The differences in your first and second pregnancies
No two pregnancies are the same, but you may notice these differences from the first, when you are pregnant a second time
Even with morning sickness and a thickening waistline, in your first pregnancy, it may not be at the front of your mind as being pregnant is so new to you.
It’s a feeling you’ve never experienced before and you may well read all the books for every scrap of advice, sign up for a yoga class and play soft music to your bump.
The big difference between pregnancy no 1 and no 2 is knowledge. First time round, you simply don't have any experience of pregnancy, but second time, you have some idea of what's coming.
Here are some of those big differences you may notice second time around.
1. Nap time
When you’re pregnant with number one, it's all about you and bump but second time round, chances are there's another child to add to the mix - so taking a nap when tiredness takes over, may not be as easy.
2. Eating out
With pregnancy number one you may find yourself paranoid when eating out that you may accidently eat something pregnancy advice warns you not to, but second time round you got this, you know exactly what you need to avoid and what is OK to eat.
3. Birth plan
First time round, you may have hoped for a water birth and planned to stay drug free. Although no two births are the same, second time around you now have some experience of birth which may help you in planning your preferences for labour and birth with more flexibility, rather than a rigid birth plan.
4. You wear it well
You are simply dying to wear maternity clothes with a first pregnancy, as it may make it all more real. You buy cute T-shirts with ‘I’m the mummy’ and dresses to how off your bump, but second time round you may prefer the sheer comfort of maternity tracksuits.
5. Planning
You’re very organised on the first go, from designing the nursery to stocking up on nappies and food. With the second, you’re lucky to have your hospital bag packed when your waters break.
6. Advice
First time round, you want everyone’s opinion, from the baby books to your mother-in-law. For the second baby, you donate the books to the charity shops and go by your own gut instinct.
7. Fear
You worry you’re going to drop the baby, drown it, or squash it. You realise second time round that you’re not as dangerous as you thought you were.
8. Time
You have lots of it first time round and precious little on the second run. But even though it’s more of a muddle, it’s still a precious moment when no 2 comes into the world and, generally speaking, you feel a lot more confident about your parenting skills.