One of the biggest differences that I've noticed from my first pregnancy to this one is the issue of weight gain and food cravings.
To start off, I had way more morning sickness this time around, which is to say, I had quite a bit, since I had almost none with AJ. I think its like a cruel cosmic joke to be nausea free during your first pregnancy and then have it bad the second time around when you have a child to care for. Whether the universe is conspiring against me or not, I had trouble finding foods that sounded good to me for the first 15-ish weeks of this pregnancy.
I didn't really keep track of my weight gain when I was pregnant with AJ, but I know that at this point with her I had gained way more than I have at this point the second time around. I think I've gained about 1 pound at this point. Part of the reason for my weight gain with AJ was because if I felt dizzy or nauseas I'd eat a snack and that took care of it for me. This time, it really didn't make a difference, so I really only have been eating when I'm hungry.
I am not too worried about my lack of enormous weight gain so far, but I think I'm so used to watching what I eat to maintain my weight before I got pregnant that I do find myself thinking about whether or not I should eat a certain thing, or whatever. With AJ I didn't think twice about pretty much anything I ate the entire time I was pregnant with her. Like, if I craved 7 Layer Bars, I'd just make them and eat half the pan in one sitting.
Last time I kind of had the attitude that "I'm pregnant, I can eat whatever I want!" This time around I'm looking at it more like this pregnancy is a temporary situation and then I'll go back to my normal life/self after its over. I think its partially because we don't plan on having any more kids after this one, so when this pregnancy is over, my childbearing phase will also come to an end.
I guess it means I'm being healthier this time around? I've also found that so far, I haven't been eating the large portion sizes like I did with AJ. I didn't gain like 75 pounds with AJ or anything, but I definitely gained more than I wanted to (if I had to guess, I'd say about 50 pounds), and didn't manage to lose it all after she arrived. I was pretty unhappy with the way I looked due to the extra weight on my midsection. This time I'd like to keep the weight gain under control a bit more and hopefully manage to get rid of it all after the baby arrives. I'm under no delusions that I'll have time to work out with a 3 year old and a newborn, so I'm hoping that whatever I gain I'll be able to lose mostly by controlling my diet postpartum.
So that is what has been on my mind so far this pregnancy. Can you relate with this thinking? How was your second (or third, or fourth) pregnancy different from your first?
We didn’t know how good we had it.
5 months ago
I am 32 weeks pregnant with my second, and my weight gain appears to be the same as the first one. I may gain a few more pounds this time, but nothing too drastic. This pregnancy has been so different than the first. I had to eat every few hours with this one. With my first, I never had any morning sickness. I am also experiencing more Braxton Hicks contractions. They are also intense. With my first, when I did have them, it was barely noticeable.
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ReplyDeleteI gained a LOT more weight with Brody (my second)...this is likely due to the fact that he was almost 10 pounds and I had SO much swelling and water weight from being pregnant over the extremely hot summer. My pregnancies were very similar though...I think I blogged about it.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to follow along on your journey. I have enjoyed being pregnant both times (hardly any nausea and mostly easy pregnancies...minus being overdue both times) and we aren't done at 2 so we'll see! :)
Oh and if you plan on breastfeeding, be prepared for those initial post partum uterine contractions while nursing to be MUCH worse. It's like a cruel joke to go through labor twice basically. :)
Oh I cannot imagine morning sickness. I didn't get it with either of mine, but you're right- really REALLY cruel to get it with the second. At least if you got it with AJ, you'd be like, "Oh hey a common pregnancy symptom!" And if you didn't get it with the second you would feel so lucky. But having it reversed is not cool at all. I hope that this means you will be blessed with no stretch marks! (Apparently my punishment for not getting sick. lol)
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