By the time you are ready to get pregnant and have your second child, it will take some time. During this period, your age, psychological state will change, but the most important thing that the site for mothers wants to draw your attention to is the reproductive function of your body will be restored.

Often women who are preparing for the birth of their second baby are concerned with the same questions: what is the difference between the first and second pregnancy; how it proceeds; Is it true that giving birth a second time is faster and easier? Let us tell you right away that no one, even the most experienced doctor, can give the answer to these questions.

You got pregnant and are carrying a completely different baby at a different time. This is a new pregnancy and how the body perceives it depends on many factors. Although repeated pregnancy and childbirth have some features of the course, which we will pay attention to in this article.

Pregnancy planning

It's good if the second planned pregnancy comes after your body is ready for it after the first birth and breastfeeding. The process of restoring reproductive function depends on how the first pregnancy proceeded, how much time has passed since the birth of the child, whether the birth occurred naturally or ended with a cesarean section.

Even if you feel healthy, planning a second pregnancy, you definitely need to undergo an examination: visit a gynecologist, a therapist, take additional tests with your partner for all infections if necessary. If there are no health problems, then usually the second birth and pregnancy pass without complications and are easier.

During the first pregnancy, it often does not matter who is born - a boy or a girl. Many parents who decide on a second try use every opportunity to. And even if none of the methods will give you one hundred percent result, then at least it is worth trying and checking.

When does a second pregnancy require special attention?

There are some prerequisites that may indicate possible complications during pregnancy. You should pay attention to them.

It so happens that a child is not even a year old when a woman suddenly realizes that she has become pregnant again. This is a second unplanned pregnancy. This often happens when partners after childbirth hope for lactational amenorrhea (a natural method of contraception while breastfeeding). This is not a reason to terminate a second accidental pregnancy. We are confident that if all the doctor's recommendations are followed, the pregnancy will end with a successful birth.
Women who have had kidney disease or heart, liver, lung disease are at risk (burdened obstetric history). They are susceptible to premature birth, toxicosis, and weak labor. Therefore, during the second pregnancy, they will be under the special supervision of a gynecologist.
The second pregnancy, complicated by chronic diseases, requires careful monitoring. Additional tests or studies may be needed.
You should not give up the desired pregnancy with a negative Rh blood in the mother and positive in the father. The rhesus conflict in modern medicine can be prevented. After giving birth, the woman is immediately injected with antibodies, and they are also recommended for pregnant women at 28 and 34 weeks. Timely delivery of tests, adherence to the doctor's recommendations will help pregnancy with a negative Rh factor to end successfully.
If a lot of time has passed after giving birth, then the pregnant woman is considered primiparous, and the second birth is regarded as the first.

Features of the course of repeated pregnancy

Each subsequent pregnancy is influenced by those physiological changes in the woman's body that have occurred in it after childbirth. A difficult first pregnancy does not mean at all that the second will be the same. There are characteristic features of the course of repeated pregnancy.

Pregnancy becomes more noticeable earlier. If you wanted to hide it from others as long as possible, then it is unlikely that it will work. The uterine ligaments are stretched after the first birth. It deviates anteriorly under the influence of amniotic fluid and the fetus. At the same time, the abdominal wall is no longer as elastic as before childbirth, and is weakened, so it seems that the abdomen is growing faster.
If during the first pregnancy you could hear the first movements of the baby only at 5 months (20 - 22 weeks), then this time you will feel the first tremors earlier - at about 17 - 18 weeks. This date is taken into account by the gynecologist when calculating the date of birth.
In the second pregnancy, the fetus is located lower. This increases the pressure on the lower back and spine, so it is advisable to wear a bandage from mid-term.
If a short enough period has passed between pregnancies, and you have small child, try to raise it less. You should also be careful about physical activities.
There are interesting observations regarding the shape of the abdomen. A sharp and high abdomen during the first pregnancy in women with a narrow pelvis becomes saggy during the second. In the first pregnancy, the belly sinks a few weeks before giving birth, and in the second, a couple of days.

Pregnancy following a cesarean section requires special care on the part of the doctor. In this case, there is a danger of rupture of the suture on the uterus.

The site site advises you to maintain an interval of up to 2 years. This will enable the postoperative scar to mature, atrophy and thin.

But if you got pregnant earlier, then not everything is so scary. Usually, the uterus returns to normal after six months. A period of up to 2 years is needed in order to avoid a low location of the placenta due to a suture or its detachment on later dates... In most cases, the second pregnancy after cesarean ends with an operation. But there are cases when a woman is allowed to give birth a second time naturally.

