Having Enough Energy for Baby #2

its really easy. My answer is..... you just do it. I have two and i cringe at the thought of a third due to feeling so worn out and stretched thing now but I know that if a 3rd were to come about I would just do it, not think twice about it and then in a year or 10 I would wonder how I did it. Going from one to two is a huge difference and when you actually have some time one on one you will realize how easy it was having one, when you swear you felt tired and exhausted with one. You will feel the same, the love will get distributed and you will do what needs to be done. Its one of the miracles us mommies have been blessed with.

Actually, I thought #2 wasn't nearly as big an adjustment as I thought it would be. We already had all the baby stuff, we were used to little people in the house, and it hadn't been long since we had our first. We knew the routine!
One thing that I found very helpful for having time with my 2 year old was having him bring me a book while I was on the couch nursing the baby. He'd snuggle up next to the Boppy, I'd put my arm around him, and I suppose I was reading to both boys at once!
The one thing I absolutely recommend is that you put both down for bed at the same time, and you have your husband switch off with you. Have him put the baby down while you put the toddler down, and the next night, switch. That was the hardest thing for me, getting both to bed without help. And they really need time with their dad, anyway. At first, I put down the baby and had some time with just the toddler, but then I found I was in "bedtime mode" for over an hour, and I was exhausted!
My first son loved having a routine, but I hate them. With two, I definitely needed a routine! You kind of just get that way with nap times, etc. There's a smaller window between naps for you to go do errands, so you just get used to doing them at the same time every day.
I also highly, highly recommend a double stroller. Especially since your kids might be a little closer than mine were, and they might be a bit lighter than mine. My oldest outgrew the weight limit when he was almost 4, and my 2 1/2 year old isn't far from doing it, either. I didn't have one for about 6 months, and it was a NIGHTMARE! Finally I got mine and wow, it changed my life! I wonder if I should have gotten a sit 'n stand, though. I think they hold a little heavier child.
Good luck!

B.,
I have been taking the absolute best prenatal vitamins for years now, Because you are a nurse I am sending some info about them. If you want more information you can email me at ____@____.com or check out this site gotgreennow.fourpointmoms.com Vitality Multivitamin and Mineral Prenatal is designed with essential vitamins and minerals to help bridge nutritional gaps and provide the extra nutrients nursing and expectant mothers require. With 1,000 mcg of folate to help reduce the risk of neural-tube defects and 30 mg of iron for optimal health during pregnancy, Vitality Multivitamin and Mineral Prenatal looks out for you during this special time of lifeWomen who consume healthful diets with adequate folate may reduce their risk of having a child with birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Folate intake should not exceed 250% of the Daily Value (DV) of 1,000 mcg. D.

I have two children very close in age...18 months apart. When I found out I was pregnant with the second my husband and I were separated at the time. And I was very concerned about how I was going to spend enough time with both...ensure that both had the things they needed physically, and emotionally. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to show one of them enough love. And schedules, I was very worried that things would be hectic...that my son would lose his routine etc. And here's the thing...for the first couple of months things are crazy and you are trying to spread yourself around to everything...two kids, husband, housework, and yourself. But with the second one you are more "relaxed" in a sense because you are more prepared. In time you get your routine down of how you can prepare dinner while the little one is trying to eat and the older one is learning to potty train. Try to sit down with your husband and especially now before you even have the second one...line up things that he can do to help you at the end of the day. Really take the time to bond with your first child now...and get his routine like clock work now. Again things will be disrupted but if you have things planned now...you at least have a game plan. (Even though 9 times out of 10-things are still chaos.) Hang in there!!

Just remember that your second baby will be very different from your first. The best advice I ever got about having another child is to never blame anything on the baby. Never tell your son that you can't do something, like play with him or go to the park, because you have to feed, nap, change, rock, or whatever to the baby. Don't lie to him, just tell him that you can't and leave it at that. Also, if you nurse that is a great time to read to your child and chat with him. You will find plenty of opportunities to spend good time with your toddler when you have another baby if you look for them.

