Can I cope with another one...

[LittleBoysRock]

I really need some advice from you guys!

I have a beautiful 6.5 month old son who I love dearly. My DH wants us to try to concieve another baby at the end of the year. I am not opposed to the idea but I guess I have reservations. In theory I love the idea of having a couple of children and watching them grow togther.

I had a horrible labour with Owen and am still recovering (down below - sorry prob too much info). I love being a Mum but am not sure how I would cope with a toddler and a newborn.

Can anybody who has done this please tell me if it is near impossible or managable??
I find it difficult somedays to cope just with one. Like when DS is teething it is horrible. How do you do it with two?

[tickle]

I don't have two yet. I have a nearly 19 month old DS and a DD due in 10 weeks and I have become increasingly worried about coping with the two. Especially since everyday seems to become more challenging with my DS and his 'toddlerhood'.:eek: I'm sure it's all hormonal but I just think in the end, yes it will be a real challenge with the two, but by the time the baby is my DS's age it will be so worth it to have them close in age and playing together.:)
Yes, I too would love to know how you guys cope!:o

[Valosgirls]

Hey:)
My two DD's are only 12 months apart( dont rely on breastfeeding as a contraception lol) and yes I would have to say that the first year of their lives is a bit of a blur for me now - I was THAT busy. However I LOVED it!! Its suprising what you can do when have to do it IYKWIM.

The biggest payoff though is that now they are the best of friends - never leave each others side and I never have to entertain them because they have each other. Im so glad that it happended the way it did - they are such a joy now:)

However I found the only way to cope was to be on a routine. My babies all worked beautifully on the sleeptime/feedtime/playtime method and I always knew at anytime of the day who needed their feed next and who was supposed to be napping. I just couldnt afford my health or my sanity for that matter to not have that routine.

Both babies slept through the night at 6wks and 9wks respectively and were fat thriving babies so much so that one got nicknamed the Michelin Man!! LOL In saying this I know that many mothers prefer the demand vs routine and thats fine but I honestly could never have coped myself with any other method.

So anyways --- thats how I did it:)
Rik xx

[poshBecks]

Hi my two kiddies are 20 months apart. And you know what it's actually not as hard as I imagined it was going to be. Mind you there are days that I am very glad to see dh walk through the door at 6:30pm!!
You will cope, you really will!! :)

[Sarie]

I'll admit some days are better than others. My boys are 23 months apart and there are days when I find myself a complete mess and I'm so overwhelmed and drained by the time hubby gets home from work. But having said that we are now ttc# 3 so it's not all bad;)
Take each day as it comes and have a routine. Also keeping the older one busy and occupied makes life easier for you too.
You will be amazed but what you can cope with and even though some days aren't that great, others are absolutely fantasic!!!:D

[LittleBoysRock]

Thank you for the replies.

DH keeps reminding me it is a case of shot term pain, long term gain and from what you guys have said it sounds like that might be the case.

You have made me more confident that I can cope. I am a really organised person and I think I have managed pretty well with DS.

Thanks SO much! :D

[Sarie]

and remember we're always here to listen :D
hugs
Sarie

[monique13]

i fell preg with my twin girls when my 2nd youngest was one and having a 1 year to run after when i was preg with twins was crazy at times and some days i throught i wouldnt make it through the day and then i would start thinking how am i going to cope with two new born babies and 2 year old but the babies came besides of having hardley any sleep it has been really good 1st year with the twins and my 2 year old dont get me wrong you have some good days and some really bad days but you get through them 1 day at a time

[SAVINA]

my eldest 2 are 14 mths apart and yes it wasnt easy but looking back i coped a lot better then i would now ive lost my patience!


if u dont feel your body is ready yet dont push for another one just yet! give yourself a bit more time to heal!

good luck

[neneales]

Hey monyfelix-

My two girls are 19mths apart and I had a c-section with my second so for the first 6 wks was really tough but once I could move around properly it was easier to set a routine. I totally swear by a routine as it seems my girls just settled so well once we had it under control, plus for me I knew what I had to do at certain times. I mean some days the times of things may vary but bathtime and dinner time never changed which made it so much easier for me to get them to bed! I think its really busy till ur baby is walking but once the two can play together its great!
My girls are so close u cant seperate them even at daycare they are in seperate rooms but due to them complaining they end up together!
I wish u all th best and dont stress we are human and for some strange reason we manage to cope!

