If you’ve never been pregnant before,
you may feel overwhelmed thinking about the next 9 months. A lot will
be happening in your life, and many changes will be taking place. We’re
not talking only about the physical changes you will experience. They
are certainly a big part of pregnancy, but changes will be occurring in
other areas of your life, such as changes in your professional life,
changes in your life with your partner and changes in the relationships
you share with family and friends. It’s a lot to take in right now, but
having some time to deal with these various situations—you have many
months ahead of you—may make your tasks easier.
With a repeat pregnancy, you may feel
baby move sooner than with a first pregnancy. Part of this may be
because you already know what baby’s movements feel like, so you
identify them sooner.
On the physical and
emotional side, you may experience fatigue and emotional mood swings.
You must adjust to your changing body. People will give you advice and
share stories about their own pregnancies, labors and deliveries. You
will receive lots of attention, sometimes unwanted.
You can’t avoid some of these
experiences. However, knowing the facts about pregnancy can prepare you
to accept or to ignore advice. Knowing how the female body reacts to
pregnancy can help you understand the changes you experience and help
you make intelligent choices as the need arises. If you’re willing to
adapt and adjust your lifestyle for the sake of your health and that of
your growing baby, you can do a lot to make your pregnancy a happy,
fulfilling experience.
You’ll Receive a Lot of Attention
A positive (sometimes negative) aspect
of a first pregnancy is the attention you receive. At times you may be
irritated by people who ask how you feel and what you’re experiencing.
Debbie was tired of inane questions and
wisecracks from coworkers about her pregnancy. She turned it back on
them by asking them the same questions. When asked about her weight
gain, she would reply with a grin, “My healthcare provider says I’m
doing great with my weight gain. What has your healthcare provider said
about yours?” Her co-workers took it in good humor and soon got the
message.
Allow people to help you and do things
for you. Some women don’t appreciate how much others are willing to do
for them during their first pregnancy until they become pregnant again.
Helpful attention is a luxury not always offered in subsequent
pregnancies, so take advantage of it now!
Sharing the News
You may feel a little awkward telling
family members, friends and co-workers you’re pregnant. Some people
thoughtlessly offer their advice or opinions on “being an older mother.”
If others are critical or do not have
your best wishes in mind, ignore them! Focus your attention on staying
healthy and having a happy pregnancy. Your pregnancy is your
business—you don’t need the good opinion of anyone else to make it a
positive experience for you.
When you announce to co-workers and
supervisors you’re pregnant, be prepared for a range of reactions. Be
clear you have made the right decision for you. Assure co-workers your
pregnancy is just one aspect of your life (a very important aspect),
and you plan to continue your job as long as you are able, if this is
what you choose.
Repeat Pregnancy
With a first-time pregnancy, every
experience is a new one for you. In later pregnancies, things are
different. Many women assume their second pregnancy will be just like
their first. Often it isn’t—your emotions in a repeat pregnancy may not
be the same as in a first pregnancy. However, you may feel more relaxed.
In a repeat pregnancy, you are often seen
as a “pregnant mother”; in other words, you should know what’s going
on. You may be reluctant to ask for extra attention, although you may
need it more. A second pregnancy can be more stressful because of the
extra demands on your time and energies. You must attend to your
family’s well-being, take care of yourself and maybe a career as well.
You may wonder where you will find the energy to satisfy everyone
else’s needs. Physical discomforts may bother you a bit more. If you
experienced various problems in your first pregnancy, you’re more
likely to have those same problems in subsequent pregnancies. Some
repeat pregnancy problems include gestational diabetes, premature labor
and some placenta problems.
On the plus side, women usually have a
shorter labor with their second child, often only about half as long as
with a first baby. Pain may not lessen, but because labor is usually
shorter and you know more about what’s going to happen, it may be
easier to handle.
