Pregnancy and Parenting Society Mark II

Can't believe it's May already - I can now say "My little boy's due next month!"

Good luck PrincessAriadne!

The first few months suck nadds, but after that parenthood is awesome

Haha, why?

Haha, why?

Baby shock (don't underestimate it), trying to establish breastfeeding, baby only sleeps for 1-2 hour blocks, you're exhausted, you're sore, your hormones are crashing (80% of women get baby blues after giving birth), you feel like a wreck, you look like a wreck (the uterus takes a while to shrink back down so you still look pregnant), your hair may start falling out due to the crash of hormones, you will argue with your partner due to being exhausted, baby looks weird due to being squashed through the birth canal, baby doesn't communicate apart from crying, crying, crying, you're scared because you don't know what you're doing, you may have a split vagina which makes urinating incredibly eye-wateringly painful so everytime you need the toilet you must run the bath and wee in there (water bill rockets), you don't want to go out the house due to looking and feeling a wreck (leading to isolation). I could go on.

Bet you wish you hadn't asked

Edited to add: you will NOT get rest in hospital (especially if you give birth vaginally) so put that idea to rest right now.

This!.I didnt have a vaginal birth with either of mine but add a C section to the above and thats pretty much how I was after both of mine.

Tufts: Don't forget the positive parts too!

We found it so much easier second time round, we actually wondered why it was so hard the first time. Honestly, because you already have a routine established with the first, the second one just slots into that almost straight away. You are an expert breastfeeder and you are used to sleep deprivation so it's not really a shock. You'll be great! The hardest thing is getting used to sharing your attention with both children. I read this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Shoes-One-Sock-Hairbrush/dp/0304354295 and found it really helped me prepare emotionally and psychologically. I'd really recommend it. It tells it like it is so you'll love it

Thanks chick I'll buy that book on payday.

You're right that it'll be so much easier breastfeeding this time around. But re: sleep deprivation, I'm lucky that Amy is a good sleeper now. She sleeps from 8.30pm till 6.30am then after boobie in bed she sleeps till 9am. Will all that go down the pan when a screaming newborn comes onto the scene?

Bella never woke up when Milly cried. Just like Milly didn't wake up when Bella was rampaging round the house. Although Milly cried less than Bella. I guess it's a combination of knowing how to feed properly, when they need winding ect, so you can sort them out much quicker, plus it's less stressful because you know that babies cry and you aren't a failure if they don't stop crying within 10 seconds, I guess they can feel when mum is more relaxed and confident so are less stressed themselves. I found having a second baby an absolute joy and I was similar to you worrying how I would cope and what the dynamics would be like but I just found everything seemed to just work and slot into place.

The hardest things for me were when I went out as when I was feeding Milly, Bella had to be entertained so a bag of toys is a must and also when I was potty training Bella it was a bit tricky but when it comes down to it, you just get on with it and do what you have to!

It will be amazing!

Thanks. Your post was reassuring I keep trying to give you the thumbs up but it says I have to pass the love around for a bit first.

Are you on Facebook?

Glad to be a reassurance, it is quite daunting going through it all again.

Yes. I am friends with a few people on here, I'm Hannah Gardner, profile picture is of some rock (as in the sweets.) not sure if I am found in a general search or just through friends. But I am friends with PMP so check through her

I've added you

I think my morning sickness is starting to kick in now. (I'm 6+2). Strangely my nausea is actually sticking to the morning this time! It generally gets better at around midday but until then I can barely move around

I can't STAND ITNG - it's one of my uber hates!

Awww why?