[Starlet]

The thought of having 2 kids to run around after can seem scary, but if it was that bad then there probably wouldn't be families with 3, 4, 5 or 6 kids!!

My boys are 19 months apart and I was a single mother for a year from the time my youngest was 3 months old. I had no problems handling two kids, however I did get teary eyed when they wouldn't sleep, etc, but the reason behind that was because I wished that their father was around to give me a hand.

I even took both my kids when they were 26 months and 7 months old on a month long holiday by myself. It meant a plane trip from Perth to the Gold Coast, bus to Brisbane, flight to Sydney and back to Perth. With a babybag, backpack for my oldest son, handbag, portacot, tandem pram and suitcase. And I'm still here to tell the tale!!!:laughing:

I think the main thing is if you have the support there for you when the new baby comes along! For one, you have all the beautiful ladies on this forum!

Now I have a blended family of 2 boys(mine) and 2 girls(his). All of them aged between 3 1/2 and 17 months. We are managing just fine, even if it does get a little hectic and loud and MESSY.:laughing:

But we're going to TTC in October, so really it's not all that bad! :)

[AM]

I am one month into having two babies, 23 months apart, and to be honest, I am finding it VERY hard, but I do not have any family at all around me, and dh has just decided to go interstate truck driving, so no help from him either.:crying:

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel though, as i know how quickly babies develop, and become more independant, settled etc, so that is what is keeping me sane right now, I know the first year is going to be the hardest though.

All the best with whatever you decide, and you will cope, you don't really have much choice when you are in it! :)

[sonlou73]

my boys are 16 months apart. DS2 is 3 months, luckily he is a good bubba (for now!). i occasionally think about what's going to happen when i have 2 running around the house and how will i cope. but i am looking forward to them being playmates and seeing them grow together.

[mumof8]

You will be fine!!!!! I have 8 children under 12 years of age, the closest being 11mths apart..It is amazing the strength you find when you are surrounded by love !!!!:smiliedance: It really isnt that bad.....I dont think so any way !!!Good luck....

[Burna25]

Hi there my two are six years apart! No matter when you have number two (3,4,5 ....) bringing another personality into the family always has its challenges. But hey we're Mums we deal with it :smiliedance:

[busylizzy]

I have 8 children under 12 years of age
OMG!!!:yelclap: I don't know what else to say, but my hat certainly comes off to you!
Liz

[IAdoreYou]

Hi Simone :D

Owen is getting so big.

I'm IN THE Same boat!!! We are thinking about ttc # 2 this xmas maybe ..

Some days I think geeez, I don't want another child until brooke is 2! Somedays I breeze through the day.

good luck .. :thumbsup: we may be in the baby group again!

tell me when you start tyring okay, and lets do it together!

Lisa

[mysonroger]

my two are 15 months apart (son 2, daughter 9 mths) and during the baby blues ( ie the day i got out of hospital) i started panicking wondering how i was going to cope with it, almost feeling as if i was about to let my eldest down. with the hormones came a dose of tears...then my sister in law said (mother of twins) ..' you just have to get on with it, what alternative is there'. i snapped out of it instantly....because what alternative was there? anyway, it hasn't been anywhere near as difficult as i imagined. opf course there are challenging times, but there are with just one. the second time round you're more relaxed and capable. and anyone who has them close together usually recommend it. i know i do.

[Baby Girl]

My girls are 2 1/2 years apart and I find it easier with 2!! Does that make me crazy???

DD2 is so easy compared to DD1 (and everyone told me how easy she was). I guess second time it doesn't seem so daunting as you have gone through it all before - the nappy changing, bathing, settling, fedding etc.

No matter how close or far apart you have them, there will always be hard days and easy days but you will get through them all and love every minute of it (maybe not at the time but later).

[jessgray]

my son will be a 18 months when his little brother or sister is due to be born in november. yes i worry i wont cope but i figure with good organisation and making DP do housework anyone can cope :laughing: :smiliedance:

[mum of 2]

My children are 3 years apart and my son (older) has always been such a big help with my daughter (younger). I think that 3 years was a great gap...