
The average first-time mom will give birth at 40 weeks and 5 days. The average delivery week for a second-time mom is roughly 40 weeks and 3 days—a whopping ii-day (average) difference. So yes, statistically, second babies do come up earlier by an average of ii days (but two days nonetheless!).
I know, I know…. you're 38 weeks correct now and wondering if this babe could be coming shortly!? The answer is: y'all only can't know, but yous will probably requite nascence around the same time or a few days before the time y'all had your first. (I know a week or two feels like an eternity right now… but patience pays off).
Researchers think it'south likely that 2nd time moms respond to the labor hormones a little faster considering it'south already gone through labor before, but no one really knows for certain. Think likewise that many moms who ended upwardly having c-sections the offset time around will opt to proactively schedule a c-section the 2nd fourth dimension too, which may exist why those dates are skewed earlier for second babies. See also: recovering from a c-department.
When it comes to labor and delivery of a 2nd babe, there is lots of skillful news. Although it's non a hard and fast rule,most 2nd labors and deliveries are faster than the beginning (the average total labor fourth dimension for a second baby is about six hours the second time effectually, equally compared to 12-18 hours for beginning labors). And, (drumroll….) perineal vehement is also much less common.
Second time moms, on average, spend waaaaaay fewer hours in labor, less time pushing, and suffer fewer tears. It's not universally true, but since your body's done this earlier and your muscles and birth canal take been stretched out, the process tends to move more smoothly and rapidly — even precipitously.
Which brings u.s.a. to a major slice of advice almost planning — since yous could easily get from pregnant to mom-of-two in a matter of simply a few hours,having logistical plans in place for your first child (your pet, etc.) is super important.If you take a planned consecration or c-section, make sure to set upwards care for your kid in advance (and hopefully that is relatively straightforward, schedule-wise). Orchestrating childcare on the fly is trickier since there'southward no way to know when you'll deliver — and this is especially true if you live far away from your family.
Coordinating travel plans for a mystery inflow date is obviously a picayune fleck like gambling, which is why we also highly suggest having dorsum-up plans in case the timing doesn't line upwardly every bit anticipated. Many of us with family coming from out of boondocks relied on a short list of close friends, neighbors, and/or caretakers who could be "on telephone call" for childcare in case labor began before our families arrived (or afterward they left).
Analogous Help from Afar
For loved ones who plan on flying in to aid with labor, commitment and kid care, at that place are two approaches:
ane. Base it on your showtime child's birth. For loved ones looking to save money and purchase a plane ticket in advance, the best bet is probably to plan on arriving a couple of days earlier your first child arrived. For instance, if your commencement kid was built-in a week early, relatives should program on arriving a picayune over a week before your due date, with the caveat that they could end upwardly waiting aroundfor a while.
If their schedule allows them to practice this (and you're OK with them hanging around that entire length of fourth dimension), information technology can be a huge relief to have help at the ready. There is always the possibility, though, that your second child comes much later than your first (Meg's second baby was 2 weeks late!), in which case it can be a major bummer if your loved i has to return home and so travel dorsum again after yous evangelize. To mitigate this — endeavor to cull airlines with low change fees, such as Southwest (or every major airline during the pandemic… silvery lining??), and delay the travel day until at that place is evidence that labor will be soon. You could as well opt for an open-concluded trip and simply purchase a 1-way ticket. Sadly, there's no perfect solution for this!
2. Play information technology by ear. The 2d strategy is to buy a ticket as soon as you sound the alert. The caveat here is that family will pay more for airfare and might miss a bit of the testify, but… they'll be there when they're truly needed (in the days following the nascence). This also (obviously) demands more flexibility and doesn't necessarily go along y'all covered in terms of firsthand child intendance.
Aye, friends — 2nd-time moms agree: having plans in identify for your older kid for when you go into labor, and (ideally) even redundancy assist for a few days later, is the well-nigh important component of your plan.
If y'all had a vaginal birth the first time around, you're statistically likely to practise and then successfully again (96% likely, in fact). If you had a C-department for baby number one and are considering trying for a vaginal nascence this fourth dimension around, check out what the Mayo Clinic has to say nigh VBAC's.
