Mummy Talk / Pregnancy

10 Things I didn’t expect during my second pregnancy

Pregnancy is a wonderful and magical time. I remember the first time I was pregnant, I was so overwhelmed with emotions that I didn’t know where to turn to for information and signed up to all the courses I could find. Talking to mummies anywhere and everywhere, and Googling “parenting” became my favourite past time. Now that I have a few years of parenting experience under my belt, I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore. However, pregnancy number 2 proved me wrong. Here are a few things I didn’t expect to happen.

1. Hiding a growing bump was much more difficult

Yes, of course you grow bigger when you’re pregnant, but I didn’t quite anticipate how much quicker this would have been! At 2 months, I felt and looked like how I was during my first pregnancy at 5 months. I brought 1 maternity dress, 1 maternity top and 1 pair of maternity jeans during my first pregnancy, fast forward to the second, my maternity clothes don’t even fit!!! I am not huge, so how is that even possible?Probably because my baby belly was a lot more droopy – I believe I was the wrong pregnancy shape that shops did not tailor for. I lived in oversized tank tops and vests just so it could cover the bits that would have hung out.

2. I felt kicks and movements alot sooner

Not only did I grow bigger quicker, but all the sensations and pains I felt after 30 weeks during my first pregnancy, I felt a lot sooner too… like in the first couple of weeks! Is that why so many people know they are pregnant that much quicker the second time round? Waddling at 35 weeks? Try 20 weeks or even before! Couldn’t feel baby moving until around 17 weeks? I made it to week 12 and my tummy started to rumble like a volcano!

3. It’s harder, so much harder.

Second time round, even though I’ve experienced being pregnant before, it was so much harder. Maybe because I’m older and everything just isn’t as it was before. The morning sickness, the aches and pains, the low level of energy just did not stop. Especially when I had to bend over and wipe my toddlers arse or pick up pieces of food or toy for the millionth time. A whining and super clingy toddler knowing that his life will change forever when the baby arrives just wants you to hold and cuddle him all day everyday. My body felt like it was ready to burst at the seams, however I carried on doing it knowing it will all pass. And it does, unlike the cooking and housework. 😛 Also once you show hubby how capable you are, they also forget you’re pregnant and don’t treat you the same as pregnancy #1.

4. Incontinence is a thing

I’ve never experienced this before and I do my pelvic exercises etc quite religiously! However, I still suffered from incontinence… Baby hanging down low and pressing on my nether regions didn’t help. Being ill made it worse, any little cough or sneeze would trigger a trickle (or more)! It’s embarrassing to say the least, but Tena lady has been my saviour! No one would have been any the wiser.

5. I “cared” so much less

How many weeks are you? No idea. Do you know if it’s a boy or girl? No. Do you want to know? No. Have you documented how you’ve been feeling? No. Have you put oil/cream on your belly everyday? No. Vitamins? No. Have you taken any weekly/monthly bump photos? No. 3D/4D scan? No. Baby Shower? No. Birthing plan? Nope. LOL. You get the idea. It’s not that I love this baby any less than the first one, but I just don’t have the energy or time to think or do any of the above. I still suffer from mummy brain from the previous pregnancy. Plus, I’m working, trying to keep up with housework and run after a toddler. Saying I’m tired is an understatement; every part of me is in pain. I just want to lie down and do nothing, but that’s impossible.

6. Apart from my bump growing alot quicker, my breasts did too!

Yay!!! After breastfeeding for 16 months with my first, they literally became non existent. But man, the quick growth spurt meant I didn’t have time to adjust, clothes didn’t fit and the stretched skin meant they were very delicate to the touch!

7. Food and drink

I ate food even if they were banned. Of course, unintentionally. I craved proscuitto at one point and polished off the packet without thinking whether I could have them or not. Turns out, they were on the NHS “No” list. Special dates meant tiny sips of alcohol here and there. And a craving for raw sushi/sashimi (once) meant I had to be extra careful in finding out how they were prepared and packaged. I’ve also had the odd runny egg, tuna and mayonnaise. Overall, I didn’t go crazy, but I also didn’t deprive myself of anything I wanted to eat.

8. Crafting and DIY

For #JasperBean, I crafted and made him personalised height charts, busy books, babygrows, changing table, mats, bibs, curtains etcetc. Needless to say, I haven’t done any of this… I was so focused on preparing #JasperBean’s room and moving him out of his cot bed that I had minimal time to make anything for baby #2. I wanted my eldest to feel special and independent before baby arrived. Not only was there new challenges for me ahead, but also for every member of the family. I wanted to make sure that I was preparing him to be a great brother that I know he was capable of. When there is more than one child, priorities definitely shift. This is not saying that I wouldn’t continue to craft and DIY after baby arrives. 🙂

Check my Instagram for more creations and adventures!

9. New Purchases

Nope, baby will and has received all the hand me downs (except the car seat). We are also so grateful for family and friends for gifting us with the most adorable baby things. We are indeed loved.

10. Many times, I forgot I was pregnant

Until around 37 weeks when I started my maternity leave, I would constantly forget I was pregnant. Of course the never ending medical appointments and scans, aches and pains, kicks and internal mexican waves reminded me that I was growing body parts within. However, I wasn’t mentally consumed by baby and pregnancy thoughts throughout my pregnancy like hospital bags, baby names*, ante-natal classes, baby apps and websites. When someone asked me if I was pregnant, I had to think twice because I was too busy running after my firstborn.

10 Things I didn’t expect with pregnancy number two

Is this how you felt when you were pregnant with subsequent babies? What else did you not expect?

Thanks for reading and until next time…

Love, MsMamaBean x


*Oops! That’s a lie, I was constantly thinking about baby names, but only because I didn’t like any name I came across! Me and S just couldn’t agree so it’s a miracle we have a name for baby #2.

Let me know what you think!

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