TTC#2+ - What will you do differently next time?

[Dragonbub]

I am sure this has been asked before, but thought I would refresh it for a bit of a laugh.

For me, the things I would like to do next pg and with the next baby:

*Not stress as much over every little niggle
*not focus too much on the labour - there is so much more afterwards
*eat healthier - it was so hard to get the weight off
*know that it does end sometime
*enjoy it, for me it will be the last time
*don't stress over what to eat and what not to - next time I will just take my own lunch!
*I will probably find out the gender of bub. I didn't do this with baby#1 and would like to with the next one (but not tell anyone)
*talk about it more
*have baby at same hospital as with #1 (but am moving so will be further away)
*relax about BFing. I know I can do it again
*BF on a schedule straight away - DS got jaundice partially cos he didn't drink enough and was too sleepy

For the next baby, I will:

*not rock it to sleep (DS preferred his own space)
*breastfeed as long as possible, but know that life doesn't end when BFing does
*not jump at every little cry
*be stronger when it is wailing its head off
*know that those first few months are hard, but so precious and to enjoy them
*take time out to enjoy and validate being a mum

I am sure there is alot more, but that will do for now. I would love to hear your thoughts

[Dragonbub]

I thought of one more thing - I will take longer maternity leave! LOL

[MummyTummy]

For pregnancy:

• not find out the gender
• eat better
• try and get my belly to suck back in afteerwards
• better prepare for labour now that I know what to expect with a birth support person

For mothering:

• I'm going to listen to my instincts more. I tried to this time, and I think I was spot on every time, but I quite often let other people make me doubt myself and my abilities.
• Try and establish B/F a little more strongly. I had a rollercoaster ride with B/F right up until 6 months when things settled down. We fed until DS was 13 months.
• Continue all the positive things I have done for my son with the new baby

[widdly]

for pregnancy

-relax more
-treasure feeling bub inside me moving around
-not be in such a hurry for labour to start
-find out the sex, same as last time
-hopefully ot be a sscared in labour and only use gas no epi

for baby
-bottle feed from birth, with some expressed milk
-leave bub in its own bed
-let DH do his share of the baby care
-not second guess myself
-not be in a rush for bub to grow up and reach milestones

[Doing my best]

just having had #2, there is a whole list of things I did/do differently.. Will come back later to expand

[Dragonbub]

Congrats Heather!
I agree with you Widdly on letting DH do his share. I am not sure where I went wrong with #1 but I will def let go of the reins for #2.
Also, I will FORCE my mum and MIL to help. They were absolutely, incomprehensively useless with #1 and their ineptness contributed to my PND scuffle. I will not let this happen again.

I think I might organise a cleaner, AND some home delivered food for about the first 3 months at least. What a nightmare that was