Something else to keep in mind is that an epidural takes a while for doctors to order and place. And so if you are planning on seeking pain relief during labor, think that there's a chance your labor and delivery will exist quicker (thus, yous may want to inquire about that sooner rather than subsequently).
Whatsoever your plans with regard to pain relief, yous can have some comfort in the fact that, statistically at least, your chances of a smoother, faster labor and delivery expect good. Only we probably don't need to remind yous that this hardly means your second delivery experience won't also be intense, crazy, astonishing, and unique.
Bottom line: every birth story is unlike, and the only certainty about your 2d delivery is that it won't be exactly like your starting time.
Afterwards
More good news, friends: 2d-time moms tend to experience much less pain subsequently birth and recover much more rapidly. Yeehaw! From the survey, this seemed to be the case for most.
That said, you've still got a lot of healing and recovering to do. Brush upwardly on recovering from a vaginal birth or c-section. If yous figured out breastfeeding the first time around, the second fourth dimension volition be a cakewalk. Moms too report much less anxiety than with their start.
The only thing that is worse for second time moms is the afterpains (involution), then prepare for that. In fact, with each subsequent birth, the afterpains get worse.
Introducing Siblings
Ok, everyone… the primary consequence is here. For many of usa, the anticipation of introducing our start child to a new baby sibling kept us ticking throughout pregnancy. First piece of communication? Become your photographic camera gear up, considering you'll want to call back this forever.
No matter how exciting and cute these offset shared moments are, y'all will want to gear up for them. After all, our toddlers may exist picayune, but they have big — wildly unpredictable — feelings, so they really do need us to guide them through this giant life change.
Children of all ages similar to know what's coming — and then it's in anybody's best interest to allow your older child know what'south in store (to the best of your power). This is definitely a time when a surprise is not the all-time idea. The AAP offers useful suggestions on how to pause the news, depending on your child's historic period. Many moms feel differently most the timing — we think it's best to do what feels right for you lot and your child, but know that there'southward no rush (especially for toddlers and young children).
Think twice before you amp upward the excitement too much — retrieve that this is a HUGE change, and overselling the moment could put a lot of force per unit area on your firstborn. When Alicia's son met his piffling sis, her family tried to keep the moment calm, and the thing he remembered most about his visit at the infirmary was the little red car she "brought him" as a present.
Speaking of which, yes: presents from infant tin can go a long way… seriously! Alicia says her son nonetheless talks about that automobile even years afterward! It made the twenty-four hour period special for him, and it allowed her two kids to start their relationship on a sugariness note.
Another thing that helps: showing your firstborn some defended beloved and affection. The idea during the very starting time visit is to continue everything every bit positive and cheerful as possible. And giving the majority of your attending to your first child at this stage in the game can exist very reassuring. (By the way, don't be shy virtually telling family and friends who visit to think that kiddo #i needs some extra attending, too.)
In fact, throughout the first few weeks, we recommend trying to carve out some special solitary time with your firstborn, so he knows his relationship with yous and your partner remains intact. If your partner has parental leave, take them have large sib on a fun little adventure, fifty-fifty if information technology's but at the playground. Not only will it make him feel special, it will give you some invaluable time to residuum and bond with the new babe.
I other thing: don't be phased if your older child is scared or hesitant with the baby — let him warm up to her in his own fourth dimension. Brit's son was So excited about "getting" a baby while she was meaning just would hardly come up within v feet of his new sis at the hospital because he was and then flummoxed by her. If this happens, don't worry, and don't forcefulness it!
It might take a little while, but your kiddo volition adjust. And you will too!
If stats offer some hope that your body might recover more swiftly, we know that taking care of a newborn in addition to an older kid is a huge modify (understatement of… life). And then our final slice in the series, Managing Life With Two, will help brand the adjustment a little easier for you.
Oh! And in instance it'south been a while (or you've repressed information technology from the showtime time, hah!) we've got you covered if you lot need a general refresher on labor and delivery. Meet also: Gearing upwardly the second time effectually.
Until then — be well, and congratulations!!
Source: https://www.lucieslist.com/guides/preparing-for-baby-number-2/second-pregnancy-labor-delivery/
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