I have a one-year-old and I’m pregnant again.
My husband and I were overjoyed with this news. We always wanted to have two children that were close in age and who would be friends.
A blissful state of love arrives with your first child.
After this transition phase, (from the easy-going life that was you and your husband enjoying time together and some actual time to yourself) you think, how nice it would be for your first born to have a life-long friend and for you to have another little angel to love.
The path of destiny would be one of a perfect family… That’s what I’d always chosen to believe.
I’m now finding out how unexpectedly hard and rewarding being pregnant with a toddler really is.
Here are seven things I’ve had to take into consideration;
1. Morning sickness
Imagine trying to feed a demanding toddler who can’t yet walk while frequently racing to the toilet to vomit.
I remember getting Floydy ready for a bottle one evening and I had an uncontrollable urge to be sick (this had happened every day since I had found out I was pregnant again).
Floydy decided to crawl into the shower with me. I was hunched over on all fours, sick. We were both fully-clothed… There was me at one end of the scale, feeling horrible, and him at the other, thinking, “Hey, this is a little different… this shower’s fun mummy…”
Yes, this was unexpected.
2. Crazy, hormonal & irrational
I recall very clearly at the beginning of this pregnancy, wanting to scream at Ross (my husband) over anything. Afterwards, I thought to myself, “I’m a crazy person”.
3. Reflection
Did we conceive too early? Will we cope? Can our marriage once again take that bumpy road that sleep deprivation, a sick baby, a teething bub so often leads you down?
With your first child it’s the unknown you step into, with the second it’s a little more of the known, but with no sex, I’m out of shape, I’m out of breath and I’m hot as a melting snowman in summer!
4. The 12-week scan
“Oh, did you know you are having twins?”
This was the biggest shock of all! The fact that you will soon be a mother of not one, but two newborn babies and a crazy-hypo toddler who wants to play with you all day long. We previously hadn’t had any history of twins on our family.
5. Bigger and bigger and BIGGER
In the beginning, you don’t really think too much about this. But with bigger comes all of the ailments that go with that. When thinking about having a baby it’s the end result you picture rather than the pregnancy itself. Most of the time I just want to sleep, sleep, sleep.
6. I’m now a snail
I totally didn’t expect to become a snail. I’m constantly hunched over. My body is different the second time around. Pregnancy and I don’t really get along. I had back issues with Floydy and it’s the same this time…
Did I mention this time, I’m also carrying twins? I’m measuring 33 weeks and am only 26 weeks pregnant. What am I going to be feeling like when I’m measuring 36 or even 37 weeks? Ahhhhh! Scary.
7. Love
The unfathomable love I now have with Floydy will again be experienced and shared with my two new babies. This is Pure love.
To cope with the next three months of pregnancy I need to force myself to do a lot less and ask for help.
Never be afraid of enlisting the help of day care, family and friends and a much-needed cleaner. Whilst over-coming all of the above there are times that I enjoy the miracles that my husband and I have created.
With all my prayers I ask that they are delivered safe, healthy and happy into this world.
Love, Jade
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