not an expert, but any questions for a mom of 2?

madhatter2003

Yes, it's that slow at work today 

Any questions for a mom of 2?  Both were vaginal births and I breastfeed/pump, so the only things I can't answer are c/s questions.  Otherwise, I'll give it a shot.

nooniesgal

was your labor with #2 shorter than #1? 

jgirl236

Hi!

I see that your kids are about 24 months apart - I just found out that I am prego again and my kids will be about 20 months apart - did you find anything particularly hard about the age difference? ?or having two that close together? ?Anything easier?

Also - did your second pregnancy track close to your first? ?or was it totally different? ?

Thanks!?

Linds&Chris777

What do you do about childcare?  That's really the only thing that is freaking me out right now.  I try not to think about it!  Right now DS is only in childcare part time and we pay $300 a month, and the thought of doubling that scares me a bit.

madhatter2003

nooniesgal:

was your labor with #2 shorter than #1? 

Yes, by a long shot. DD was 4 days of prodromal labor, 20 hours of active labor, 40 minutes of pushing

DS was about 8 hours of 'early' labor (ie not that painful), about 4 hours of active labor, and 2 pushes.

Recovery was much easier with DS too.

madhatter2003

jgirl236:

Hi!

I see that your kids are about 24 months apart - I just found out that I am prego again and my kids will be about 20 months apart - did you find anything particularly hard about the age difference?  or having two that close together?  Anything easier?

Also - did your second pregnancy track close to your first?  or was it totally different?  

Thanks! 

Some things were hard at first, but I think anything with a newborn will be hard with any age older sibling. She was old enough to understand that mommy needed to nurse, etc.  She was old enough to sit with me and read books or eat a snack on her own, which REALLY helped.  I was still in 'baby mode' so going from 1-2 wasn't as hard as going from 0-1 was (for me at least).

Things that were hard - potty training was a bit tough at times. DD would *need* to go NOW and it was always right as I was feeding DS, etc.  My advice is to buy a sling and wear the younger one as much as possible to free up your hands. Outings are a bit tough now that DD doesn't want to ride in the stroller but likes to run off.  Luckily DS is very chill and content to just hang out in the stroller while I chase her.

My pregnancies were pretty similar, but everything seemed to happen earlier with #2...I showed earlier, felt movement earlier, got bh earlier, etc.

madhatter2003

Linds&Chris777:

What do you do about childcare?  That's really the only thing that is freaking me out right now.  I try not to think about it!  Right now DS is only in childcare part time and we pay $300 a month, and the thought of doubling that scares me a bit.

Yeah, it hurts.

Luckily I got a promotion (and raise), and our place gave us a discount on DS...but yeah, I pay more in childcare than I do for our mortgage.  They will go to kindergarten eventually though, right?! 

Linds&Chris777

madhatter2003:

Linds&Chris777:

What do you do about childcare?  That's really the only thing that is freaking me out right now.  I try not to think about it!  Right now DS is only in childcare part time and we pay $300 a month, and the thought of doubling that scares me a bit.

Yeah, it hurts.

Luckily I got a promotion (and raise), and our place gave us a discount on DS...but yeah, I pay more in childcare than I do for our mortgage.  They will go to kindergarten eventually though, right?! 

Yikes!  I'm due for a raise soon so hopefully that will help, and we're planning on having our debt paid off by then, but you never really know what it's going to be like until you get there.  I just keep telling myself everything always works out in the end and not to stress.

food_chick

The thing I'm most nervous about is getting both to bed!  DH works 24 hour shifts (with 48 hours off) so every 3rd night it's just me.  DS is not a sleeper (still rock him to sleep which we will be working on AGAIN soon, now that I'm starting to feel a little better).  But any tips on getting both to bed at night?

madhatter2003

food_chick:

The thing I'm most nervous about is getting both to bed!  DH works 24 hour shifts (with 48 hours off) so every 3rd night it's just me.  DS is not a sleeper (still rock him to sleep which we will be working on AGAIN soon, now that I'm starting to feel a little better).  But any tips on getting both to bed at night?

We had them in separate rooms at first, although they do share now. Luckily DD sleeps like the dead *once* she falls asleep.  I could take DS in, rock/nurse him, change diapers, etc without waking her up.

It's worse now that DS goes to bed before her though....she is not quiet and wakes him up sometimes. Usually I can get him back to sleep. But sometimes I have to move him into the office in the pack n play. This is actually our biggest struggle right now to be honest. He just isn't as deep a sleeper as DD is, but he wants to go to bed before her.