Pregnancy 1 vs. Pregnancy 2

Pregnant again? Congratulations! Thinking about getting pregnant again? Here is what you are in for...  5 of the major differences between my first and second pregnancy.

You don't have time to think about being sick. The first pregnancy I was so obsessed with every little feeling, because I had time to obsess. When you are chasing a toddler or tending to another child you don't have time to dwell on how you feel.  The 1st trimester nausea will be there lingering in the background... but you have diapers to change and toddlers to force feed.

 

You appreciate what your body can do, instead of being scared of it. I was scared the first time I was pregnant. I was scared of stretch marks, extra pregnancy pounds, aches and pains, that when googled... always say something about "preterm birth, call your doctor NOW". Now I know my body will do its thing, and go back to normal when it's ready. Yes I will see my feet again, in the hospital, about 24 hours after the baby is out. That lower back pain will just get worse, until about 3 months AFTER the new baby is here. I will have a full nights sleep, when my youngest turns 18.

Tired in your first pregnancy, HA! When I was tired in pregnancy 1, I took a nap or went to bed early. Pregnancy 2 exhaustion, is unbelievable. Maybe because Kenzie was less than a year when I got pregnant, so I was probably still partially recovering, but my 1st trimester was horrible! I remember laying on the floor of Kenzie's nursery while she crawled around playing. I couldn't move, I just had to lay there. 2nd trimester gets better, but by early evening, I would count down the minutes until my head could hit the pillow.



Baby gate open, 10 seconds later

Pregnancy workouts are a sham.  I did a lot of prenatal pilates, yoga and walked every day in pregnancy 1. This time my doctor asked me what I was doing to work out... I said "raising a toddler."  There is no amount of prenatal workout that keeps the extra pregnancy pounds off like chasing a toddler that has just learned to run. The sales clerk at carters asked me if I wanted to sit down because I was winded trying to catch Kenzie dodging between in the clothing racks. To be fair to her, it did seem like a kickass game of hide and seek.

The celebration is over. All the nasty things you have to put up with for 9 months is balanced by the joyful attention you receive in your first pregnancy. The excitement of planning your announcement to friends, family and facebook. You spend hours talking about names, what activities they will be involved in, and what your first born will look like. Finding out the gender is probably the most exciting part in the whole 9 months.
Let's look at pregnancy 2 (this is just my experience and Kenzie was only 9 months when I got pregnant again).  Been there, done that. Yes the gender ultrasound is still exciting. We found out we were having a boy this time, and while one of each is ideal, my dreams of tea parties, Barbies, and playing dolls with my girls were over.  I am sure there will still be some tea parties, but I have seen Kenzie play with her doll... it usually ends up being run over by Dusty, her ride on airplane.

Add your pregnancy differences below!