Reasons for waiting to fall pregnant again.

[Pregnor]

Our little guy has just gone 5 months old, and the stress and pain of pregnancy and child birth is long forgotten. We are really enjoying life as parents and so the topic of when to have the next keeps popping up!

I have heard that medically you should wait at least 12 months between pregnancies, I have been trying to find some information on it, can anyone point me in the right direction?

It is crazy to want to start trying again now, isnt it?

[justmum]

I thought the 12 month thing was a guideline for caesars? I found out I was expecting No.2 a few days before my DS's 1st birthday.

The gap is a little small actually. It's been fairly hard.

At the moment, you're loving the beautiful babyness of your baby. I'd just enjoy that for longer if I had my time again :( My little boy turns 2 tomorrow and I have a 4 month old - it's a big change for such a small child and if I culd have my time again, I'd love to have had my daughter about 6 months later than I did.

It isn't crazy to want another one I want another already too and my DD is only 4 months old. Just be aware it does have an enormous impact on your first and their time as the baby.

[Pregnor]

Thats a very good point. He does need to have his time with us as 'the baby', its just hard to shake the feelings of wanting another!

I hope your little boy has a lovely birthday tomorrow. :D

[justmum]

Oh I hope I didn't upset you :o my reply was so about my issewes and not about you! Have another one if you feel the need to - babies are such a glorious delight. I'd have a million.

18mo - 2.5 years is a challenging time - if I have another one I'll wait a bit longer.

(And 2 in nappies is lots of work :laughing:)

[bada]

I can't give you links to any info, but I have also read that 12 months between pregnancies is recommended to give your body time to replenish all the nutrient stores etc that were depleted during pregnancy.

I was so keen to have another from early on until DD reached 10 months and I saw a friend's newborn. It made me realise how happy I am with just DD for a while longer :yes: So I would say if you're not in any hurry, then why not wait and see how you feel in 5 or 6 months :)

[OnePossum]

My obstetrician recommended 2yrs before no 2 arrives, reason given what that prior to this you run the risk of a low birth weight baby...

[sparkle5301]

Hi there. My first born was only 6 months old when I fell pregnant with my DS. Those years are such a blur for me. From being pregnant with a baby (soo tired, and found it hard to cope), to tending to two babies. I was always sick after I had given birth to DS, because I was so run down from two pregnancies close together, and dealing with two babies.

I desperately wanted a third, but had a large age gap so I could get back on my feet, and the experience was so different. I dealt with the pregnancy, birth and a newborn so easily, and I have spent more quality time with him.

I hope you are blessed with your next baby when the time is perfect for you and your family :flowerz:

[Areca]

THere's 21 months between my first two and ideally I'd like them a bit closer. I found being pregnant with a toddler not so bad once I got past the m/s stage (which sucks no matter how old they are....I just went through it again and DD1 is three and it still sucked) because she napped so I could nap when she did and she was none the wiser.
It's busy but any attention DD1 has lacked in having to share me with her sister she has gained again and again by having a playmate for life. I never found it all that hard, even with two in cloth nappies and a baby that woke up every two hours through the night until she was 11 months old. It was just our life and I loved it. When DD1 turned two I was soooo glad to not have a newborn because she was a nightmare with her tantrums and took a lot of attending to so it was good that DD2 was that bit older and a bit more predictable.

Originally we wanted a 15 month age gap and I'm glad that didn't happen because that would've been tough. DD1 didn't walk until she was 15 months and having that bit of extra independence was a huge help. I am glad we didn't fall pregnant at 6 months because it meant I got to breastfeed DD1 until she was 14 months and she has lots of allergies, which we discovered at 10 months....putting her on to formula would've killed her, or we would've been close so that was a true help too.
I'm pregnant with no. 3 and DD1 will be just short of being 4 and DD2 will be two years and two months. I know that DD1 will be a big help to me in the beginning but I'm more concerned about down the track. Having kids close together means they have similar interests at the same time but when no. 3 is still really in to going to parks etc. DD1 will be bored with the park scene. There's also 4 years between my mum and my aunty and they hated each other growing up.....too big an age gap is what they and my nana say was the problem. My nana had 13 months between my aunty and uncle and she swears that's the easiest age gap.

I have fairly easy pregnancies so was able to be quite active with DD1 when pregnant. And as for the small baby statement by the OB in the abovve post....DD2 was a very healthy 10lb 2oz so we clearly were'nt affected there!

Good luck with your decision. Keep thinking about it but don't completely rule it out if it's what your heart truly desires.

[Bel1978]

I had a private Ob who gave me the ok at 6 weeks to try again... we have a 12 month age gap and i wouldnt change it for any thing as for the birth weight my DD was 6lb 4 and 1 year later my DS was 8lb4

Hi JM fancy meeting you here!! 2 in nappies are easy!

[Boobycino]

12 months after a c-section to get pregnant? I wonder if that is correct... I should check that out before TTC - I was wondering as I still have niggly aches and pains along my scar, maybe I shouldn't put any pressure on that scar before its fully healed?

Thanks! You've given me something I need to google (and then, you know, ask an actual doctor)

[garfield13]

Not crazy at al, I remember feeling that way not long after dd was born and though we would start tcc around 9mths of age. My ob rec to wait 12mths.
I have a close friend that has a ds 16mths older than dd and thats had alot to do with our decision to wait a bit longer. I really noticed alot of changes in him from 20-24mths months as in terms of being a bit easier to handle with a nb. So we'll now aim for an age gap of 2-2.5ys

[I love JJJ]

Our DD is 5 months and we will be trying again when she is about 7 months.
I would already be pregnant again but DH and I are waiting until after a large event in a couple of months before we start trying again.
:bee: