Research-backed
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Every pregnancy is unique. While the first time around, you will be treated like you are extremely fragile. And, everyone will give in their 100 percent to ensure a perfect environment for the future baby. You will be continually motivated to eat healthily and pamper yourself in every manner possible. However, during your second pregnancy, you will feel like a much more experienced warrior despite being the same delicate doll you were the first time around. There are a lot of things that might change in your second pregnancy. So, to help you prepare yourself better, we bring you all those things that you can expect during your second pregnancy:
1. Start Showing Sooner
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You have already undergone major physical transformations during your first pregnancy. And, some of these changes include loosening of your muscles or ligaments. But, everything does not go back to its original shape and size. So, your second pregnancy already has some sort of a head-start. This makes it more likely for your belly to show up sooner during your second time (1).
2. More Pains Too
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You must be wondering how any more pain is even possible. But, handling pregnancy along with raising a kid simultaneously might make your second time even more challenging. You may have to run around, bend, lift, play, or take care of your little one. And, there are chances that the fetus may lie lower in the abdomen as the uterus is already a little stretched from the prior pregnancy. This might result in more aches and pains during the subsequent pregnancy.
3. You Feel More Exhausted
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As we have already mentioned, you will have to put in more energy to strike a balance between parenthood and pregnancy-hood. In fact, you may not get as much time to nap or rest since there is another person who needs you. This may leave you more fatigued or tired during your second pregnancy. So, it is important you stay hydrated and meet all the necessary nutritional requirements to keep up your energy levels.
4. Can Feel The Baby Move Sooner
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Don’t worry, this does not mean that your little one grows more quickly during your second pregnancy. Here, the credit goes entirely to your experience. Now that you have gone through the entire drill earlier, you know what to look out for. So, this time around, you will be able to better distinguish between the little one’s flutter-like movements and pregnancy gas.
5. Increase In Braxton Hicks Contraction
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During your first pregnancy, you may have misunderstood the Braxton Hicks contraction to simply be just the movements of your little one. But, when you are expecting for the second time, you are more likely to correctly recognize the Braxton Hicks contraction. So, the increase is less to do with the frequency but more to do with your experience (2).
6. Labor Might Be Shorter
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As both your uterus and the cervix have experienced the entire childbirth process before, there are chances that the labor may move along more quickly. This is why you might have heard many people mentioning how labor during the second pregnancy is comparatively shorter. Isn’t that great news? The sooner you get to hold your little one in your arms, the merrier it is! Isn’t it?
7. You’ll Be Much Surer
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When you were expecting for the first time, you may have spent a lot of time searching every possible symptom online. And, you may have been so obsessed with your diet that you carefully tracked each meal you consumed. But, during your second time around, you will have more trust in your body and rest assured knowing that everything will be alright.
Yes, the second pregnancy will be different for sure. But, one thing that is never going to change is your excitement to hold your newborn in your arms for the first time. And, that matters more than anything else, doesn’t it? Cheers!
