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Most of the time, you pray for your first child, and the second is a prayer from your first child to have a sibling to play with. You will have tears the moment you hold your pregnancy test, the first time, the tears of joy, and the second time, tears of panic! You now have flashbacks of the sleepless nights, not being able to shower for days, and a baby latched to your nipple all day. We don’t blame you if you sat down and did not know whether to tell the father or just wait for a few months for him to figure it out! From what we got with research, parenthood can never be too planned or organized. The surprise element is what adds meaning to your life, and even if it feels like you can’t do it, once you gather up the courage and go for it, it will be the most rewarding experience of your life. Here is why you shouldn’t panic over your second pregnancy and welcome the new member with love.
1. You Will Be A Great Parent Again
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With the first baby, you knew how difficult raising a baby is. From calling your pediatrician a hundred times a day to being up all night waiting for your kid to sleep, parenthood is never easy. But for all that matters, you got promoted to being a parent, and nothing can replace that feeling. So without sugarcoating it, having a second baby won’t make it any easier, but you will know what to expect. So the moment you decide to go for it, prepare for it, so you have a solution to every problem before it strikes. If your first baby was colic, prepare for the medicines beforehand. If you need help with the baby, arrange for a nanny before the delivery. If you feel the place is not good enough to raise a baby, shift to a better place. All it needs is a bit of planning.
2. Fear Is Normal
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First of all, stop beating yourself up for not embracing the baby with a big smile. It’s normal to be scared and take a step back. Your mind also gets blocked by anxiety, fear, and hormones that now empower you. However, you need to understand that consulting a doctor and talking to them about your feelings is absolutely normal. The more you keep the fear in, the more your mind will play games to make you feel horrible.
3. You Need To Be Ready
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Honestly, the first thing you should consider is if your firstborn is old enough to handle the sharing of love and attention. There is no right time to have a second child, and while some believe having a gap of 5 years is essential, others like raising kids with a minimal age difference so that they both grow up together. Even if it seems like an excellent idea to parent them simultaneously, it’s going to be hard to do it on your own. You and your partner will need to give undivided attention to the little one and the sibling to come so that none of them feel left out. Even though it will strain your body in the first few years, you can go back to your hobbies once they are old enough to take care of themselves.
4. It Is Not A Setback
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Yes, motherhood requires a lot of sacrifices, and now that you put your child in kindergarten and have a few hours to yourself, you figured you have to do it all over again. But on the other hand, your firstborn is now the elder sibling who will learn to be responsible. You are also experienced, and it won’t scare you as much to see rashes on your baby or see your baby cry all of a sudden. It will only make you more experienced and a step closer to getting the medal of being a super cool mom!
5. It won’t Feel The Same
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Some parents also feel that it will be the same experience all over again, and there will be nothing new to venture. But the best part is, except for being less paranoid, everything will feel like a new adventure. Be it how they react, when they reach milestones, who they resemble more, or how they grow up to be. Also, even your pregnancy won’t be the same. It’s always a different experience for every child.
6. It Won’t Affect Your Marriage
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The biggest question everyone has is if the baby will affect your marriage. Whoever said marriage brings couples together did not think this through. A baby is not a marriage consultant or bond that will mend and hold your marriage. A baby is a source of happiness and responsibility and will teach you to be good at teamwork.
So now that you know why having a second baby is a blessing, you will panic way less than you would have. Once you go through the process mentally and evaluate it, it makes way more sense. Remember, taking help from others does not make you any less of a good mom. So, do you have any secrets to parenting that you would like to share?
