As I anticipated the birth of my second baby, I couldn’t help but wonder how things would be different this time around. I already knew I was hoping for a baby who liked to sleep, (don’t we all), and was confident that I would not be a hormonal hot mess the second time around because I knew what to expect, right? Well here are 7 ways bringing home your baby is different the second time.
1. Breastfeeding Is Still Hard
I was reallllllly hoping that breastfeeding would be a breeze with second time around after a very challenging (and painful) time with my first baby. Turns out, it can still be hard work even if your baby comes out with a perfect latch. Sore nipples, engorgement, mastitis, any of these things can happen and are considered “normal”. The good thing is usually this will all pass after the first couple of weeks as your nipples toughen up and your milk regulates.
2. You Are More Likely To Leave The House Sooner
Did you hibernate in your home barely leaving at all for at least a month with your first baby? Well, that might not be the case this time around. It might be school drop offs, kids classes or just getting your crazy toddler out of the house for an hour, but you are more likely to feel pressured to be “back in the game” much sooner. It might seem intimidating leaving the house with more then one child, but remember, you’ve done this newborn gig before and you can do it!
3. You Are Experienced, But Each Baby Is Different
While you have all the experience from your first baby under your belt, you may find yourself re-learning a lot of things or possibly doing it a whole lot differently this time around. As we know, no two babies are the same.
4. Sleep When The Baby Sleeps Isn’t Always Possible
Are you wishing you took that advice the first time around when it was just you and the baby? If you have another kiddo at home sleeping when the baby sleeps isn’t going to be possible, unless you get both kiddos napping at the same time (which is ah-ma-zing). Since sleeping isn’t always an option, make sure to give yourself a break and leave the dishes or laundry. Make yourself a nice cup of tea and sit for a while, or spend some quality one on one time with your toddler, and don’t you dare feel bad about those chores not getting done.
5. The Lack Of Sleep Is Easier To Manage
Now, don’t get me wrong, you will still be exhausted. Maybe even more so with two kiddos to care for all day. But I definitely found the first few weeks easier to manage then with my first because I was prepared and had done it before. In fact my toddler sometimes still wakes up a night and is an incredibly early riser. My body has been conditioned to sleepless nights and that somehow made the sleep deprivation easier to manage the second time around.
6. Endless TV, But Not For You
When my first was born I watched the entire series of Gilmore Girls, because being home alone holding a fussy baby it was the only thing that kept me sane. This time around it’s not me watching endless amounts of TV, but my toddler who needs to be entertained while I care for the baby. At first I felt guilty about it, we’ve all read about what too much screen times does to kids, but I soon shook off that guilt and remembered that this is just a season and there is plenty of time to detox the screen time later on.
7. Treasure Each Moment
This time around you know how dang fast that newborn stage goes and you might find yourself sobbing into your pillow when they hit that one month milestone, or when they grow out of their newborn size diapers. The other side of this is that you know there is light at the end of the tunnel if you haven’t slept more then 2 hours in a row and haven’t showered in at least 3 days. Soak up those newborn moments because babies don’t keep.
Ellice Vargas
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Ellice Vargas
Latest posts by Ellice Vargas (see all)
- 9 Delicious Christmas Candy Recipes - November 6, 2018
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