Community Corner
Six Reasons Carrying My Second Baby Rocks
Confidence and local resources give a pregnant mother peace of mind.
Pregnancy is a difficult, glorious time of life. I'm pregnant with my second child and thought I knew what I was in for this time around. But, there are unexpected joys that come with doing it again.
- You don't have to listen to anyone's sage words of wisdom on how you should feel. With both pregnancies, I got overly nauseated and irritable at three and a half weeks pregnant. The first time around, my cousin convinced me it was wishful thinking. "There's no way you'd feel it this early," she said. This time, I took a pregnancy test right away because I trusted myself.
- Helpful resources have already been identified. I was afraid to leave my house during the first month of my son's life. Now I know I can go to the weekly Loudoun Hospital New Mom's Group to commiserate with other moms afraid to leave their homes.
- You know you'll be a good mom. No more waking at night with nightmares of driving off with the baby carrier on top of my car. Now I know the baby can survive that. (Just kidding!)
- Doctors believe you now. During the first pregnancy, I started feeling sharp pangs during the fifth month. My doctor said it was gas. I now know they were contractions. When I mentioned early contractions last week, my doctor did an exam instead of encouraging me to clear Walgreens' stock of Tums.
- The fear isn't as great. Oh, I'm a bit apprehensive about throwing a second kid into our finally stable family. But, that fear-of-the-unknown isn't overwhelming me.
- You trust yourself. No two pregnancies are alike. I've had a few surprises and I expect more to pop up along the way. But, the best perk to having the second baby is not feeling like a deer caught in headlights. My confidence has me feeling fabulous. Now I can say with pride, "No, that's not just my big, fat gut anymore. I'm pregnant!"
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