Was anyone else more nervous the second time round?

[chody47]

Before having DD i was a bit nervous, but more so because i didnt know what to expect. I went in without any plan as such as I didn't want to be disappointed if things didn't go to plan. DDs birth turned out to be very quick and I honestly didn't find it as bad as I had imagined it would be. I've never really had any negative thoughts about how DDs birth went. I mean, I didn't feel in 'control' at all, but I think that's partly due to the speed.

Anyway, now that I'm getting close to doing it all again I'm getting quite nervous. I'm not really sure exactly what is making me nervous....maybe it's because I'm half expecting bubs will be early due to their current size....whatever the case, is it 'normal' to feel this way??

[maybebaby2012]

More nervous about pregnancy in general, but I think I'm less nervous about birth! But it's been 8 years for me though, perhaps I'm living in ignorant bliss! Lol

[Kazzo]

Sometimes knowing what to expect can add to someones nerves. We start thinking about how it went last time and maybe over think it all. It is totally normal what your feeling though. But I do think that your worry is more towards your bub then the actual labor. Maybe get some positive affirmations and stick them up around the place and focus on them.

[Santosha]

Normal? Yeah, I think so. In that it's perfectly reasonable. Birth, recovery and early baby days are intense and very much beyond our control. I had a very rough time during my first labour which contributed to me anxiety, but yep, I was nervous second time 'round. I knew what contractions felt like... I just had no idea how many, for how long and how I would handle it this time. As it happened, birth #2 was brilliant.

Is it at all possible that your nerves are related to bringing another baby home too? (I only ask as I found that aspect pretty scarey too, just wondering how I'd manage newborn and toddler).

Let yourself feel whatever it is. The reasons behind it are more likely to make themselves known if you just let it be there and accept the thoughts and feelings as they arise. Wishing you all the best in welcoming your little one. xo

[sangie]

I was definitely more nervous second time around. I think it was because I knew exactly what to expect and how much it was going to hurt! But once labour started I was surprisingly calm, figured I'd done it once before and I could do it again.

[chody47]

Thanks for your responses ladies.

It probably is likely that I'm nervous due to this pregnancy not being as easy as the last one. It may also be nervousness about having another baby....now that you mention it, last time I probably didn't think about how life changing having a baby would be (yes i knew it would be life-changing, but having no baby experience I didnt know the extent). Maybe knowing all the changes to come is making me nervous too???

[Lisa]

I was nervous as anything with every one of my babies after the first but none more so than DD3. I think it was because DD2 was only born 17 months before, so the labour etc was still very fresh in my mind. Everything turned out perfectly though as I'm sure everything will for you Chody xx

[forshelby]

I think it's normal.

I'm nervous about the birth, and juggling two little ones. I keep having flashbacks to how demanding DS was and worrying I'm going to have a similar experience. Then I tell myself that I already know how to be a mama, I have plenty of experience with wrestling a newborn....

The thing that scares me the most is dealing with DS's special needs once his foot surgery is done, and has to wear a cast for 3 months. At this stage it looks like he'll be in a cast when bubs is born. :/

But yes, totally normal I think because this time we know what we're in for!

[3_Girls]

I was very nervous the second time around. Knowing what was coming next was a big part of it though. I found it to be MUCH easier with #2, and #3 was easier again. I hope that's the case for you x

[PumpkinZulu]

I know this is an old thread, but actually yes, I was more nervous about some aspects of my second birth, much more. There were many that I wasn't nervous about, but for me, I was nervous about the pain. I've read stories here of women who describe their labours and births as intense but not painful...I can only describe both labours as intensely painful. I had calm, quiet, relaxed births, the second being at home...but the pain was mind blowing. After DD1, I had the typical reaction of forgetting the pain in the haze of newborn life. Not this time lol. Both labours were 6 hours, both drug free, and both I had 1-2 or so hours of amazingly easy labour, before the contractions dropped to two minutes apart for 90 seconds. I have never noticed a steady increase in intensity or pain, it's either manageable and cruisey or crushingly painful. It's amazing what we can cope with when we need to! So that was a long winded way of saying yes, I was more nervous about the pain, because I knew what to expect.