Pregnant again really close.

[31becc]

Hi girls, well I was on this forum - for almost 20 months of trying the first time, 6 cycles of clomid and had dye through my tubes! I finally fell and had a beautiful girl, Matilda at the end of March.

I have just done a test this morning and I got positive. On my calculations I would be about 9 weeks, hence I will have 13 months between them. Am excited but positively freaked out!!!!!!

Has any else had close babies, any hints?

[Traveller]

Congratulations!!! I had just under 15 months between my first two, and my sister had just under 14 month between hers. The early months are busy and tiring, but I still found it easier going from 1 to 2, than from 0 to 1. You have to learn to multitask, and deal with whichever child is crying loudest or quickest settled first. For me this generally meant DS2 had to wait for breastmilk whilst I made DS1 a sandwich, but that meant I could settle into a long breastfeed knowing DS1 would not interrupt me.

I would recommend getting a sling, if you don't have one already, as this way you can get on with your day and dealing with your toddler while still having cuddles with your newborn. It also makes supermarket shopping much easier.

It honestly will not be as hard as it seems, and you will have the benefit of 2 children growing up as good friends as well as siblings.

[mummyto2studentmidwife]

Hi Hun

Youll be fine i had 14mths with my first two and they fight like any siblings but they are best mates and he wasn't even worried when she came home form hospital it was like she was always here. I dont think he remembers life with out her. My life became more organized when two can along i think routeen is the answer though.

Good luck with it all

[miss.cinders]

Congratulations!!

Yep my first 2 are *just* 14mths apart. Hmm suggestions to help when bub comes.... def get yourself a sling/pouch. Makes life soooo much easier. AND a double pram/stroller - I didn't have one for a long time and life would have been alot less stressful at times if I did.

I can honestly say the only stressful thing for me was not having a double pram/stroller. Everything else just kind of worked out beautifully.

Mine are now 14yo & 15yo and have been best buds since the day Miss14 was born

[megs]

Congratulations!

I agree with miss.cinders get the twin pram. I had double pram and I made sure that my eldest could still layback as he would still have a sleep in the pram. Quite often we would go for a walk in the afternoon during that arsenic hour just to get out of the house.

My other advice is once your 2nd bub is a bit older I made sure that I had both children going down for their afternoon sleep at 1pm that meant I would at least have 1 hour during the day where I could just chill, eat lunch and just have a sanity break.

[Mad Scientist]

Congratulations!! You will love it! Of course it's tough sometimes but having kids in general is tough sometimes! The best advice is definitely get a sling. I used mine until DD2 was 14 months old to do the food shopping. DD1 was in the trolley, DD2 in the sling. When she was older she sat in it on my hip and would often fall asleep! Lol. A double pram is a good idea too. Also, I found a playpen to be fantastic, as DD1 had a habit of getting into everything while I was bf DD2 and she wasn't d enough to be entertained by tv. I put all her toys and books in there and had it near me while I bf. Getting their sleep to synchronize is impossible to begin with so I wouldn't try for a few months but after that you'll feel like a hero when it happens and the time to yourself will feel awesome. Enjoy your pregnancy and congratulations again

[Ilithyia]

Congratulations!!

I had 14 months between my 2 Girls.

It was quite tough in the beginning as its almost like having 2 babies.

They girls are 3 and 4 now and its a delight to watch them together.

They do have little tiffs etc but for most of the part they are best friends.

Would I do again? Probably just not as close. Maybe 16-18 months next time. More for my body's sake than anything else.

Wishing you a Happy and Healthy Journey!
x

[AwesomeFoursome]

Congratulations!!

I have 18 months between DS and DD, and there will be 15 months between DD and this bub. I also agree on the double pram, alot of the time when shopping I just put them in a double trolley but I still use it a lot for walks, toddlers are limited in the speed and distance they can walk. I got a buddy board to put on the pram for DS when bub is born cause he still doesn't walk overly far. I think the other important thing is have everything set up for them, including a drink, snack ect before you sit down feed the baby. Its hard when you sit down to feed then 5 minutes later you hear 'drink mum drink'. I also tried to get them in the same routine as early as possible. I now try to have them both in bed between 6.30-7pm so I get a break at night, which helps me alot.

[peanutter]

congratulations!

[~Lashes~]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! i am sure you will do fine! as previously stated, you managed the leap from no bub, to new bub im guessing you coped well with that? then you should be fine with no 2! i found its usualy just your brain over thinking the situation, therefor making you stress out!
my boys are 19 months apart, they are now 3 and about to turn 5. i did freak as i wasnt sure how i would manage having 2 under 2, but my imagination of the situation was alot more dramatic then reality was!!
im now expecting no 4, i am due one month after dd's 1st birthday so there will be a 13 month gap, i have already been threw the stressed freak out "how will i cope with 4 and 2 so close!!" but df just kept reminding me how we have maneged going to one, ect and my mind has calmed down! (pluss he has started helping ALOT more, that or ive just noticed!) maybe let your other half know that you need him to be able to help as much as possible, might help put your mind at ease!
remember: you are a woman, us women can do anything!!