Helllllloooo coffee, tea & Red Bull!!! Just like when #1 showed up, you dealt with it and found a way to thrive...same happens when #2 shows up. You figure it out and it just get better and better. Mine are 23 mos apart and the first year was a blur, but a happy one.

Happy "ttc" :-) You'll be even more wonderful with 2.

I have a 2.5 year old, and baby #2 is due in May. Honestly, I am not sure how I am going to do it, but one thing that is helpful is that my daughter loves to read. I plan on sitting with her and reading while little one is nursing. I remember feeling like I was sitting and nursing 6-8 hours a day when my dd was an infant. So, if I can sit down and read to her for even 2 or 3 hours a day after baby comes, I know that she will just LOVE that. I plan on having a special basket by my nursing chair with snacks, a water bottle for her, and some fun books. I think that will help a lot. Still, though, I am a bit anxious about how this will go! Good luck!

Well I know it isn't encouraging but how you do to is you just do. You play with the toddler when the baby takes a nap and reading book while the baby is nursing is a great way to help him feel included. Somehow God gives you enough energy to get up in the middle of the night with two and your husband gets to get up with the older one which gives him a greater appreciation for you.
There are a few things we did with my oldest when her little sister came that smoothed the way alot.
We started telling herhow much her baby sister loved her while she was in utero. Then when my second was born she brought a present for her sister. We had it with us at the hospital when my oldest was brought to meet her sister the first time. And then we asked our family to ask my oldest to show them the baby when they came over for the first time. This helped her feel like the baby was hers to show off. It was a really great transistion from one to two for us.
Good luck and hope this helps

B.,
I suggest you get a book called "Baby Wise" It is quite conversational, But the good thing is you can make the decision for yourself after you read it. Basically if right home from the hospital, you start this routine; feed your baby, keep him awake for a small amount of time and then put him in their bed, you will find he will take great to a schedule and you will feel much better about having two. Just repeat the cycle every 2 1/2 -3 hours eventually your baby will be very predictable, and happy. Every time your baby wakes you will know it is time to feed him, keep him awake and then put him down to sleep when he starts to avoid your eyes and starts fussing. Around two months of age it is about 1 hour awake, 2 hours asleep. Then it starts over again.
I have four kids and I have used this routine on all of them. I have shared this advice with all of my In-Laws and Cousins and Friends. Every one of them that has followed it, has had a great happy baby and been a very happy Mommy. So good luck! It is not bad with two, and if you have a schedule then your toddler will be happier too!
E.

HUGS! Try and stop worrying, no matter how much you plan, read up or get advice on, each second baby is different, it could be worse then someone else or better. The best thing you can do is realize what a great mom you are to your first and the second one is a blessing and you are wiser and more confident now then you were with your first!

I was 40 when I got had my second, so I was worried about the energy factor, my daughter was 3 at the time he came along. I just did it, it was actually way easier, I wasn't such a nervous wreck about all the little things, I wasn't so used to sleeping all night that I didn't adapt to getting up every three hours for those first six months. I think I felt less sleep deprived with my second then I did my first. I think my body adjusted better the second pregnancy.

It all came so much easier! My daughter was old enough not to be in baby mode and not need my undivided attention so much and was so eager to help with the baby. It was a pain as she regressed with the potty training and I had two in diapers but that wasn't for long. Nothing is impossible and you can put your baby on a schedule. The main thing is get him/her used to noise, lay a bassinett in the living room so he can nap on and off amongst the noise as that is the best gift you can give them. Have our son look at his own baby pictures when you are further along in your preganancy letting him know he was that little and all the things you had to so for him, include him in everything, even OBGYN appts.

If he is closer to three he will not be so dependent on you either and got some good "only child" time in. Don't worry he will adjust as long as you really include him in it all.
My daughter would yell at me if her brother cried and I didn't rush to him.

