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July 2016 Moms
Ken&Anna
member
2nd Time Moms - Anything you're going to do differently?
Ken&Anna
member
If this will be your 2nd (or more), is there anything you want to do differently during this pregnancy, or during your delivery or during the infant stages?
Obviously for me this pregnancy is very different since I'm chasing after a 3-year old, so the pregnancy itself is going to be a lot different, I imagine. I won't have as much "me" time for things like prenatal massages, mani/pedis, prenatal yoga, etc. but I still want to make time for myself.
As far as the delivery is concerned, there are some things I want to do differently: Last time, my mom came to stay with us after DD was born and she stayed for a couple weeks. This time I want her to come around 37 weeks so she can help in those last couple of weeks with things around the house and then help at the beginning with the baby. I also figure she'll be able to stay with my DD when it becomes go-time. In the hospital I want to ask to do skin-to-skin immediately (I'll be having another C-section and I wasn't allowed to do skin-to-skin because the hospital didn't allow it but I've found a hospital that will allow it this time around, as long as there are no other complications). Also, rather than sending the baby to the nursery the first night or two, I'm going to have the baby room in so that we can get started on a good breastfeeding schedule immediately. I'm sure I'll think of other things...
I sort of feel like in general I'm a lot more relaxed this time around.
Re: 2nd Time Moms - Anything you're going to do differently?
I also hope not to have an epidural. As soon as I got one my progression stopped. I also contribute it to my not being able to reposition myself/hips because I could not feel my legs.
I really like to say I won't cry about breastfeeding and pumping but I know myself and will probably lose it again. I ended up EPing for 10.5 months and hated it but I know I will have that guilt if I can't do it for this one. Fingers crossed breastfeeding will be easier this time.
I will move this one into their room at a month old. It really helped sleep for everyone when we moved him out but we waited until 2 months.
Also I'm introducing a bottle earlier/often. My daughter would not take a bottle and it was stressful when I was getting ready to go back to work.
BFP#5 Praying for another rainbow in February!
This pregnancy i'm going to try and stress less. I am an overthinker/overdoer and i'm going to work on just letting things go. It would be nice to gain less and be more active too. Most importantly I'm going to speak up more than I did before. My first time around I kept quiet and let others influence a lot of my decisions regarding the pregnancy. This time, I know more and plan on being more vocal about what I want when I want it.
This pregnancy is already a lot different. We found out way earlier than my first and I'm trying to keep up with a potty training toddler. My plan is to just do the best I can.
As far as after baby arrives. I think things will pretty much be like my first. It was just me and my hubs and we liked it that way, just trying to find our new normal. I did pretty well with putting DD in the pack and play to sleep since her room is upstairs and I plan on doing the same thing. One plus is I won't be worried about going back to work so I think it will be a lot less stressful for me.
Oh....and that sleep thing......ha!
I also want to try and figure out a way to make breastfeeding less painful for me this time around. For the first few months every single time I bf, I literally had to bite my tongue to prevent me from screaming out in pain. It would fade after about 10 sec, but it wasn't fun at all!
Most importantly, I want to watch my weight gain and get exercising right away! I never lost my baby weight, so I'm starting about 20 pounds heavier this time around. No way I can afford to add another 20 pounds after this one too!
I'm also going to cut myself a break if bf isn't working out-we will do formula without hesitation if we need to this time. DS was allergic to all milk proteins, but I built it up in my head that bf was so important, so I went on a super strict diet w/ no milk proteins (dairy, soy, whey, casein) that left me hungry, not producing much milk, and he still had allergic reactions-for 9 months. As soon as we switched to formula, he started to gain weight at a much better pace and was sick so much less often. Bf is good, but it's definitely not always the best option.
So basically, I learned to really go with the flow a lot more this time around.
I am definitely not worrying about much at all and just going with the flow taking care of my body.
I wouldn't change a thing about my first delivery and FX this time around will go as well.
DD has been sleeping a solid 11-12 hours nightly since 9 months. I don't know how to prepare myself for total lack of sleep plus watching a toddler. Sounds exhausting, but wouldn't trade it for the world.
-I definitely won't be getting mani/pedis for financial reasons but mostly because when the heck would I do that with a toddler and a workaholic husband?
-I will ask for an epidural sooner than later
-I will NOT send the baby to the nursery. DD was only there for maybe 1/2 hour but my current mom/self cannot believe that I did that. I wouldn't let her out of my sight now. Eek!
-I will try to leave the hospital ASAP, now that I live near family and my mom and aunt are both RNs
-I will be more mentally prepared for the 1st weeks of breastfeeding
-I will breastfeed in public (not in my car, in a bathroom stall, in another room of the house, etc)
-I will sleep train this time (not super early but my DD didnt' sleep through the night FOREVER and I just can't do that again)
DD #2: EDD July 2016
-Pack my hospital bag early. I was so convinced I was going to be late, I didn't have a nursing tank or bra yet. Poor planning on my part.
-Get the baby to sleep in the crib early. DD is 14m and not in her crib most nights.
Be relaxed because now I know I can in fact make it a whole 37 weeks.
Be less strict about some foods and beverages I usually avoid during pregnancy. (IE: I make my own sushi, and eat soft cheeses and traditionally cured meats)
I'm not inviting non-essential parties to the birth (IE: my parents... unless my dad wants to be the official photographer.)
I'll let the kids stay if they want.
I *will* deliver at home. (Positive thinking. FX.)
Everything else should be about the same as last time.
I will ask for the epidural sooner (it didn't even take last time things happened so fast)
I plan to take a longer maternity leave, I only took 6 weeks with both DS and DD and it just isn't enough time.
I also plan to work on getting baby into their own crib sooner. 2.5 year old DS still sleeps with me
- I'm not going to be moving with a newborn, knock on wood.
- I'm buying a convertible carseat from the get-go. No need to spend all that money on multiple seats.
I'm going to take 16 weeks off this time too if approved and hopefully go back to work 4 days a week instead of 5 if we can financially take the hit. I feel like I miss out on time with ds so much and I'd rather cut back on things and have an extra day home with the babies!
I'm also not going to stress myself out about bfing so much! ds and I had a real rough time figuring it out in the hospital! He was in the nicu hooked up to so many cords and wires so it was real tough until we got home, then it came much easier!
Actually write things down.
Just relax. Everything thing will be ok.
Post pregnancy, with a babe: Just relax, and trust my husband. The first year was a strain on our marriage, and this time we are prepared for it.
So much of parenting is just trial and error.