With repeated pregnancy, the sensitivity of the uterus to hormonal changes is quite high, so childbirth can occur as early as 38 weeks.

Second birth

Very often, mothers who are pregnant for the second time with twins (twins) are afraid to give birth prematurely. But thanks to the first pregnancy, the uterus can stretch more, and, as a rule, childbirth occurs on time.

Be prepared for the fact that this time the fetus will be larger than the first by an average of 200-500 g. Especially if a boy is born second. This is due to the fact that favorable conditions have already been created in the uterus after the first pregnancy.

Childbirth will be different from the first. If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, all three periods will pass faster and easier.

The opening of the uterus occurs more intensively. In the second birth, the period of preparation of the cervix is \u200b\u200b4 - 8 hours, while in the first birth it took up to 12 hours. There is a simultaneous opening of the internal and external pharynx during the second birth, so this process is more painful. The first time, it all happened in two stages.
Contractions are not as painful as in the first birth, but they are more intense, while intensifying more actively and faster. The woman in labor is already familiar with attempts, so she has the opportunity to control their course during the second birth. The first child, born naturally, made the cervix more elastic, so it will be easier for the second baby to pass the birth canal.
The birth of the placenta, as in the first birth, is almost painless. Serial contractions are not as strong as in the first birth.

You should be aware that even if this is a second pregnancy, but the child is the first (abortion, spontaneous miscarriage, etc.) could be the cause of termination of pregnancy, then childbirth is considered the first, and the woman belongs to the category of primiparous.

Psychological and physical readiness for the second birth and pregnancy will help the expectant mother to easily cope with all the difficulties and worries.

After the birth of the first baby, young families often think about an imminent hike "for a brother" or "sister". Indeed, for a long time it has been believed that the birth of two children in a row makes the life of parents much easier, both financially and morally. The clothes from the first child have not yet had time to wear out, and mom and dad have not forgotten the nuances of caring for a newborn. However, doctors have a slightly different opinion on this matter.

When to plan a second pregnancy

Pregnancy and childbirth are serious stress for a woman's body, because hormonal changes affect all vital organs and systems.

It is necessary to plan a second pregnancy after a full recovery of the body.

Therefore, with the birth of a baby, a young mother should remember about protection in order to avoid a new, unplanned pregnancy. The female body recovers within three to five years. During this time, a balance of minerals and vitamins is established in the body, the immune system returns to normal.

Based on this, when planning a second pregnancy, you should focus on the following recommendations:

after a natural birth, at least two years must pass;
after a cesarean section or childbirth with complications, it is advisable to wait up to five years (until the scar on the uterus or other sutures on the internal genital organs completely dissolve).

The danger of early planning for re-pregnancy (less than five years) is the increased likelihood of rupture of the uterine organ along the suture remaining from the cesarean section. At the same time, pregnancy 10 years after cesarean is threatened with complications due to engorgement in the healed tissues.

To determine the degree of readiness of the female womb for repeated bearing of the fetus after a previous operation, it is necessary to make examinations:

Ultrasound examination of the uterus with a vaginal sensor;
hysterography by introducing a special liquid into the organ cavity and X-ray irradiation;
hysteroscopy using an endoscope.

Based on the results of the examination, the gynecologist will give recommendations to the expectant mother on the timing of re-conception. If connective tissues remain on the surface of the uterus, planning a new pregnancy becomes undesirable. And when the scar is almost invisible or the trace from the operation has retained only muscle tissue, you can become pregnant again without fear.

It is equally important to consider age when preparing for a second pregnancy. future mother... Doctors in this matter unanimously came to an unequivocal conclusion. The minimum risk of developing fetal pathologies and health complications in a woman exists between 18 and 35 years old.

In addition, when planning a second pregnancy, a woman should take into account the following points:

the degree of security and material readiness for the appearance of a second baby in the family;
level of relationship with a spouse and the presence of support from close relatives;
the availability of comfortable living conditions for the first child and the future newborn;
acceptable age difference between children (psychologists recommend the age of 3-4 years).

If a woman has firmly decided to have a second child and there are no contraindications for this, it is important to follow the recommendations of doctors to prepare the body for a second pregnancy. So, gynecologists advise couples planning to conceive to take folic acid regularly, play sports and eat healthy food. You should refuse to take alcohol and tobacco, observe weight norms and have a good rest.

However, the second pregnancy is not always safe for the woman and the unborn baby. This happens if the mother of the only child has one of the following diseases:

defects of the cardiovascular system and rheumatism of the heart - are dangerous by intrauterine growth retardation, placental abruption and premature birth;
diabetes mellitus - leads to malformations in the embryo and spontaneous abortion;
pathologies in the work of the endocrine gland - an increased or decreased level of hormones is fraught with miscarriages and deterioration intellectual development fetus.