I kept my son in a bassinett in the living room a lot during the day so he got used to the noise and could sleep better. My daughter napped for six months more when he was a baby so that helped putting them both down in the afternoon. One nap a day when he was an infant I put him upstairs in a quieter crib, then as he got older I would put him in his crib upstairs to nap. I just wanted him used to noise so my daughter didn't have to be so quiet.. Then as he got older when he would nap twice and my daughter was up he did great. She was in preschool at 4 when he was one so while she was in school I would lay him down.

I made sure she had gymnastics classes, preschool and her "own" thing for herself too. I explained right off the bat why babies cry, why I have to get to him if he is crying because he cannot tell me what he needs, why they eat so much and all of that. She was okay with it. It was actually harder for her when he was just walking as I had to have eagle eyes and would have to interupt her to get him if he was into something or whatever, he was a climber and I had to micro manage him and that is when my daughter kind of resented the attention I gave him.

Stay on what routine you have now, waking, feeding, changing, a little play and nap for those first three months is all they really need. Then as he/she gets more predictable figure out what works for you. If your son is still napping try the afternoon to lay them down seperately but at the same time to give yourself a break, YOU NAP TOO if you need to! I let myself nap and relax more with the second too, I gave myself permission to not rush to do the dishes any chance I got to just rest too! :)
Hugs and good luck, keep us posted.
I am 44 now, have a wonderful and loving four year old son and a very sweet and caring 7 year old, still don't feel old yet and the sleep disruptions still happen if someone is sick, bad dreams, thunderstorms...it is all part of parenting! :)

A baby sling and an Arm's Reach co-sleeper attached to the side of my bed were absolute necessities for us! It's so lovely to be able to tend to your little one and rock him or nurse him without having to wake all the way up if he's nearby or put him down to go on a walk or play with the older one.
I would add that the cliches are true, your love really does grow, you won't lose the closeness you have with him now, and you'll get to love your little buddy in a whole new way as he becomes a brother.

You never know how things will be until #2 comes. Somehow you find a way to make things work. The first few months are an adjusment period, just like with the first baby. I had to learn that having a perfect house and 2 kids was just not possible. The important thing is that your kids feel loved and are taken care of. When we had our 2nd we tried to have the first be involved as much as possible and let him know it was our baby, not just mommy and daddy's. Jealousy can happen no matter what you do. I tried to spend one on one time with my older boy while the baby was napping. I got less rest, but I think my little boy was happier. Sometimes we just watched a movie together. They just need to feel like they aren't being replaced and they are still loved. It's an adjustment for them too. I also kid proofed the family room so my toddler could run around and not get hurt on anything. This way I could sit and take a break and he could still play. The schedule came with time for us and I just tried not to get frustrated in the mean time. I also had awesome family who would watch the kids for a couple of hours on days I was really burned out just so I could get a nap. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Hopefully you have some good friends or family around. If you are rested you can deal with things better, i think. You can also still read and sing with your toddler, the timing may change a little, you can just do it with the baby as well. Its normal to worry but you will do great. Good luck and hopefully some of this helps.

I'm going to tell you to wait until Child #1 starts preschool. This way you have more time with the baby and can enjoy your child as much as the first born. And enjoy your toddler. They are so amazing in the things they say and do, watch them learn, and teaching them is so fun. I just had my 2nd child ( little girl )and the 1st child ( boy )was 2 1/2. He is a great boy, very loving, smart and was well behaved, but was not happy about having a sister. I feel like i can't give my new baby the attention she needs because he acts out so much, even when i include him in almost everything, I have to! I read all the materal and tried to tell him how fun it would be to have a little sister, got all the books to read to him about it, and still on the rare occation does he help like everyone says. I know that all children are different, but just wanted to share with you what I have been going through and let you know it is hard. I make it through each day. Some harder than others but we mothers can do just about anything we put our minds to. And I couldn't do it without a great husband that helps out when he is home. Best of luck to you and your family.