FYI: I prepared this blog post before our baby girl arrived so there would still be fresh content on the blog while I am taking a break from blogging. That’s why you’ll still see me pregnant or referencing my pregnancy in some upcoming blog posts!
Delivering a baby the second time around also brings its ups and downs although you have been through it once. You know exactly what happens but therefore you know EXACTLY what happens so it won´t be as much of a surprise.
I am definitely packing smarter and lighter the second time around (which doesn´t mean that I still overpack) cause I know what I needed and what not plus I now know what I haven´t packed and missed dearly. Other than that lots of things are on repeat but I got this neat weekender bag with leopard print and a matching diaper backpack.
What´s in my hospital bag the second time around…
For the baby
– monogrammed hat and bow, mittens, little shoes for going home, several pacifier cause I don´t know now which one she will like, a cute toy for pictures and of course the most adorable bag for baby girl´s things
– aiden + anais gowns, pj´s, velcro swaddle, Love To Swaddle Sleepsack, white noise mashine
– burp clothes (which I am also planning on using as backdrop for pictures), monogrammed blanket, diaper bag for our way home
– going home outfit for warm and for cool days, several onesies, outfits for photos in the hospital
For mama
– definitely my own pillow and blanket
– hakaa silicone pump, little baby bottle to feed the milk from the other breast, portable fan, night light, extra long charging cable and other adapter, ear pods, Laptop
– make-up bag and train case with toiletries, snacks, medicine and everything I need to take a shower, my own big bath towel
– huge water tumbler, hemorroid pillow, personal documents, little wallet with coins
– hospital gown, several nightgowns, nursing pj´s, robe for pictures, nursing bras, going home outfit, shower shoes
(I haven´t shared any pictures cause it is mostly the stuff I packed for my first delivery. You can view it here.)
Our little girl is now two and a half weeks old and I am finally sharing my birth story before I am forgetting all the little details.
This time around I had an epdiural and to say I have lots of regrets not getting one the first time would be the understatement of the century.
I had a very calm, positive and conscious birth experience with Helena. The midwife that was caring for us was amazing. I was so thankful for her every minute. And because of the epidural I could rest a little (really only a little because it went so fast) before pushing her out.
The birth only took 6 hours in total which was half the time with Emilia but she also decided that she wanted to come in the middle of the night. I guess all of our children are little night owls.
So let´s have a look at the timeline. I noticed that something wasn´t right at about 18:15. I felt a gush of water coming out but wasn´t sure if it was amniotic fluid. But very soon two to three other came out and I was calling the hospital asking them what was best to do because my water didn´t brake with Emilia unitl the very end of pushing. They told me to stay calm, take a shower, eat something and come in after that so that they could have a look at me.
I packed up the rest of my things, gave my mom some instructions cause she came over to be with Emilia, did my hair and put on some fresh clothes and then we headed straight to the hospital (I had showered in the afternoon and we just had dinner when my water started breaking). On the way to the hospital my contractions started and all the memories of my first delivery and the fear of pain came back. I have lost so much amniotic fluid at home that I thought I must be empty but there was so much more coming out during the drive and after.
We arrived at the hospital at 19:46 and got checked in shortly after. It was a stormy night but you know what they say, storms bring the babies and I guess that is true. I was put onto the CTG at 20:08 for about an hour and then I was checked by a doctor who looked how much I was dilated, made a Covid test, an ultrasound and all the paperwork. At time point my contractions got pretty consistent and strong and I was admitted to labour and delivery.
I got settled in and changed into my hospital gown cause my dress was super wet plus I immediately told the nurse I wanted an epidural. The anesthetist came around 22:30 and it took another 3o minutes to set up everything and get the epdiural working. The process went by super quick and didn´t hurt much. I was super happy that it worked out cause my contractions were pretty painful and consistent at this point because I was dilating so quickly.
After that it was pretty chill. I layed down with my own pillow and my super soft blanket and was just happy that I could rest a little. I didn´t feel any contractions at this point only a little pressure down there. I was shaking and freezing from the epidural but the midwife said it was totally normal so I wasn´t too worried and just waited.
At around 00:15 she came back and after a short look she said I was ready to push, we just had to wait for the doctor to help delivery the baby.
I pushed about 5 times and she was out at 00:39 screaming immediately with a head full of dark hair I was wishing for. It was just perfect. She was checked and then given to me immediately for skin to skin and we got to enjoy her for the next two hours all by ourselves. She weighed 3460 gr and was 53 cm big (Emilia was 50 cm and 3260 gr when she was born) and looked so super tiny. She had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck twice but apparently this is very common and in most cases not dangerous.
I also got to see the placenta and the amniotic sac this time around and it was pretty cool to have a look at an organ that´s only purpose was to grow and nourish your baby for nine months.
After that I went to our room and my husband went home. Helena and I spent our first night together and it wasn´t too bad. Totally forgot how often newborns eat and need their diapers changed.
My birth experience has been totally different this time. It was like day and night but there aren´t two births that are alike even if you have multiple children.
We were discharged from the hospital after two days and I have never been happy to get home. I missed my Emilia pretty bad and I also wanted my own shower and bed.
FYI: I prepared this blog post before our baby girl arrived so there would still be fresh content on the blog while I am taking a break from blogging. That’s why you’ll still see me pregnant or referencing my pregnancy in some upcoming blog posts!
The third trimester is finally over which means our sweet girl is here and we are in absolute baby bliss but nevertheless I wanted to recap my last trimester with you.
It is definitely right what the doctors say, the second pregnancy is definitely harder. I had many many things I haven´t had the first time around. It was very exhausting but in my opinion it was way shorter.
