The second pregnancy proceeds in some things differently than the first. Knowing by now “how the rabbit runs”, most mothers take renewed offspring much more calmly.
How long to wait until the second pregnancy?
It is not uncommon for many couples who have had their first child to want another one soon after. This way, the siblings have the opportunity to grow up together and a real family is formed. In addition, many matters can go more smoothly in the second pregnancy because the parents are now more familiar with them. On the other hand, the expectant mother is exposed to more stress because she has to take care of her first child in addition. An important question that most couples face is how long they should wait until the second pregnancy. However, no matter what timing parents ultimately decide on, it is associated with both positive and negative aspects. If the children are less than two years apart in age, the parents can expect plenty of stress during the first period, as two young children now require their care. An advantage, on the other hand, is that the two siblings can quickly play together. Since parental leave often lasts longer, it can be more difficult to return to work. An age gap of three years between the children is considered advisable. This has the advantage that the first child already has a certain degree of independence. In addition, the mother finds it easier to return to her job because the interval to the next pregnancy is longer. From a medical point of view, the new mother should give her body at least six months of rest after the successful first pregnancy. If the birth was a cesarean section or there were complications, the recommended rest period is as long as twelve months. However, the assessments of this vary among doctors, so there is no valid guideline.
The second time around: what’s different?
Most women react to their second pregnancy with significantly more composure, as they are now familiar with its process. They now know how to interpret minor discomforts better. However, certain differences are also noticeable. For example, some pregnant women who suffered from constant nausea during their first pregnancy no longer feel nauseous. On the other hand, pain in the hip now appears in the second pregnancy, which is due to renewed ligament strain. The baby’s movements can also be felt more intensely in the second pregnancy. If there were complications in the first pregnancy, the affected women are often afraid that they could recur. However, since every pregnancy takes a different course, it is not possible to make a reliable prognosis about this. Basically, the mother now knows about the course of her body during pregnancy.
Precaution in the second pregnancy
Just as important as in the first pregnancy, preventive examinations are also important in the second pregnancy. For example, the recurrence of gestational diabetes or gestosis must be expected if this was already the case in the first pregnancy. If the pregnant woman goes to a different gynecologist than in the first pregnancy, he should know exactly about their procedure. This is especially true for miscarriages and complications. Since the check-ups, which take place every four weeks, are extremely important, they must always be attended. In the last two weeks of pregnancy, the check-ups even take place every two weeks. If no preeclampsia occurs in the first pregnancy, the risk of disease is also very low in the second pregnancy.
Sibling love: how do I prepare my first child for new offspring?
The second pregnancy also has an impact on the first child. So it is now no longer the sole focus of the parents. Not infrequently, jealousy and problems arise because of this. For this reason, the first child should have a share in the preparations for the new family member, if it is already old enough. Young children, of course, still lack an understanding of the processes involved in pregnancy. However, there are special children’s books that can be used to explain pregnancy in a child-friendly way.The time to tell the first child that he or she is having a baby brother or sister depends on the child’s age. If the child is under three years old, it is advisable to wait until the belly has grown. On the other hand, it is easier to explain the processes of pregnancy to older children. In addition, the first child should be given the feeling that he or she is still important to the parents, so that he or she does not feel left behind.
Once a cesarean, always a cesarean?
If the child was born by cesarean section during the first pregnancy, most women may well have a vaginal birth during the next pregnancy due to modern incision techniques. However, there is a risk of placenta praevia or rupture of the uterus in this case. Thus, another cesarean section is often considered safer.
Tips for a relaxed family life with the second child
The second child is quite a challenge for the daily life of the young family. Therefore, it is all the more important that the parents share their tasks with each other even after the birth. Therefore, the partners should talk about their wishes and problems in advance and tackle them together. In addition, a lot of time and patience is also needed so that the new family can find each other. It is not uncommon for the first-born child to turn more towards the father now, which means that more joint activities can be undertaken.
