I am expecting my 2nd child in 7 wks time. I am feeling worried and scared about how much life is going to change. I would appreciate any feedback on how you coped with the 2nd child. Did you find it easier 2nd time around? Any tips in the early days after birth.
Thanks in advance

Regards
me: 27
DS:16mths
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honestly i found it a lot easier than i thought i would. it's now that i'm finding it tough - probably because we have had so much on in the past few months and i'm so tired.

the only thing is at first it seems like you never get any time to yourself, because each of you will have a child but that will pass i promise! when emelia got to a few months old dh felt much more confident about taking the 2 of them out so i could get a break.

hi
I will let you know in 2 weeks or so as i am due with my second and have an 18th month old. She is a handfull at the moment. Only because i cant sleep at night and tired during the day and she has sooo much energy.

jess

Some things are easier, some things are harder. You don't tend to stress as much with #2 (I forgot about tummy time until DS was rolling himself over ). WHen #2 is past the sleep-most-of-the-time stage, they can amuse each other, giving you a chance to get other stuff done (with just one, I would stress about leaving her alone).

DD was 23 months old when DS was born, and never really displayed any serious jealousy. I tried to get her to help as much as possible - if she could help look after him, then she was quite happy. She corrected anyone who said it was *Mummy's baby* - he was *her* baby. She did figure out she could get away with things while I was occupied feeding DS, but didn't push it too far, and I just tried to be prepared with things to keep her busy.

As far as the early days go, just take each day as it comes, and don't put too much pressure on yourself to go out with two children before you're ready. Try to keep your first ventures out limited - one stop, not too long out, etc, until you're feeling confident. I found it only deteriorated into a complete nightmare when I tried to get them both in and out of the car several times in one outing.

Yes, things will be different. Yes, sometimes you will probably wonder whose stupid idea this was. Just try not to expect too much from yourself or your babies - take it slow and give yourself time to settle into it. And, as always with a new baby, if you get showered and dressed before 4pm, then it's a good day

All the best,


Karen
DD Tara 19.6.01
DS Xander 30.5.03

I have a 17mo and a 1 week old. You'll need a helpful & supportive partner for the early days. I had a CS (not what I was planning) so my 17mo is upset because I can't pick her up, and needs lots of extra hugs from me to make up for the 5 nights I spent in hospital.

I got a baby doll for the 17mo (she likes to wrap it like we wrap Juliet), we talk about "your baby sister" (emphasis on this being her baby too), and when DH goes back to work my mum will stay with us for a month (til I can lift my big baby). We also got some library books for the 17mo on new babies - she loves books.

Prepare yourself for sleep deprivation again! And stock the freezer, I'm a hazard if I try to use knives or stoves with less than 6 hours sleep a night.

i'm jealous emd! i've only ever had dh home for a week or two after my 2 c/s, and then i've had to cope on my home!

I too only had DH at home for a week or two with both my boys. Thankfully my sister lives in Canberra and doesn't have any children. She was wonderful and had a week or two off so she could come and help out with my then 2year old.

She has already put in for time off next April which I am thrilled about as DH is in a new job and wont have much more than a week off with baby #3.

So basically any spare hands to help is always a good thing


Jennifer
DS 15/12/01
DS 14/12/03
Yipee! #3 due April 2006

I wish my DP was home for a while when i first came home from hosp. I had a c/section and he was home for one full week when i got home and then another week he only worked 1/2 days then he was back at work full time. I know my two are twins - so quite different and it is hard to take them out as they are quite full on, but now i just work out the best time (i.e. after the have been fed and when they are quite content to lie in the pram!!).

Just take it one day at a time and it is so enjoyable to have two!!

Rach :-)

I agree with the previous poster who said that #2 is a lot less fussed over. With a 14.5 month gap between my two, I was VERY panicky earlier this year, but now I just take each day as it comes and enjoy it. I remember that DD was a bit jealous when I came home with DS but when she realised that he wasn't 'going back' and was here to stay, she settled down. The main adjustment I have is DD wanting a lot of my attention when I am feeding DS. I am still working at 'distraction' techniques. Otherwise, my side-by-side stroller is a godsend and I really treasure the moments when DD covers DS in kisses and proudly tells me to be quiet so he can sleep...

Kath

I too spent a great deal of time thinking about how I would cope with a very active little girl and #2. It really has been alot easier than I was expecting. Darcy is such a good baby. He just seems to go with the flow and has fit into our routines really easily. It was abit hard when he was really little as he needed to sleep when we needed to get DJ to an activity but now he is down to one sleep a day. They both sleep at the same time

They are great little friends and are quite happy to play together. They entertain each other which is great. I'd not waste anytime being worried about it. I did and now I don't know why I bothered.

Susana & DH Chris[size=1] aka GoateeCat
DD Delia Jade 13/11/02 & DS Darcy Cole 2/11/04

Thanks for all your replies. I guess I will just deal with everything as it comes. I know that the benefits to my 1st son will be great as bubs gets bigger.

Regards
me: 27
DS:16mths
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