At the same time, the above list is not strictly restrictive. After all, the level of modern medicine allows you to endure and give birth to a healthy child with due attention to the condition of a pregnant woman on the part of doctors.

How to tell if you're pregnant again

If a woman plans to have a second child, then she monitors changes in the body more vigilantly than usual. And the onset of pregnancy is detected already in the first weeks after conception. For such early dates only intuition and the appropriate test helps.

A planned pregnancy for the second time is even psychologically easier to bear

However, it is not uncommon for a second pregnancy to occur within a year after the birth of the first child. And, as a rule, a young mother did not prepare at all for the appearance of a new family member.

The first sign of an interesting situation, like the first time, is a delay in the menstrual cycle. Often women write off such a violation in the body for fatigue and stress, but not for conception that has taken place.

The situation is more complicated if conception occurred during the period of the so-called lactational amenorrhea, when menstruation is, in principle, absent. In theory, pregnancy should not happen in this state. Because of this belief, a young mother may not pay attention to changes in well-being, especially if there is no toxicosis and dizziness.

Each woman individually tolerates a pregnant position, and often the second pregnancy is easier than the first. And in the case of a breastfeeding child, the birth of a new life can be revealed by the parent only at 16 weeks, when the fetus first moves.

At the same time, the second pregnancy is easier to recognize (as opposed to the first) by external signs:

the tummy increases - already from the first weeks;
the breast swells noticeably (and when breastfeeding the sensitivity of the nipples also increases);
weight is gradually increasing (especially noticeable for figure-watching mothers).

In general, both pregnancies are detected in about the same way, and the condition of a woman depends in both cases on the level of her health. The second time, due to age or deterioration in material well-being, an interesting situation can be more difficult. Here, a lot already depends on the psychological mood of the expectant mother and the degree of desirability of another baby.

Video: signs of a second pregnancy

How is the second pregnancy going

After the expectant mother of the second baby learns about an interesting situation, she needs to as soon as possible register with the antenatal clinic. This is important because the health risk for the woman and the child increases significantly during the second pregnancy.

The second pregnancy is usually easier than the first

If a young mother leads an active lifestyle, does not smoke and eats properly, then when carrying another baby, difficulties may not arise. An exception is the risk of a Rh conflict between maternal and child organisms. But you should not be afraid in advance - modern medicine has in its arsenal drugs that eliminate this serious pathology.

And the pregnancy itself will proceed according to the following scenario:

from 2-3 weeks, the stomach is already visible to others and its volume is greater than in the first gestation;
at 10-12 weeks, there is swelling in the legs and varicose veins due to the increased load on the kidneys and limbs;
back and pelvic pains begin to appear as early as 34 weeks, as the muscles quickly stretch;
false contractions also appear a week earlier than during the first pregnancy.

An interesting feature many multiparous people call the rate of a new pregnancy. For the first time, a woman is more tense about her position and focuses all her emotions on it. When another pregnancy comes, the young mother no longer has fear of the unknown and unnecessary worries about childbirth. In addition, the first child still requires constant attention, so that the gestational period sometimes passes almost unnoticed.

The situation is somewhat different with the second pregnancy after a cesarean section:

in order to avoid rupture of the scar on the uterus, you will have to visit the gynecologist weekly;
the doctor will prescribe drugs that relax the muscles and relieve tension from the scar;
you will need to take medications that improve the metabolism and blood supply to the placenta;
hospitalization is required at 35 weeks of gestation.

In the normal state of the suture, pregnancy after a cesarean section does not differ from the first one except for close observation by doctors.

Separately, it is worth highlighting a repeated pregnancy with several embryos, that is, multiple pregnancies. In itself, such a situation for the first time is an increased load on the body. And if gestation is repeated, then twice or even three times more attention from medical workers is required.

The distinctive moments of bearing two or more children after the birth of the first child are called:

severe toxicosis from the first weeks;
increased pigmentation on the body;
anemia from the second trimester;
increase in pressure.

To exclude the pathology of the development of babies, a future mother with many children is shown hospitalization in a hospital under the round-the-clock supervision of specialists from the second trimester.

At the same time, it must be remembered that everyone female body is individual, and repeated pregnancy, even with multiple pregnancies, can pass easily and without complications.

Video: second pregnancy - third trimester

Features of repeated delivery

At the final stage of the second pregnancy, there is a mandatory referral to inpatient observation.

