My Second Pregnancy- Things I am doing differently this time around

Are you pregnant with your second baby? Oh my gosh- congratulations!! It's a bit different this time around, now that you have another child to take care of & navigate growing another little bundle of joy! I wish you luck! It is TI-YUR-ING!  But let's not lollygag- let's jump right in! 

Here are the major 4 things I am doing differently: 

1. Not obsessing over my weight gain - healthy mama & healthy baby are priority

I’m not the belly only pregnancy that I strive so hard to be. That is just not my body. (*Sigh, no special genes here!)

I gain weight in my butt, thighs and hips like no other and get a lot of cellulite. Both pregnancies I have eaten mostly healthy and gotten my daily exercise in, and yet I gain lots of weight.

I have an awful memory of breaking down in my OBGYN’s office when I gained 16 pounds in the first trimester. I wasn’t gorging bon bons and going crazy, unfortunately. After that appointment, I was super strict making sure I was eating only nutritious foods for my baby and was working out everyday. And guess what, even with me being way too obsessed, I gained 60-65 pounds. So yeah, I will not be stressing this time around and just letting my body do it’s thing.

2. Giving myself grace!

I cannot stress this enough. It is time we give ourselves some GRACE, mamas!!

And this time around I have a toddler to keep alive & phew! I am tiiiiiired!

I have been eating (*heated meat) sandwiches almost constantly. I am giving into more cravings. I am giving myself permission to rest when I feel exhausted.

I still am moving my body daily, and aiming to eat nutritiously, but giving myself grace, grace, grace!

3. Not stressing over the birth plan- gasp!

We had a very thorough birth plan the first go around. We did all the research, read the books and took the classes. All were fantastic and NEEDED to prepare for your first child.

In our birth plan, we wanted a natural birth, no epidural, no pitocin, etc, etc. and basically nothing went to plan. I was induced, had to get pitocin to get contractions going, they came on way too strong, way too quick, got the epidural and I am not mad about it at all. I took a nap, and the birth was quite peaceful!

Not much is usually in our control about how our children enter the world. Healthy baby and healthy mama should always win. Everything else just needs to be safe and align with your vision as much as can be.

4. Not buying everything on registry lists.

Now I have no shame. Borrowing is so much better than registering or paying yourself. Chances are you know someone (that knows someone) with baby items you will need.

The budgeter in me loves this.

Babies grow out of things SO fast and a neighbor, friend, or someone you may know probably has the items you might need. It can save you hundreds, even thousands.

Example- this round I wasn’t scared to ask a few friends to borrow items. A friend and her friend are hooking us up with incredible things - super cute clothes, and a Snoo!! I hear wonderous things about that bassinet & that thing is like $1200, so yes, thank you, I am very open to any offerings friends give me!

Are you pregnant with your second child? What are you doing differently this time around? I would love to hear how your answers compare to mine!

Have any other questions? Leave me a comment below!
                                         
                                         XO,

Mom Life

may 1, 2020

Chelsea