

(35 Posts)
littlelionman Wed 04-Sep-13 16:30:22

Hi there,




ShowOfHands Thu 05-Sep-13 18:46:15

I had ptsd and pnd after having dd. I found my whole life thrown into disarray. I remember feeling that I wasn't at all myself. Quite apart from the intrusive thoughts and the flashbacks/nightmares, there was a real sense that my whole world had contracted down to this baby who I was sort of terrified of. My anxiety was sky high and I felt like I was suffocating. I couldn't remember laughing or smiling or spontaneity or how I possible enjoyed anything. I definitely couldn't imgaine putting myself through it again. I couldn't even contemplate having another and I'd wanted a big family. The ptsd and then pnd came from a horrendous birth experience and it wasn't until I got help and dealt with that that I was able to consider a second. I didn't admit I had a problem for months, years really and pretended it was fine. Once I'd had counselling, I started to talk about having a 2nd. And it wasn't considered out of a maternal urge but more a weighing up of what we wanted in the future, our desire to give dd a sibling and the knowledge that I was hitting 30 and really it was now or never. I waited until dd was older because I needed to sort myself out and I knew for us it would be better to have a 2nd when dd was at school. I couldn't have even thought about having a toddler and a baby. DD was 4.4 when ds was born and she started school 4 days later. It was perfect. One on one time with the baby and dd was old enough to understand, help and love her brother.

I can also reassure you (and there's a fairly recent thread somewhere which I'll dig out for you about having a 2nd which confirms this) that it's entirely possible for it to be EASIER having a 2nd. I think especially when you've had a rough time first time round. If you sidestep the ptsd thing by having a non-traumatic delivery, it's SUCH a pleasant surprise to find that you can have a baby and feel normal. Not anxious or worried or terrified or crippled by ptsd. Just you, but with a second and lovely baby to squidge. And you enjoy it more. You are more aware of the little pleasures in having a tiny baby. There's the reassurance there of course that you've done this before, there's no massive shift in perception like first time round when you've gone from childless to a parent. You've just expanded the love a bit, no massive life change. And for me at least, I was so much better organised because I had to be and I was organised from day 1, not sliding under a pile of worries and not able to get out until it had spiralled and I didn't even know how to start being me again. I'd already carved out my niche as a mother and I knew who I was as a mother. DS was probably quite privileged. DD had to put up with a lot of floundering.

Only you can make the decision really. But you'd be going into it with your eyes open. I'd make sure you get help with the trauma. The birth trauma association is marvellous. Talk lots about what happened and then think about the future. It helped me to know why I was traumatised. I knew in the end that it was feeling I'd failed. The massive gap between what I'd wanted (home waterbirth) and what I had (bluelight transfer, a lot of intervention, v stuck baby, 8hrs of pushing and an emcs) was a horrid gulf of depression and I felt out of control. I worked very very hard to know how I could manage to remove the element of loss of control and fear from a second delivery and that meant forgiving myself and accepting that another cs was possible. I did have another emcs but it was a very positive experience because I was prepared for it and felt in control and 'present' instead of feeling like the birth was something done to me iyswim.

My 2nd child was 2 this week. He was absolutely the right choice.

violator Thu 05-Sep-13 18:25:38

When I found myself in a psychiatric hospital with PND 14 weeks after a much planned baby and lovely birth, I thought "I'll never, ever risk this happening again."
He's 2 now, I'm pretty much recovered after the most horrific time of my life. Never had even an inkling of mental illness before he was born.
It's changed me utterly, in many ways for the better.

I'm not remotely broody. I feel sorry for mums I see with toddlers and newborns. My friends with two or more are so stressed.
I don't think I ever want to have a number 2. I'm 37 too with a strong family history of early menopause so don't have years to ponder it.
I think I just know my limitations and they don't stretch to another child.

loveisagirlnameddaisy Thu 05-Sep-13 17:27:48

Yes, it does make a difference knowing the difficult phases pass. It's given me much more optimism!

loveisagirlnameddaisy Thu 05-Sep-13 17:27:13

Couldn't imagine how 2nd children came along after the birth of DC1, I was in utter shock and despair and mourning for my pre-children days. But after a year, when it had all calmed down and things felt so much more manageable, I slowly came round to the idea. 2 years 9 months later, DC2 was born.