[Daytona's Mummy]

Congratulations!....... There will be 13 mths between my two also. I'm a little scared & excited both at the same time! We will do just fine!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Congratulations, i had 15mths b/w my girls and i LOVE it..it can be hard work but they get to the stage where they occupy each other, they eat at the same time etc and it all works well.
I actually enjoyed the NB and toddler stage, DD2 slept and i still got quality time with DD1, i find it harder sometimes now when they both want attention and are both old enough and alert enough to realise they are not getting it.

I totally agree with getting a sling or carrier, a double pram is a MUST, i have a tandem rather than side by side as my DD1 basically doesn't sleep in the pram anymore.
If you don't have one one of the little electric swings is great, DD2 loved being in it while i cooked tea.

Good luck with your PG... all the best.

FWIW my cousin has a 10.5mth age gap b/w her youngest kids, she had 2 kids, tried for the 3rd for years and years had quite a few losses, had bub #3 and a month later fell PG again, i can tell you she was VERY shocked but seems to be coping very well.

[~Lashes~]

FWIW my cousin has a 10.5mth age gap b/w her youngest kids, she had 2 kids, tried for the 3rd for years and years had quite a few losses, had bub #3 and a month later fell PG again, i can tell you she was VERY shocked but seems to be coping very well.

thought id add also:

my cousin also had a 10 month gap! there seccond daughter was one month old when they found out they were expecting twins! they are now all 3 for a few months untill there daughter turns 4! they now have 6 the youngest 2 have a 11 month gap, at 2 and 1. if you have the will power to make it work, anything is possible!!
the biggest gap they have is 3 years between the eldest 2.

[31becc]

Hi Girls, thanks for all of your advice, and congrats to those who seem to be in a similar situation! I think initially I was shocked but I am getting my head around it now and am pretty excited. I am definately going to get a sling. I had a baby bjorn for DD1 but found it required a bit of juggling!

I have looked into the pram situation and I can get a seat that goes on the front. DD1 doesn't really like sleeping in it anymore anyway. I just am thinking of all the cross over things, ie nappies, two cots crazy. I am a very organised person in general but it is a bit overwelming!

Thanks

[mummyto2studentmidwife]

The 2 nappy thing is easy really change one change the other but when it comes to toilet training the second they are really keep. 2 cots totally up to you i refused to buy an other cot no. 2 was in a craddle for 4 mths during that 4mth we transfered no. 1 into a bed we had the bed in his room form 12mths to get him use to the idea then he was in the bed for 1 month before we transfered no.2 into the cot in the mean time we put the cot into storage so that he didn't feel like she was getting his cot, first night is a big bed he was only 16mths old.

good luck i remember as soon as i got a positive HPT thinking what am I going to do amount a pram how bad is that, that was my initial concern lol. its a lot to get your head around i think. I have a Ergo baby carrier which i love and still usse now when they where really little i used a wrap like a hug a bug it was great cause it fitted in the bottom of the pram and if i forgot a blanket it had a second purpose.

youll work it all out and you will enjoy every min.

[Just Me]

Congratulations!!!

My DD1 and DS are a little over 12 months apart, and there is 15 months between DS and DD2. DD2 will be 16 months when our new baby arrives so as you can probably see, I think a small age gap is fantastic. I've never known it any other way though.

There are a lot of advantages of having kids close and it's really not as hard as most people think it might be. My best tip would be to get a baby capsule. It makes getting in and out of the car and house with 2 small children so much easier. You can put your bub to sleep in the capsule if you have to go out, you can leave your capsule on the footpath while you make sure that your toddler is securely in the car, you can bring the capsule inside and put it just inside the door if both your kids fall asleep in the car and your baby can stay there until your toddler is securely in their bed. It was a life saver for me.

I think the other really hard part is pregnancy. I was exhausted trying to pick up a baby and be pregnant at the same time. Just remember to take it easy and let other people, like your mum and partner, do as much for you as they are willing. Save your energy for spending it with your DD, don't waste it on other tasks unless necessary.

When your baby comes, try and have naps where they both sleep at least once every day. I usually wait for the baby to be tired which might mean leaving the older one awake for an extra half an hour or so and then putting them both to sleep about the same time. Having the down time each day makes a huge difference.

Anyway, DD2 just woke up from her nap and is crying. Better go.

[Freya]

Youll be ok, its not as bad as it seems! I have 15mths between my first two and 14mths between my second and third so I had 2 under 2.5 when Ds3 was born. I actually think there are alot of advantages to smaller age gaps. One major peice of advice I will give you is ACCEPT ALL HELP! A extra set of hands here and there or a little nap can work wonders. Congratulations!

[Shar]

Great to hear everyones exp, I will have 13 mths between number 3 who was born end of Feb and number 4.

Thanks for starting this thread 31becc, get to read.

Shar x