How My Second Pregnancy Was Different From My First

Pregnancy #1/Calvin

• This pregnancy was a surprise. I found out I was expecting when I was 6 weeks and 2 days along and was equal parts shocked and scared, with just a dash of excitement. I only had to wait about a week and a half for my first ultrasound.

• I had almost no symptoms until Week 7 or 8. Until then I had only a slight decrease in energy.

• No morning sickness at all. I was extremely lucky to not be sick and to not have to explain my nausea before we announced we were expecting. My prenatal upset my stomach a little, but taking it right before I went to bed at night (usually when I brushed my teeth) rather than first thing in the morning solved that.

• I broke out in horrible, itchy hives around Week 7 and they stayed an issue until Week 14 or so. I thought it was a reaction to my sunscreen (though it turned out to be a newly developed sun allergy, that has stuck around).

• I didn’t show at all during my first trimester with Calvin. Which was a blessing, because my first 12 weeks were May through July, so hiding a bump would have been pretty difficult.

• I had a strong aversion to strawberries from Week 9 to Week 14 of Cal’s pregnancy. They tasted like chemical cleaner for some reason and then they suddenly tasted normal again. My only aversion my whole first pregnancy.

• I was quite anxious during my first and ate up every scrap of information I could get my hands on. I had a million questions for my doctor, read blogs, watched YouTube, googled everything, and checked my pregnancy apps (yes, apps, plural) several times a day.

• My only ultrasound in the first trimester was my 8 week dating scan the first time.

Pregnancy #2

• This pregnancy was planned. We had made the decision to stop using birth control and I was monitoring my cycle and LH levels like a hawk. I got my first positive pregnancy test at 3 weeks and 3 days (10 DPO). I had to wait weeks for my first ultrasound.

• I noticed a huge decrease in energy within days of finding out I was pregnant (around 4 weeks).

• Definite nausea with this one. If I went too long without eating, it would make me feel weak and sick. But, if I ate too much at once or ate the wrong thing, that would make me sick too and give me a stomachache. If something sounded good to eat, I had to eat it right then before the thought of it made me green.

• NO HIVES. I was so nervous I would have to deal with them again. I did notice my skin got more sensitive and would itch, but as long as I didn’t scratch, it went away and no hives appeared. That was a huge perk for this one.

• I started showing with this pregnancy at SIX WEEKS. It was obviously all bloat, but it was all in the front of my belly, so it very much looked like a baby bump. Luckily, it was early spring, so I still hid it with hoodies and sweaters.

• No food “aversions” so far, but had a much harder time eating and enjoying my food due to the nausea.

• Having done this once before I was much more laid back. Had few questions for my doctor, wrote blog posts but didn’t read a single one, didn’t google a thing, and had one app that I checked weekly at most. I was much less anxious and didn’t have time to obsess this time.

• My doctor’s office got some new equipment and subsequently, I got to have an ultrasound at both my 8 week and 12 week appointments!

Pregnancy #1/Calvin

• We didn’t discuss potential baby names until nearly the end of my second trimester with Calvin.

• I felt first kicks with Calvin when I was about 22 weeks along with him.

• My appetite was mostly unchanged throughout my first pregnancy. I also didn’t gain very much weight until my third trimester.

• I counted down the days to every single doctor’s appointment and the waiting in between was torturous.

• I was evaluated by a chiropractor at around my 20 week mark with Calvin, but I wasn’t having much discomfort from pregnancy, I had no back pain, and we couldn’t pay for it (since my insurance at the time didn’t cover it). I thought the idea of sounded nice, but I didn’t receive any because I didn’t think it would be worth it.

Pregnancy #2

• We started discussing baby names right around the beginning of the second trimester this time.

• The first flutters I felt this time were at 17 weeks and they were consistent by 20 weeks.

• I was a bottomless pit of hunger that is never filled. I could eat all day long. As a result, I gained weight more rapidly this time.

• I only remember my doctors appointments because they’re in my calendar and I get a reminder text. Much more relaxed this time.

• I started receiving prenatal care from a chiropractor towards the end of my second trimester and it made an enormous difference in my lower back and tailbone pain, my sleep, my lower extremity edema, and my pregnancy overall. I have been amazed at the difference this has made for me.

Pregnancy #1/Calvin

• I noticed my very first Braxton Hicks contractions around 34 or 35 weeks with my first pregnancy.

• I had some mild heartburn in this pregnancy, but nothing serious enough to disrupt my sleep or my everyday life.

• The skin on my stomach was intensely itchy from about 26 weeks onward with Calvin and nothing I did helped. Most lotions, oils, or creams that I tried actually aggravated it.

