Falling pregnant for the first time is an amazing experience, but it can also be an anxious time for first-time moms who worry about what they’re eating, how the baby’s moving, and much more. With your second, however, you’ll feel far more able to just enjoy the ebbs and flows of pregnant life, barely having time to worry as you manage a toddler at the same time.
This can be both a blessing and a curse, helping you to free up and enjoy the experience, but also meaning that, more often than not, the time flies so fast that you barely even have time to get ready for when the baby arrives. Luckily, with bags of hand-me-downs and a house that’s already very much baby-proofed, most of the classic prep should be easy enough to manage. But, there is one key preparation that any second-time mom needs to consider, and it concerns how to labor when you have a toddler in tow.
While you might have had time for candle-lit baths and positive birth affirmations with your first birth, there’s simply no chance at any of this when you’re already playing mom. Here, we consider a few simple ways to make sure that your birth runs smoothly regardless.
# 1 – Know how long to leave it
Experts recommend that you don’t hide your labor from your first child. After all, their participation in at least some element of this process is going to help a huge deal with their understanding of what’s actually happening. That said, seeing you in evident pain can prove distressing for a young child, and may work against their ultimate relationship with the new baby. This leaves second-time moms with a difficult balance of not sending their kids away too soon (as in, the moment labor niggles start,) but also not leaving it so long that they’re panting on all fours by the time childcare arrives. The trouble is that, as you already know, all labors are very different, and second births do tend to be faster. So, how can you get this balance right? For one thing, keeping quick-fire childcare options on speed dial (as we’ll talk about a little later) can help to get your child out of the house as soon as things start to turn. Equally, listening to your body and timing your contractions (probably advisable to get the childcare wheels in motion when contractions reach around seven minutes apart,) can help you to get this important aspect just right.
# 2 – Have multiple plans on standby
The unpredictability of birth means that, often, one plan for childcare simply isn’t enough. After all, if you’ve only got your parents on standby, you can bet that they’ll be stuck in the store or something the moment your labor hits. And, remember, speedy solutions are essential for second births! Hence why you should also keep at least three local contacts on-hand for the big moment. As a further precaution, it may also be worth researching part time daycare like Wanna Play Playcare, which offers hourly drop-ins that could prove a lifesaver. Simply make sure to tell them who will be picking your child up when the time comes! With this arsenal of potential, and more importantly, fast childcare options to hand, you’ll be far better able to rest easy for a smooth hand-over on the day. And, when the moment comes, you can bet that’ll make all of the difference!
# 3 – Stay in touch during labor
It’s also vital to note that you can’t simply hand your child over and forget about them. Instead, it’s vital that you, or your partner stays in touch with your child throughout the birthing process. This is because the uncertainty regarding labor lengths can be incredibly difficult for a young child to cope with. Remember that they don’t fully understand what’s happening, meaning that every three hours of not being with you is going to feel like a lifetime. Ensuring child care that keeps them busy and distracted can certainly help here. But giving them a quick call, or even just sending a fun picture of you and your partner every few hours can really help them to feel involved, and to ease that separation anxiety.
Birth might be more difficult when you have another child to manage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a positive experience. Simply implement these essentials, and sit back to enjoy bringing your child’s sibling into the world!
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