When you have a baby for the first time, there’s no doubt it’s a life-changing experience – but you haven’t seen anything yet! Your second child is a vastly different experience, in more ways than one, and there are some surprising truths that no one else seems to tell you. So, if you are expecting your second child, or planning on making one, read on! Here are some interesting things that many of us moms-of-multiples often find out – after the event.
The pregnancy
Remember the constant worry, concern, and plan-making that occurred during your first pregnancy? The chances are, you left no stone unturned in your quest to enjoy the perfect pregnancy, whether it was taking part in yoga classes or massaging your tummy with all kinds of strange-smelling oils. But for the second child, it’s going to be a different story. It’s not that you don’t want to do the same things while carrying your next baby – it’s merely because you don’t have time. Child number one will be on your case 24/7, and the chances are that you won’t even have time to notice you are expecting until well into your third trimester.
The Extras
Think you have a house covered in children’s gear right now? Wait until you double that amount. There will be a few things you need to replace or buy new, for a start. Baby seats for the car, are a good example, as are double strollers. Unless your eldest is already walking, you could do worse than click here to get in-depth information on double umbrella strollers or head to your local baby store for some demonstrations. There will be mountains of clothes to deal with, too, as well as toys, games, and the gazillion baby accessories we all get given as gifts. If you want to know how much/how little storage your home really has, get ready to find out.
The real mom
You are a mom as soon as you give birth to your first child, of course. But you’ll really know what it means to be a parent when you have your second. There will be no catching up on sleep when your baby has their daytime naps – Baby Number One will need entertaining. There will, in the future, be a time when you feel like less of a mom and more of a boxing referee. And all those offers of babysitting services to give you an evening break will dry up as soon as your friends realize they have two munchkins to deal with now. And packing up to go anywhere – even to the local grocery store – is going to require more planning and equipment than you need for a week’s hiking in the Rockies. In short, if you had a smooth experience bringing up your first, your second could well end up causing you a world of pain!
I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m putting you off! Having multiple children is a beautiful experience and totally worth it – but it can often take a lot of work to pull off!