During pregnancy, your uterus only has to expand almost 500 times its size in 9 months and then return to its original dimensions. It’s not like the brain is safe, as many women report memory problems and confusion during pregnancy. Still, many of us voluntarily go through this a second or even a third time. But remember, each pregnancy is different, the second even more so.
We gathered some important points about how your second pregnancy might be different from your first. Remember that every pregnancy is a special journey.
Things To Know Before Having Your Second Child
Second Pregnancies Can Tire You Out More
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Do you remember your first pregnancy and how energetic you felt? This was a special time in your life and you received a lot of pampering from your partner, friends, and family. But by your second pregnancy, you already have the responsibility of caring for your first child, and that means you may not have as much time to yourself as you used to.
Also, your body is flooded with a hormone called progesterone, which prepares you for all the physical changes of birth and delivery. The side effect of this hormone is fatigue, so you may experience more waves of exhaustion the second time around.
The Delivery May Take A Different Route
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The birth experience can also be different from the first to the second pregnancy. In fact, most women agree that labor tends to slow down with the second pregnancy and becomes easier with each subsequent delivery. Your experience with the first birth helps and you may be better equipped the second time.
On the other hand, if you had a C-section the first time, the chances of a VBAC, as in “vaginal birth after cesarean,” are pretty low. However, it differs from case to case.
You’ll Feel The Baby’s Movements Much Earlier
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The first movements of the baby are called acceleration, and in the first pregnancy, you can usually feel them between the sixteenth and twenty-fifth week for the first time. In the second pregnancy, you can feel the baby’s movements from week 13, mainly because you already know what they are like.
The Bump May Be Visible And Bigger Sooner
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For many first-time pregnant women, baby lumps usually appear in the second trimester and usually do not appear during the first 3 months. But during a second pregnancy or later, the lump appears earlier.
Experts say it is because the abdominal muscles have been stretched a bit and may not have returned to their original size. Therefore, hiding a second pregnancy is not as easy as keeping the first a secret. Furthermore, it can also mean more stretch marks.
Morning Sickness Could Either Be Absent Or A Lot Stronger
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You never know if you have morning sickness and things during your second pregnancy may not be the same as they were during your first pregnancy.
For some women, the dreaded morning sickness never comes. For others, it is much worse than the first time.
Breast Tenderness May Be Reduced Or Absent
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Early pregnancies often come with such breast tenderness that bras become deadly enemies. But for many women, the second pregnancy does not bring this extreme sensitivity to their breasts. And the size of the breasts does not increase much the second time.
Have you ever heard of the study saying the second child is more likely to be a troublemaker? Would you agree? Share your first and second pregnancy stories with us in the comment section below.