How To Plan and Prepare for a Second Baby.

Are you considering a second baby now that bub is a bit older? Yearning for newborn cuddles? Or maybe you are already expecting, but not sure how to prepare for the little one's arrival when you already have your hands full with your first.

Looking for a helping hand to guide your research as you take on this journey of becoming a mother of two? This blog is for you. Below, we have covered all the tips and hacks you need to prep for another adorable addition to the family.

Few Tips To Help You Plan a Second Pregnancy:

1. Have a Heart-to-Heart Chat With Your Partner

If you are in a relationship, have a talk with your partner about expanding the family. Only through proper communication will you get to know how your other half feels about taking on more shared responsibility. By asking each other important questions, you can work out a detailed plan of roles and responsibilities beforehand and avoid any disappointments and relationship strains down the road. 

2. Go Through Your Finances

Since you already have a child, you know that raising one isn’t cheap. And yes, you may already have reusable items from your first pregnancy, but a second pregnancy isn’t without it’s own costs. And since every baby is different, there might be new expenses this time around. Aside from that, there are also future financial needs to consider, such as higher education. So you have to make sure that you are financially sound and can cushion added expenses.

3. Prepare Your Body for Another Pregnancy

The healthier you are prior to your pregnancy, the better the birth. Prepare your body and mind for the mental and physical demands of a second pregnancy. 

• Get Therapeutic Massages

If you believe your body requires more healing from your first birth, you can get a therapeutic postpartum massage and make it stronger and more resilient to take on this challenging journey a second time. You can also get a soothing massage for women to reduce stress and improve your chances of conceiving.

• Eat a Healthy Diet

Consider eating food that nourishes your body, has more nutritional value, and aids in cleansing your body of toxins. By maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and drinking plenty of water, you will be able to give your body the nutritional support it needs during pregnancy.  

• Try Drinking Fertility Smoothies

Talking about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, why not swap out the cup of joe you usually drink with a fertility smoothie? They are not only delicious, but they also contain the nutrients and vitamins necessary for a healthy pregnancy. The best part? There are so many recipes to try out.

• Take Up Relaxing Hobbies

Stress is not only bad for your mental well-being, but it can also raise your cortisol levels. The increased cortisol level can suppress your sex drive and even ovulation — both of which are requisites for a pregnancy. So aside from getting a rejuvenating women’s massage, you can engage in relaxing hobbies such as listening to fun music, meditating, journaling, and so on to help calm your mind and body. Try to include your first born in these activities one-on-one if you can!

• Make Time for Exercise

Try different exercises that give you more energy and reduce your stress levels. There are simple workouts that can help improve your sleep, so give those a try as well — because better sleep is essential when you are trying to conceive.

4. Consider the Age Gap

There is no ideal age gap between your first and second child. It all comes down to what works best for you, your babies, and your family as a whole. 

If the age difference is less, your children will get along better, share their toys, and so on. It will, however, be more taxing to be looking after two tiny tots. If the age difference is more, you will have an extra set of hands to help you out during the newborn phase, and you will also be able to teach bub about the responsibilities of being an older sibling. But at the same time, there may be more sibling jealousy. 

5. Track Your Menstrual Cycle

To increase your chances of conception significantly, you need to know your ovulation period, aka "the fertile window ." However, the after-birth hormonal imbalance and breastfeeding can make your menstrual cycle go haywire. Charting your ovulation by tracking your menstrual cycle goes a long way towards understanding your fertility.

6.Trust Your Instincts

Having another child is a big decision with many factors to consider. So, if you are still unsure after considering everything, trust your gut instinct. Close your eyes and have an honest conversation with yourself; if your instincts tell you that now is the time to have another child, take a leap of faith and go for it.

Few Tips To Help You Prepare for No. 2’s Arrival:

1. Sort Out the Baby Essentials (Reuse or Buy)

Go through all the items from your oldest's newborn days and see what you can use, what you need to toss out, and what you need to buy again. For example, throw away the broken toys, but you can wash the soft toys and use them again. The same goes for swaddles, blankets, booties and baby clothes. You may have to buy new pacifiers, bottles, diapers, and bath essentials such as fragrant-free soap and baby bath oil.

2. Don’t Forget the Pregnancy Must-Haves

As with your first pregnancy, you will experience dry and itchy skin, particularly around your baby bump, as well as aches and pains caused by pregnancy-induced magnesium deficiency. So, don't forget to reapply our belly oil to help your growing bump feel at ease, and indulge in our magnesium-rich pregnancy bath soak. It will help with swelling, muscle pain, and even haemorrhoids.

3. Indulge in Pregnancy Massages

Massage isn't only beneficial in prepping the body and mind for conception. Pregnancy massages can also help relax the abdominal muscles, making childbirth easier. So when you are expecting, schedule a prenatal massage instead of the general massage for women, as its special techniques can help unwind the pregnant body, relieve pregnancy-related body pains, aid in insomnia, and, of course! Naturally, reduce the pain of labour and birth.

4. Get the Nursery Ready

Instead of waiting until your second trimester, start setting up the nursery a little earlier. By doing so, you will get more time to teach and instil the habit of staying quiet and causing less disruption in the nursery area to your oldest. 

5. Break the News to Your First at the Appropriate Time

Tell your first about the good news before telling any extended family members and friends to avoid bub learning about it from a second-hand source. Use colourful picture books and children's movies to help your child understand the concept of becoming a sibling.

6. Pack Two Hospital Bags

You already know that you'll need to pack a hospital bag with basic toiletries, slippers, and other necessities. But this time, you must also prepare another small bag for when your oldest child visits you and the new baby in the hospital. To keep bub occupied and entertained for an extended period of time, pack small toys, colouring books, and snacks in the bag.

7. Stock Up on Postpartum Essentials

Your body will need twice the care during the postpartum period of your second pregnancy. So stock up on post-birth healing essentials such as postpartum sitz soak and all-natural nipple balm. We also make special care packages for new mamas. Later on, you can order one based on your childbirth (vaginal delivery package or c-section delivery package).

Few Things You Can Expect During Your Second Pregnancy

• Expect more back pain and fatigue
• You might experience second baby guilt
• Baby kicks might come in sooner 
• Might experience Braxton Hicks contractions earlier
• Postpartum healing may take longer
• You may face more abdominal discomfort during the pregnancy

Conclusion

When you are carrying and caring at the same time, preparation is your best friend. By being more organised and planning ahead of time, you will be able to attain a much more relaxing second childbirth and be more at ease throughout the entire journey. 

– The Hermosa Co.