Small gaps and mummies body.

[tr1na]

Hi Hi,
Im due in March for my first, and I am already planning on when to have the second, third, fourth etc. I would like a small age gap (if my mental capacity allows me too). By this I mean maybe 1 years - 1.5 years. Probably because I dont want to be pregnant over the age of 31.

I am slightly afraid that by having children with such a small gap I might be putting my body at risk? Will I ever get a decent body back? I dont care about strecth marks, and I dont care about a bit of fat, I am more worried about sagging skin, and over-used dowstairs region, saggy breasts and the stomach in general.

I might be a bit clueless with the specifics I have written above, and maybe this doesnt happen? But I have noticed women get them (maybe not all, or many at all) but I would just like an answer even if I am being simple and these things just are stupid to even think about.

Also sorry If I offend anyone, but I would really like an honest answer. :-)

[TinyStar]

I think it's got more to do with how you look after yourself personally, than the effects of pregnancies so close together.

I had my children 1 year and 1 month apart. I was fit between pregnancies (I started back at the gym at 12 weeks then continued going until about 20 weeks into the second pregnancy.

I have since put on a fair bit of weight, but I have realised that this was because of overeating, not exercising and not looking after my health in general. :gloomy:

If you have the support and the capacity to love so many kids all at once then go for it. Just make sure you are able to look after yourself first and foremost so that you can care for those who are most important to you. :hugs:

[Chaton]

I can't speak from my own experience (as I'm preggers with #1 also) but my mum had 4 boys vaginally with age gaps of 1 yr, 2 years and 3 years between, then 15 years later had me and then my little brother one year later. She was always a very skinny woman and I think when I was younger she had a fabulous body, especially considering her age (hopefully she passed those good genes on!!). Now in her mid-60s she still looks pretty good for her age but around her 50's she piled on some weight then lost a lot a couple of years ago and I think at her age it did more damage to her tummy/waist than having 6 kids.

My sister in law had one baby then 6 years later had two with a year gap between and her tummy is awful looking but she used to be quite a large woman (size 16 - 18, from before baby 1 through til after baby 3) and has only recently slimmed down to around a size 10 so again I think it was the non-baby weight that caused the problem as the skin had been stretched not just for 9 months but for years.

Most the skinny size 8 - 10ish women I know who've had babies seem to bounce back quite quick. I've always been a size 10 and while I'm fairly active I wasn't a gym bunny and I eat whatever I like so I hope I can bounce back too without too much hard yakka... :fingerscrossed:

[Mrs Nietzsche]

I have a 10 year old, a 15 month old, and a 1 month old.

I got stretch marks with the first baby, and none at all with the second two.

I hadn't lost my baby weight from DS (15 mths) by hte time I got pregnant again, so now I kind of have a double whammy to lose.

The last pregnancy which was so close to the previous one was no harder though. But the end of it was harder mentally because I felt like I'd been pregnant forever, and obvioulsy had a young child to care for.

Every pregnancy and birth is different so you can't really predict things in regards to pelvic floor damage or whatnot

[6fornow]

Hi all,
I am going to take a totally different approach her and i too hope not to offend with my answer, but seriously, you got more to worry about than whether youre going to get saggy skin lol.
Obviously, things depend on the skin type, the general health and even the ethnic background of the Mummy. In my case, mine were 34months, 22months, 27 months & 20months apart, my youngest is now 13 months old. I have always been a size 8 and have bounced back rather well each time, my baby's weren't overly big (all about 7pd mark) but I did find it took slightly longer as i got older (mind you, Im only 26 now!!) BUT...
I am a caucasian, naturally red head. This meant I was more susceptible to weakened pelvic muscles, so I ended up with a bladder prolapse, which I think started after baby no. 1, but wasn't noticeable or diagnosed until baby no. 4. I am not implying that this happens to everyone, and I certainly knew nothing about it until it was too late, but red heads are more susceptible, so maybe ask questions of your doctor, is there any thing given your overall health, race, etc that could be a factor to consider when planning future babies. Obviously, I didn't let this stop me, I had one more baby after diagnosis and so far, ive been lucky that it has stayed a mild case of prolapse. Sorry for the :ecomcity: Im susceptible to those too lol. Overall, just keep your back muscles strong, use light weights between pregnancies, most importantly, do your pelvic floor exercises and make sure you are doing them properly; consult a physio therapist to ensure you do them properly. If I had known to do them and properly, I may not have suffered this setback, it really has limited alot of things in my life, including what exercise I can do, what kind of work I can do, how much lifting and physical stuff I can do etc. Again, sorry for the :ecomcity: I hope I helped a little?!!
Tee