• Despite being pregnant, I was able to participate in my workplace and normal daily activities without complaint pretty much up until my due date.

• I distinctly felt when Calvin dropped out of my ribs and down into my pelvic cavity.

• I chose to have my cervix checked every week from my 36 week appointment until I gave birth with Cal. Honestly, all it did was discourage me and make me think my baby was never coming.

• In total, I gained 34 lbs during my pregnancy with Calvin.

Pregnancy #2

• I started having Braxton Hicks contractions almost as soon as I entered the third trimester (around 28 weeks).

• I’ve had serious acid reflux during the third trimester this pregnancy, especially when I’m laying down or bending over.

• I started moisturizing often and early in my pregnancy with this lotion and though I still had discomfort and some itchiness on my belly, it was infinitely more manageable.

• There is absolutely no way that I could be working full time this pregnancy. I can barely keep up with my toddler. And we both take a daily afternoon nap for 1-3 hours.

• I carried this baby much lower the entire pregnancy, so I didn’t have a distinct “drop”.

• I opted to not have my cervix checked at all until the morning I ended up being induced. I was able to relax much more and not feel like I was going to be pregnant for the rest of my life.

• In total, I gained 51 lbs during my second pregnancy.

Labor and Delivery #1/Calvin

• If you want to read Calvin’s entire birth story, head over to this post.

• I was pregnant with Calvin for 41 weeks and 1 day. At my checkup that day I had a membrane sweep and was able to have my spontaneous labor begin later that day.

• Labor lasted for about 10 hours

• I had an epidural for Calvin’s delivery

• Calvin was delivered pretty easily. He was head down and came out typically. I only had to push with four or five contractions in order to get him out.

• My midwife did a delayed cord clamp and cut when Cal was delivered and I was able to have immediate skin-to-skin for the entire first hour of Cal’s life, even before he was weighed and measured.

• Calvin started screaming and crying as soon as he was born, and absolutely refused to latch to nurse for a few hours.

• I had a second degree tear that required several stitches that ached for weeks.

• Calvin weighed 7 lbs 14 oz at birth and was 21 inches long.

Labor and Delivery #2/Della

• If you want to read Della’s entire birth story, head over to this post.

• I was pregnant with Della for 40 weeks and 6 days. At my checkup, my midwife discovered a potential complication with the umbilical cord and I was induced an hour later.

• Labor lasted for just short of 8 hours

• I did not get an epidural for Della’s labor

• Della was delivered with much more effort. Her left shoulder got stuck behind my pelvis and she had a nuchal cord. I pushed for less than 20 minutes, but it was very difficult.

• Della’s APGAR was low, so her cord was clamped and cut immediately and she was brought to the warmer so respiratory could work on her. I got to hold her and have skin-to-skin after about 40 minutes.

• Once Della had pinked up and she was handed to me, she immediately latched and started to nurse.

• I had a very minor first degree tear that only required 1-2 stitches that never hurt.

• Della weighed 8 lbs 5 oz at birth and was 21 inches long.

Postpartum #1/Calvin

• Calvin and I were discharged together from the hospital about 41 hours after I gave birth to him.

• Calvin had a normal APGAR score, normal bilirubin, and had no health issues at all at birth or as a newborn.

• I broke out in hives a few hours after giving birth that didn’t go away for 3-4 weeks.

• Calvin did not latch well in the hospital (or ever) and I had to pump immediately to try and stimulate milk production.

• I passed my first bowel movement about 5 days after giving birth.

• My “after pains” were barely a blip on my radar and having my abdomen palpated didn’t bother me.

• Once at home, my days were all naps and cuddles, all day long.

• I struggled severely with both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression after having Calvin.

• I bled for just over 6 weeks after giving birth to Calvin.

Postpartum #2/Della

• I was discharged 48 hours after giving birth to Della, but she wasn’t discharged for another 17 hours.

• Della had shoulder dystocia and a nuchal cord at birth and spent about 2.5 days in the NICU for respiratory monitoring and labs.

• I had no skin issues or reactions after giving birth to Della.

• Despite delayed skin-to-skin, Della latched well bilaterally in the hospital and I have yet to need to pump.

• I passed my first bowel movement less than 48 hours after giving birth.

• My “after pains” were much more painful. I cramped every time I nursed and abdominal palpations were horrible.

• Once at home, my days were all nursing a baby and tending to a toddler. No naps.

• Despite the extra work of a second child and less sleep, I haven’t had any signs or symptoms of PPA or PPD.

• I bled for just under 4 weeks after giving birth to Della.