The second birth practically does not differ in sensations from the first, however, it lasts less

In this case, in some multiparous, the abdomen drops a week ahead of schedule, while in others, prolapse is not observed at all. This is due to the degree of stretching of the muscle tissues of the uterus and abdominal cavity. If in the first pregnancy the belly was voluminous or there was multiple pregnancy, then the first option is possible. Otherwise on such a harbinger early birth better not to hope.

Other signs of the onset of labor during the second pregnancy are:

discharge of the mucous plug two days before delivery;
obvious and rhythmic contractions;
frequent urge "in great need";
changes in fetal activity;
the appearance of generic chills.

After the one who is preparing to become a mother for the second time leaves amniotic fluid, the woman is sent to the maternity ward. The process of childbirth then takes place within 5-8 hours and is less painful than in the first delivery.

Natural childbirth with a scar on the uterus imposes increased responsibility on doctors and is possible only if:

a woman in labor is less than 40 years old;
delivery began on its own after the outflow of amniotic fluid;
the suture on the uterus is thickened by more than 4 mm.

Otherwise, after a cesarean section, the repeated pregnancy also ends with a planned operation.

Statistics show that after the first caesarean section, every third pregnant woman gives birth in a natural way.

In addition, with a suture on the uterus, the second delivery by the method of surgical intervention is prescribed:

if less than two years have passed since the first pregnancy;
when the first cesarean was transverse (from the base to the navel);
if the baby weighs more than 4–4.5 kg or, conversely, the pregnancy is premature;
in case of thickening of the placenta or fusion of it with the tissues of the uterus.

Speaking about childbirth with repeated pregnancy with multiple pregnancies, it should be noted that a cesarean section is required at 36 weeks. This is due to the desire of doctors to avoid unnecessary risks to the health of the mother and child.

Video: multiple pregnancy

Risk factors

Repeated pregnancy is perceived by a woman's body as a "common thing" if two or three years have passed since the first gestation. And many multiparous people talk about a positive perception of an interesting situation with the second baby.

Pregnancy after 35 years is dangerous with complications for both mother and baby

However, not everyone is so lucky, especially after the age of 35. Indeed, in this case, one cannot speak unequivocally about the physical readiness of the body for a new gestation. Despite the fact that there is a stretch of the muscles of the abdomen and abdominal cavity, "training" of the uterus, the expectant mother may aggravate or develop chronic diseases. The load on the whole body can result in diabetes mellitus and even the formation of tumor areas.

Other dangerous moments of the second pregnancy can be considered:

untreated infectious diseases in the internal genital organs;
a history of abortion and miscarriage;
insufficient or overweight women.

In order for the waiting time for a new family member to pass with the least excitement, a pregnant woman with a second baby should immediately inform the gynecologist of the antenatal clinic about all the health features and pass the necessary tests without delay.

Having experience in carrying a baby, most women are already consciously planning a brother or sister. And the next birth, with the full restoration of the woman's reproductive system and good health, is easier. However, the second child in the family is not always planned and desired. Let's figure out the intricacies of the situation.

Pregnancy with second child during maternity leave

According to the law, a woman who has not completed maternity leave to care for her first child has the right to draw up appropriate maternity benefits for her second baby. She needs to apply for a second decree to end the parental leave for the first child and grant maternity leave with the second.

But there is another option for legal action when a woman goes on vacation during the second pregnancy, if it came immediately after the first. Another family member may go on maternity leave that is not yet completed to maintain the payment of the first child benefit until the age of one and a half years. This can be a father, grandfather, grandmother, that is, a relative caring for the child.

In any case, the state provides social benefits for the second baby. The main one is maternity capital. Russian families have the right to receive it after the birth of their second child. This norm has been in effect in the Russian Federation since 2007. Maternity capital can be used to educate children, improve housing conditions, and increase the funded part of a woman's mother's pension. As you can see, the state stimulates the birth rate with such social guarantees.

But if in material terms it is beneficial to give birth to a second baby, then in physiological terms there are risks of bearing crumbs with a small interval between pregnancies. After all, the woman's reproductive system has not yet had time to recover during the transition from decree to decree. Gynecologists recommend keeping a pregnancy gap of at least 3 years.

A woman will find the onset of a second pregnancy much earlier. Her tummy will also grow faster due to the stretched walls of the uterus.

In addition to the risk of gaining even more extra pounds, blood pressure may rise, gestational diabetes mellitus occurs. The risk of hemolytic disease of the newborn actually increases. This happens if a woman had a Rh-conflict during her first pregnancy, that is, if she has a negative blood Rh factor. During the next pregnancy, Rh antibodies can cross the placenta and damage the blood cells of the second embryo. Sometimes the consequences of this phenomenon can be fatal. Therefore, gynecologists recommend planning the conception of a second child for women with a negative Rh factor and making special injections that prevent the formation of Rh antibodies.