Did I have any new symptoms ?
I pretty much had the same symptoms than with Emilia like the heart burn and the back pain but this time paired with sharp pain in my pelvis and carpal tunnel syndrome which means my finger fell asleep all the time and my hands hurt very bad in the morning to the point were I couldn´t even open something. Also the gestational diabetes was back but this has not been a surprise since I was warned the first time around that this will probably happen.
Did I pack differently this time around ?
Yes, I have definitely packed different things in my hospital bag but this will be a seperate post. Also I am a chronic overpacker so I might have packed other items but not less in my opinion 🙂
Is it different going into labor the second time around?
I would say yes it is different because you know what happens but what you won´t know is, if it is the same experience. Not two deliveries are the same so I was very anxious this time around for several reasons. I was told the head was pretty big so my fear of her getting stuck and not getting enough oxygen came back big time. Also I totally wanted an epidural this time cause it definitely hurts bad and I was too proud to ask for one the first time around until it was too late and I had to through with it unmedicated.
Did I have any aversions or cravings the last few weeks?
Not that I can think of. I craved apples very bad when pregnant with Emilia and also tuna salad but not this time around.
Did I sleep better this time around?
Yes and no. There was no insomnia this time around but I had to get up during the night and look after Emilia if she needed something and I had very bad restless legs so I could not sleep well most of the time.
Was it more exhausting the second time because I am older now?
I don´t think it was because I am older now but because I have a toddler now who is very active and wants to play the whole time. I went to nap with her almost every day for about one to two hours and it was glorious. The fatiuge didn´t came back in the third trimester like I had it in my first but I definitely had days were I was more tired than others. Overall it is a huge effort for your body to grow a human and if you are tired more often than you wish to be give yourself some grace as this too shall pass.
Did I get any new things for the baby?
A few. They are both born in different season so the newborn clothes definitely look a little different. I also got new burp clothes cause I found some I absolutely love, a few monogrammed things and also some add-ons for our Bugaboo. Other than that just some things for the girl´s shared nursery.
I have been so sick last week and the weekend before I just don´t know what hit us there. Maybe after two years of wearing masks and socially distancing there is no immune system left to fight of the germs that are around.
Also Emilia´s second birthday was yesterday and I super emotional all day plus I had to power through cause yes I am still sick. Being pregnant and having a cold really sucks cause there is almost nothing you can take that actually works.
But let´s have a look at my second trimester. I haven´t done a bump date for my first trimester cause first of all I didn´t take any bump shots plus my first trimester was exactly the same like I was pregnant with Emilia.
Did I have morning sickness?
No , not particularly. I definitely was sick once a day from week 6 to about 16. My sjckness started everyday around 11 am, like clockwork. I got super sick and also super hungry and tired. It was pretty hard and lasted about two hours each day. So I went and made us something for lunch that was possible for me to eat a few bites of and then I would go to bed with Emilia and sleep for about two hours. To be honest this has been very tough to handle with a toddler.
Did I have any cravings?
Yes. Mixed cravings. Apples for example, I never eat apples. And ham. Ham has been a big craving as well as hash browns. Everything of that has faded now and I just eat what we have planned for our daily or weekly meal.
Did my bump grow quicker?
A lot. I still can not believe how fast I showed this time around. The most people have guessed it first. I could have never waited until week 20 like I did with Emilia the first time around. Unbelievable how the body is capable of changing so quick.
Was I as excited as the first time around?
I definitely was. After all this is a wonder every time and the first ultrasound is super special to me. But it might have gotten a little lost in my days at home with a busy toddler. I can not focus and concentrate as much on my pregnancy as the first time cause I am not alone at home anymore.
How did we find out the gender?
We found out about the gender around week 14. We did genetic testing this time and the blood tests show the gender so our doctor told us after week 14. And I was super surprised that it is another girl but to be honest my symptoms have been absolutely equal to my first pregnancy.
Do we plan on having a second nursery?
The plan always was to give the bigger room (where Emilia currently sleeps in) to the two same gendered kids (we want three) and the small room to the single one. Now that we have two girls close in age we are going with a shared nursery and I am so happy about how everything is coming together. Hopefully it will be ready before the second baby is here. Furniture delivery hasn´t been as easy and quick as it used to be.
How far will the kids be apart?
A little over two years.
Is is harder being pregnant with a toddler at home?
At times it definitely is. I am getting tired a lot more often and quicker plus my back hurts from carrying Emilia to much but other than that it is still okay. Might change until the end of my third trimester but so far so good.
Is there something we are planning on doing different with the second baby?
There are some small things I want to try to incorporate as early as possible. With Emilia for example I let her fall asleep on the sofa an let her sleep there so she never learned to fall asleep in her crib for naps so I definitely want to change this. Also I want to be more consistent when it comes to feeding. Emilia didn´t like being fed anything other than milk so we weren´t to follow through when it came to mash and purees but I definitely want to give this another try. One thing I wanted for me is to make it longer in terms of breastfeeding. I got to about months and then my milk supply dropped so I really want to work on that, maybe get to the full 12 months. Also I have a feeling there won´t be much pumping involved this time around cause there just won´t be the time with a newborn and a toddler so exclusively breastfeeding it will be.
Is the time going by faster ?
Time is definitely flying by this time. Yesterday I somehow realized that there are only 10 weeks left and I am not done with a single planned project (like the shared nursery, the nurses baskest or packing my hospital bag). These are all things I wanted to accomplish before baby gets here so I have a calm state of mind.
The dress I am wearing in all the pictures above is from amazon and I probably own it in six different colors.
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