[Areca]

I have three kids under four (21 month age gap, then 2 year 2 month age gap).
DD2 did the most damage to my body....being stretchmarks on my tummy (not too bad though) but she was also over 10lb.
My third is 11 days old and I'm back in my size 8 pre pg clothes and I can't see any difference to my body, skin wise/pelvic floor wise etc.
I did get varicose veins this pregnancy. I never got them the first two times. I'm waiting to see what happens but will be getting rid of them if they don't go on their own.
I looked after myself between and during pregnancies and have been fitter each time before getting pregnant again. I give myself a 6 month goal to get back to my previous fitness level and I've made it easily each time. I also exercised throughout my pregnancies...up to 39 and 38 weeks.
Third pregnancy was my hardest though...the varicose veins, m/s until 20 weeks, low blood pressure problems and generally more uncomfortable throughout the whole pregnancy...more tired too. I think my body was telling me to stop...lucky for me we were stopping at three anyway.

[moozle]

I think t has everything to do with genetics and how well you look after yourself and not so much to do with the time inbetween pregnancies. Having 4 children IS going to take it's toll on your body as having 1 child does. I can't see that many changes in my body after my first but I have definately changed shape... even though I'm not far away from my pre-pregnancy weight. I think wait until after you've had your bub because you will feel differently about you body, I suspect. I used to be a lot more hung up about my body before I had a bub but having him really puts things into perspective.

[kateyb9]

I had my first daughter less than a month before I turned 22, and my second daughter when I was 23. They are 2 and 1 now and there is a 14.5 month gap between them.

While I was pregnant with Kalani, my first, I gained about 10 kilos and after having her probably returned to my pre baby state a few months later.

With Ava, my 1 year old, I only gained about 8 or 9 kilos but started getting varicose veins on one leg whilst pregnant with her.

A year since her birth the veins have gotten a lot worse and I am considering surgery. I'm not superficial or anything but I think they are hideous, I try hard not to be but am so self-conscious about them as I am 24 and there are women at my gym who are well and truly into their 60s who have vein-free legs. I always seem to be looking at ladies legs and what I have got is definitely 'bad'!

Soooo, no idea if there is any connection between the small gap between my babies... I fell pregnant with Ava when Kalani was about 5.5 months old

[BrAins]

i am 25 having my 4th baby, had my first at 20, all my babies are close in age. i dont think it matters whether they are 12months or 30months apart, if they are going to do damage to your body, they will.
as long as you look after yourself, eat well and exercise then you should realistically be ok.
there are a few things to concider which are probably alot more important than what yoou body will look like, such as the baby and whether it is a good sleeper or not, how much attention and time you baby needs of you as all children are different. keep in mind that pregnancies that are close together eg 5 or 6 months from the end of one to start of the next, have a higher risk of preterm labour and other complications.
in saying all that, i would never discourage having children close in age as i absolutly love it. my kids are the best of friends and the worst of enemies, the look out for each other and keep each other company.
all the best.
:tree:

[melbryan]

I have 4 under 5 very small age gaps between each child. I honestly never thought about my body but maybe I should have. Saggy skin and B**bs well it does happen but if you look after yourself your body will bounce back fine. Nothing else is wrecked of mine. The only thing I worry about is just looking after my health keeping up pap smears, breast screens and blood test etc so I can be around for my kids.