thoughts on two (January 15, 2015)
I can’t even believe I’m writing these posts right now. Every time I type, think, or start to imagine baby #2, I get flooded with emotions, which is usually a mix of giddy excitement and a little bit of fear. I say the last part, because -I’m sure many of you have experienced this- we know we want to have another kid, and know we’re ready, but some days are challenging with just one. This parenting stuff is obviously the best in the world, and I wouldn’t change a thing, but I would be a flat-out liar if I said it isn’t hard The good and the beautiful things about it far outshine the tougher moments. I’ve just been telling myself that you figure it out, just as you did with one.
I’ve heard a share of mixed opinions, which is usually a variety of the following:
-Two kids is easier than one! You already know what to expect, and they play with each other.
-Two kids isn’t twice as hard as one. It’s FOUR TIMES as hard.
Obviously, I think it depends on so many things, and I’m excited to see how it works out for our family. I think a huge factor is that I already know what to expect, especially in regards to the newborn phase. Of course, this will be entirely different, but I think with baby #1, no matter how much you read, and prepare, and think you know, you still have the rug pulled out from under you. You don’t really KNOW until you’re there. Also, we had a bit of initial obstacles with all of my breastfeeding/pumping/anxiety issues. I fortunate to have some have resources and a plan if anything needs to be adjusted the next time around. (For example, if breastfeeding doesn’t work out, I’m not going to beat myself up about it. I’m going to do the best I can, and know that formula exists for a reason. I had to supplement with formula for Liv, and from what I can tell, she seems to be doing ok. 😉 )
Time to start officially trying. It’s nice that it feels more laid-back, and less…technical… this time. Instead of tracking my temp, and taking ovulation tests and the whole ordeal, we’re pretty much going with the flow to see what happens. Since I’ve been doing fertility awareness method for years now (I think 7 years?), it’s been a huge help in knowing when it’s a good time to try (or when to stay away, if you’re trying to avoid getting pregnant haha).
Here are some of the steps I’m taking now (within 3 months of TTC for baby #2):
-taking my prenatals consistently again, along with vegetarian DHA
-weaning myself off constant caffeine, and sticking to one glass of wine a night or less
-upping my produce and healthy fat intake
-skimming Making Babies (which has SO many great tips for TTC, and I read it attentively before we started trying for Liv)
-drinking Fertili-tea and taking one Fertile CM pill each day. (Obviously ask your doctor, but when we conceived Liv I was taking Fertile CM. That stuff is no joke.)
-being mindful of impact workouts around ovulation. The idea is that you don’t want to shake an implanted egg around, so I’ll stick to yoga, walking and spinning instead of Orangetheory and HIIT drills during that time of the month.
Fingers crossed <3
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who is the author of the book Making Babies? I found several books on amazon with the same title. thanks 🙂
here you go! http://www.amazon.com/Making-Babies-3-Month-Program-Fertility/dp/0316024503
Good luck with it all! Reading the first paragraph, I have the same feelings as you. One is hard! And I do get when people do tell us that it’s easier with two because they keep each other company, but it’s still not hard to imagine the hard times x TWO! Part of me wish I would have just got over the “NO MORE BABIES!” thing sooner because now I’m in this weird comfort zone of loving just having my daughter. One day I’ll think, yup, she’d make an awesome only child, and another day I’ll be like, ok let’s just get this over with and have another one. Very maternal, I know haha. I hope it all works out for the fam and I definitely will take some of those things into consideration for when we try.
One question: will you give up wine once you know you’re for sure pregnant? Because wine is something I know I’ll miss so much, and I was wondering the ‘what to do’ with it even during the trying to conceive stages; not really wanting to give it up if there’s a chance that I’m not even pregnant anyways. Man, I really sound like wine-o right now haha!
absolutely. wine is one of my favorite things in the world, but when i was pregnant with liv, i didn’t feel comfortable drinking at all. if something were to go wrong, i knew i’d never forgive myself
Ya totally. Same here with my daughter! I guess I meant more so in the trying stage before knowing for sure that you’re pregnant. That’s where my debate is: do I give it up as soon as we commit to start trying? I don’t know!!
Is there any evidence that impact activities around ovulation have a negative impact on TTC — or is that just a personal choice you made? It’s funny, I got pregnant with my daughter in the middle of running crazy mileage without even trying . . . and for number two, I basically stopped running and much exercise at all after almost a year of trying and still didn’t get pregnant. Just genuinely curious if you came across anything I should be reading when I’m allowed to try again. Thanks.
i remember reading about it in the book “making babies”
i’m pretty sure the author suggested walking or yoga during ovulation so you don’t shake the implanted egg around
xoxo
Good luck, sweet lady! I got pregnant just being aware of my body’s schedule.