Pregnancy with the second child after cesarean

Obstetricians-gynecologists advise in such cases to plan the conception of a second child no earlier than 18 months later. A woman's body needs restoration. The body must gain strength, because with a cesarean section, women in labor lose three times more blood. This leads to the development of anemia as a result of iron deficiency. This condition is dangerous, because iron is one of the main minerals for the full development of the baby.

After surgery, a scar remains on the uterus. If the second pregnancy comes too early, then he may disperse. This is already just a disaster that can end in the death of the fetus.

Therefore, before planning a second baby, you need to consult a specialist who will assess the condition of the scar. For this, the methods of hysteroscopy and hysterography are used.

A doctor may allow a repeat birth after a cesarean section if the scar has formed from muscle tissue and is almost invisible. If it is formed from mixed fibers, then it is considered insolvent. In this case, the second pregnancy is associated with the risk of scar dehiscence.

When a woman is all right, then the second time she can give birth in a natural way. This decision is made by the observing obstetrician-gynecologist. The approach in this matter is strictly individual. Doctors pay special attention to twin pregnancies that occur after cesarean. Indeed, in this case, the uterus stretches more, the likelihood of scar dehiscence increases.

If the conception of the second baby occurred earlier than two years after the first cesarean, that is, there is a risk of scar discrepancy, medical abortion may also be prescribed. This is only possible for up to 49 days.

I don't want to give birth: what to do?

Childbirth for a woman is a great stress, intense physical exertion and a moral test. If the first ones were difficult, then the woman does not want to hear about the second baby for a long time. Some women categorically refuse to give birth a second time and after 5, and 7 years after the first.

Even if the first birth was not difficult, most women, under the burden of maternal responsibilities, try to choose a reliable form of contraception in order to avoid an accidental second pregnancy soon. But not everything always goes according to plan. And not every mother, even after the first pregnancy, rejoices in the onset of the second in a few years. This is quite normal, because she immediately begins to remember the difficulties of carrying the first baby, childbirth, the state after them. Of course, it is common for any reasonable person to doubt, to calculate everything in advance. Many women today carry the entire burden of family financial security on their shoulders. Therefore, the second child often disrupts career plans, makes him stop or take a big step back.

If the gestation period is short, there is little hope for the support of her husband, then a woman should consult with a person whose opinion she values. It can be a mom or a close friend or colleague. In any case, the final decision on whether to leave the child or not is made by the woman herself, but first you need to carefully weigh everything.

If the husband does not want a second child

Men tend to calculate all the nuances associated with family expansion. First of all, we are talking about financial issues. When the wife is on maternity leave, taking care of the material support of the family and part of the household responsibilities are placed on his shoulders. This is the main reason for the unwillingness to have a second child.

If the wife really wants to give birth, then the best option is to negotiate. It is necessary in a calm atmosphere (preferably on his full stomach) to explain to your spouse how important the second baby is to you. You need to listen to his arguments "against" and immediately find counter-arguments on them. It is possible that after listening to your position, the husband will change his point of view. Maybe it won't happen right away. You can try to win over your husband's relatives. A good option - mother-in-law or father-in-law. The woman knows who has the most influence over her spouse. Perhaps the mother's words that she always dreamed of a granddaughter or grandson will influence her husband's point of view. And if the mother-in-law also promises to help in moral and material terms, then the chances of achieving her goal will increase.

You can try another way to change the categorization of the second half. There is no need to persuade, but we must try to make sure that he often sees and watches those families in which two children have grown up and get along well. These can be godfathers, relatives, colleagues. But a wise woman who wants to have a second baby must secretly call on a father or mother from such a family for help. Let them carefully and unobtrusively tell about their doubts in the past about the appearance of a second child and about today's joy from having two children. Another positive example can change the position of the spouse.

Psychologists advise women in such situations to have another option - to bargain. True, it is not acceptable to everyone. For example, promise to change your job or leave it altogether if your spouse has insisted on this for a long time and financial issues are not a problem for you. You can try to "exchange" the possibility of a second baby for a trip that the husband has long dreamed of, or agree to a purchase that the woman previously considered inappropriate. Give in and bargain. In a word, everything is individual, and each wife knows better the weaknesses of her husband, understands which "lever" must be pulled.

If you exhaust all your arguments and wise tactics, and the partner's position does not change, then you should think about whether it is necessary to keep the marriage with such a person?

Especially for - Diana Rudenko

Fashion 2013