2nd timers and up - what will you do differently this pregnancy? Or the same?

LovelyLou23

Like a few others have said, I really want to try to have a better attitude this time around. My first pregnancy was SO easy, then my second was awful. I was glad because at least I could finally relate to people that were miserable in their pregnancies, but I honestly had a really crappy attitude about it. 

My goal this time is to soak up every second because it will probably be our last. To keep myself immersed in my children's lives. To keep trucking when things are tough (but obviously know when I need a break). Oh, and take more baths! I didn't discover baths until the very end of my last pregnancy. It was incredible!!

Milo5181

I am going to try to eat what my body needs, but also not give in to every craving. I gained 45 pounds last time and it took me 18 months to lose the last 15, and I was miserable.  I would also like to exercise more this pregnancy because I was incredibly out of shape by the time I delivered, and I know that chasing a three year old around with a newborn will require me to have more strength and endurance than last time.

Once the baby comes I would like to accept more help, like if someone offers to do the dishes or clean the house, I will say yes. PP hormones are horrible and totally cloud your judgment. It's easy to say "of course I would let someone do my dishes" but when I was post-partum I took every comment as an insult like "why are you trying to do my dishes? do you think I am a slob? you just want me to say no so that I will get up and do the dishes while you hold my baby." Seriously, crazy town.

Milo5181

Also, I want to be better about maternity clothes and not so cheap. I know, it's not clothes you will wear forever, but when you're feeling blah and all whale-like at the end, it would be nice to have some cute things in your closet. In the same vein, I will also try to open my wallet up post-partum to buy some cute transition clothes so that I don't feel like I have to either wear maternity clothes or stuff myself into pre-pregnancy outfits.

aggiefrau08

I also want to be better prepared with frozen meals. I ate way too much fast food and scrambled eggs when DS was a newborn. I think my biggest thing is that I want to be more selective this time with my questions to the OB. I had so many questions last time that were not that important overall just to have questions to ask. This time, my biggest question will be if I need assistance again, does she have a preference for forceps or vacuum because I absolutely do NOT want forceps used. I loved my OB last time, but she didn't deliver me and the OB that did was great and I had to have a vacuum assist. I'm much more comfortable with that if an assist is necessary.

T&HLove

I will be less of a food nazi. For myself..... I'll probably still be a food nazi for what people feed my baby :P
I will try to enjoy it as much as possible since it will be my last. I enjoyed my first greatly, too.
I will have a natural birth with few to no interventions. An epidural kept me from seeing my daughter when she went to the Nicu, and I won't let that happen again.

colleendd

Ceridwen21 said:

I went to 42 weeks with DS because I didn't want to get induced and believed that my body and baby would know when it was time.  DS was born with severe meconium aspiration and ended up fighting for his life in the NICU of the biggest children's hospital in the region for 2 weeks.  It was awful.  Thankfully he is ok, but seeing your baby ventilated and hooked up to a hundred machines, doped up on morphine, not being able to hold him until he's 6 days old, coming home to an empty nursery every night.... not worth it.

This made me cry. This was my SIL & niece who ended up being 10lbs and delivered naturally but in the NICU for 4 weeks. Your story bright back so many memories. Thankfully, My sweet niece is now 5 and perfectly fine. So glad that your little guy is doing well too!

lovesazzie

My main goal is to have a healthy pregnancy exercise/food wise. My first was awful.. I gained 60 pounds and it was mostly NOT baby weight. With my second, I exercised often and the weight came off very easily after. This time, I am exercising and am not going to give myself a pass on food just because I'm pregnant. I don't restrict calories, but I do restrict the types of food I eat. I'll be aiming for 80% clean eating because that's what makes me feel good.

jlove1821

prenatal yoga.. hopefully that will allow me to have an easier delivery!

ritzgrrl

I'm going to echo what many of you have already said - exercising more and eating better. I'm already a little overweight, and 10 lb over what I was last time, so I need to not gain 50 lb again. More importantly (because I know I'm still going to give into cravings), I would like to keep going to Zumba and yoga throughout my pregnancy. Last time, I didn't have an exercise routine at all, so I'm hoping I have the energy and dedication to stick to it.

bookqueen

I'm going to continue working out. I was really depressed from having gained 60 lbs. As for delivery, I will probably do the same. I waited until I was 7cm for the epidural (8hours unmedicated), and he came 10 hours later.

hollster8

Like others have said, gain less weight. I was up 50 lbs last time and although much of it was water weight from blood pressure issues I don't want to do it again. I was pretty active but didn't pay much attention to what I ate. Also, stay more hydrated/drink more water. I suck at drinking enough water and being in Utah in the dry summer heat I'll need to stay hydrated while pregnant!

WhitEm14

Same: Eat well, exercise to the end, enjoy all the ice cream and cheese that my body can handle (when I'm not eating well), get an epidural (it was magical).

Different: Try to enjoy it more since this is our last. I was miserable last time and just wanted it to be over. So I'll try to focus on the cool things about being pg.

LovingStepMom

I, too, want to try and enjoy this one more, since he/she is our last.  I will take baths in 1st Tri and drink a little caffeine.  I want to try and workout more and try prenatal yoga and get a prenatal massage.  

hollster8

@LovingStepMom I'm totally getting a prenatal message this time, too!  I never did last time.

brachysira

Such good ideas!  I am going to will myself not to have HG...possible?  Please, please, please...

TA110980

TheEmpireNeedsYou said:

I'm actually planning on telling most people a due date a week or two after the real one just to avoid some of the "Is that baby here yet?" crap.

So smart, I love this idea!