The Biggest Differences Between My First Pregnancy And My Second One
There can be some major differences between your first and second pregnancy. You may not be as nervous, because you have a general idea of what to expect. Also, the foods that grossed you out the first time around just might become your biggest craving. On the heavier side, your health status may be different or you could have a more stressful lifestyle. All pregnancies are different, and that’s totally okay.
In lieu of the news of Rihanna’s second pregnancy, I wanted to share some of the ways my second pregnancy differed from the first. Keep scrolling to check them out.
The first trimester was harder on my body.
I was in bed for the majority of my first trimester. I consistently felt drained and uncomfortable and was vomiting all the time. It got to the point where my oldest kick was pretending to throw up to mock me. I was sick for the first trimester of my first pregnancy too, but the second time was much more intense.
I gave up on trying to dress cute.
I was determined to get cute throughout my first pregnancy. I loved wearing cute matching tops and bottoms and short, summery dresses. By baby number 2, the COVID-19 pandemic had started, so I wasn’t going much of anywhere.
I worked with a midwife and a doula.
I’d really wanted to have a home birth for my daughter’s birth, but I flat out couldn’t afford it on a freelance writing budget. So I used my Medicaid and gave in a local hospital. My daughter and I were safe, but it was a stressful experience and I couldn’t get myself to relax. By my second pregnancy, I was working full time as an editor and had saved up to afford a midwife. The experience was radically different - I could call her when I needed to, she came to my home nearly every day for the last week of my pregnancy, we created a flexible birth plan and we’re still friends today. My doula also gave me advice that seriously got me through labor — “Just breathe through it.”
I didn’t have a baby shower.
My second child was born during the the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, so naturally, I wasn’t seeing many people. Still, my cousin and mother-in-law planned a drive-by shower for me so family could still show up for me in some way. Sadly, there was a huge winter storm that rolled through Dallas the same weekend as the shower, so the roads were iced. We also didn’t have power for several days. Womp womp.
I was more sure of myself.
I was 23 when I got pregnant with my daughter. I was more afraid of what people would say about my mothering and me as a person. The second time, I was confident that I was a great mom and that I could handle expanding my family.
