As I waddle along, 25 weeks into pregnancy number two, slightly red in the face and short of breath, I can’t help but reflect on my first pregnancy and how vastly different the two are. Although physically my body is going through the same process and the same changes, my mindset and preparation couldn’t be more different. So, just for fun, today I thought I would share Five ways that Pregnancy Number 2 is entirely different from Pregnancy Number 1.
1. Cute Outfits
By the midway point of my first pregnancy I had collected a beautiful wardrobe full of clothes for all seasons. They were all washed (in baby safe non-bio powder of course), ironed and folded perfectly.
Our August born son had an outfit for every occasion, including an assortment of fluffy snowsuits in preparation for the somewhat unlikely event that the smouldering heat that had plagued the last few weeks of my pregnancy gave way to unseasonal snow storms.
In contrast, here I sit at 25 weeks pregnant and this baby does not yet own a stitch of clothing. He or She will be donning Buddy’s cast offs. No colour co-ordinated, fiddly outfits will this baby have. He or She will be chilling out in pyjamas. No messing about, not fuss, just comfy and easy to change clothing. He or She may not be the most fashionable baby in the world, but I’ll save myself a huge pile of ironing.
2. Eating for Two?
When I fell pregnant with Buddy I was working full time and liked to reward myself with a desk drawer full of chocolate and nibbles. As the weeks rolled on, so did the pounds (lots of them) but I was more than happy to overlook this and embrace my unexpected excuse to gorge myself silly for nine months.
This time round my highly unreasonable toddler expects me to share all snacks. If there was less stuff in the cupboard under our stairs I would hide in there to munch. Unfortunately that is highly unlikely to happen any time soon so my share snacking options are pretty much restricted to fresh fruit, carrot sticks and hummus. Awesome for the waist line, useless for the cravings.
3. Exercise
Ah the idealistic Pre Buddy me was so complacent about gaining pregnancy weight because I knew I would have so much time after the baby was born to lose the weight. I was going to be a stay at home mum so of course I had nothing better to do than exercise and walk for miles a day to lose the baby weight.
This time round I know that the last thing I’m going to feel like doing after giving birth to another gigantic baby is exercise – although if anyone has a positive story about someone giving birth to an average sized dainty baby after a 9lb baby I would appreciate it. In all reality, after Buddy was born, I found it difficult to walk to the bottom of the street for several weeks and mile long walks were off the cards for months. Even when I felt physically strong enough to exercise I had no inclination to thanks to sleep deprivation. I’ll just hold on to my maternity jeans a while longer thanks.
4. Worrying
I’m an expert worrier, always have been always will be. When I was pregnant with Buddy every niggle, twinge and ache had me rushing to the midwife, the doctor or the hospital for reassurance. Not content with that we also paid privately for additional reassurance scans to calm my anxiety.
Roll on pregnancy number 2 and the poor forgotten baby. I spend a lot of time feeling guilty about this bump because much of the time I forget that he or she is there. That’s not to suggest that this baby is any less wanted than Buddy was, it’s just Buddy doesn’t allow us a moment of down time when he is awake. Sometimes an entire day will pass in a whirlwind blur of toddlerness and I realise that I haven’t taken a moment to count the kicks and just enjoy being pregnant, let alone worry!
5. Idealism
There is no greater parent than the first time parent. Pre Buddy our evenings were filled with idealistic conversations about the “type” of baby we would have, the mistakes we had seen our friends making and how we would never ever fall into the same trap. Yep, I hate myself too right now. Our precious child would be breastfed from birth, would never have a dummy/pacifier, would be picture perfect in cloth nappies and would never leave the house with a dirty face.
Who is that feral toddler tearing around the supermarket with orange juice down his coat, something sticky in his hair and a dummy clutched protectively in his hand you ask? Well that would be my toddler, who most certainly doesn’t fit my pre-motherhood idealism. And I wouldn’t change a thing about him. Who knows what this baby will bring. It will be an adventure whatever happens.
How have your pregnancies differed? Have your views and attitudes altered as much as mine? I would love to hear your thoughts.
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THIS POST WAS WRITTEN BY KYLA – CONTRIBUTOR
Kyla is a stay at home mom to an awesome toddler and is pregnant with surprise baby number two. She spends her days aspiring to be a better housewife however is more often found playing on the floor and creating chaos instead. She loves creating taste safe messy play for her munch happy toddler. You can find more from her on her blog — The Train Driver’s Wife.
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april says
My first baby was 9lbs 1oz! My second baby was 7 lbs 13oz. After my first was born my midwife told me that the size of the baby doesn’t correlate to pain, she has 4 kid of her own, but I shrugged it off. Well let me tell you my little 7 pounder hurt worse. Following her birth I wrote my midwife and told her to continue telling that to every mom that is scared of having a big baby and thanked her for telling me that after the first. Surprisingly with the bigger baby I ate super healthy, and exercised daily regardless of rain, sun,or snows. My daughter I craved fat and sugar and barely exercised and she was much smaller.