Life is never the same again but I don't regret my decision as I knew I didn't want an only child. If I were younger and could guarantee a sleeper, I'd for for DC3 as DP would really like to do it.

Shakey1500 Thu 05-Sep-13 17:20:16

No I don't feel guilty for not trying for a second. And I've never even felt a pang.

littlelionman Thu 05-Sep-13 10:00:35

Like ButteryJam I'm wondering how those who went on to have two coped with the 2nd? I've read a few threads on here by Mums who are really struggling with 2. Does it make a difference that you've learnt from 1, and you know that the baby phase passes? Does anyone love DC2 dearly but think they really should have stuck at 1?

Does anyone with 1 regret not trying for 2?

jammiedonut I went for the coil too to make sure we didn't make any big decisions on a whim!

Thanks to everyone that has posted - it's obviously an issue lots of us are dealing with.

jammiedonut Thu 05-Sep-13 09:43:10

It's early, so all I'd say is don't rule it out. I was much the same as you, found pregnancy extremely difficult, childbirth isn't an experience i wish to repeat very soon. My back has suffered lasting significant damage from carrying a heavy baby and subsequent impact of childbirth.
I've just this week sat down with dh and discussed the timing of another baby. Iwas always convinced I'd want them close together, but we've agreed to wait at least three years before the question is raised again. I just don't think physically i could manage lifting a toddler and a newborn, it's as simple as that. I also had a traumatic, deprived childhood and now that ds has arrived can't put my selfish desire to have a baby girl over his needs. It'll be easier to provide for one than two, at least for now, so I'm happy to wait.
I think it's such an emotive decision. You may find that when your child is no longer a baby that you'll desperately want another. I've had a coil put in so that the process of having another child isn't as simple as me stopping my birth control pills!

LuigiB Thu 05-Sep-13 01:28:32

It took me six years to even consider dc2. After I had ds1 (emcs), I thought that I would never have another one. I was mainly scared of the sleep deprivation - ds1 although a really placid baby, was horrendous at sleeping still is.

But one day I saw an ex-colleague who was six months pregnant. Just seeing her big bump put a small desire for another one in my mind and I knew that it was now or never.

Ds2 is now 4 months old and I have never regretted having him. Unfortunately he is a crap sleeper like his brother, (posting this after the first of three feeds in the night that he does), but I am much more able to cope with it this time. Personally i really like the age gap too, ds1 is lots of help and is very self sufficient, I just hope they are close as they grow up.

NatashaBee Thu 05-Sep-13 00:02:17

I said 'never again' after DS was born. He was generally a good baby but still doesn't sleep well at the age of 2, and was in NICU for a few days after birth and was unable to breast feed. All in all I felt a bit of a failure. But now he's a little more independent I have been thinking about another one... As far as pregnancy and the early baby days go I don't exactly relish the idea of doing that again. But we live abroad, a long way away from any family, and I don't want DS to get lonely.

ButteryJam Wed 04-Sep-13 23:42:05

OP, Ive wondered the same! Those of you that changed your mind after the 1st being very difficult, was the second baby easier?

LadyBigtoes Wed 04-Sep-13 23:38:54


neunundneunzigluftballons Wed 04-Sep-13 23:36:02


Cjilly Wed 04-Sep-13 23:29:30




bigwellylittlewelly Wed 04-Sep-13 22:09:59




Xmasbaby11 Wed 04-Sep-13 22:00:27



sharond101 Wed 04-Sep-13 21:52:12


Portofino Wed 04-Sep-13 21:12:23


Shakey1500 Wed 04-Sep-13 20:57:54


sparkle12mar08 Wed 04-Sep-13 20:49:56





littlelionman Wed 04-Sep-13 20:02:16





peachypips Wed 04-Sep-13 19:55:16


LadyBigtoes Wed 04-Sep-13 19:48:03





sparkle12mar08 Wed 04-Sep-13 19:43:02



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