6 differences between first, second and third pregnancies

Here at Healthy Mummy HQ we have a wealth of pregnancy experience. Everything from first time to fifth time mummy’s and beyond.

While we are all about helping you have a healthy pregnancy, we also love to have a laugh at the lighter side of brewing a baby.

1. Maternity clothes

1st pregnancy:

You excitedly shop for maternity clothes and desperately hold out for the day you can wear them and show off that bump.

2nd pregnancy:

You desperately try to squeeze into your non maternity clothes for as long as possible before giving in at about 10 weeks.

3rd pregnancy:

Maternity clothes? They are basically your normal wardrobe these days.

2. Morning sickness

1st pregnancy:

To start with that queasy feeling is quite reassuring. Then it just sucks. Luckily you can take sick leave and go to bed as soon as you get home. Your partner dotes on you.

2nd pregnancy:

Juggling a toddler and feeling like rubbish sucks. You try to nap when the toddler does. Your partner dotes a little less.

3rd pregnancy:

Two kids often means school drops off and preschool. Spewing into a container in the car becomes a regular occurrence. Naps? What are they? Your partner barely notices.

Don’t worry, we have some tips on beating morning sickness here.

3. Baby clothes

1st pregnancy:

Everything is perfectly folded and brand new. You’ve probably got a storage system and everything is sorted meticulously. You wash, dry and fold (maybe even iron!) every little piece before it is placed delicately away for your precious new arrival.

EVERYONE buys gifts for the new baby and they have more clothes than you before they are even born.

2nd pregnancy:

You pull out the 0000 and 000 box and sort through to find things that you can reuse. After giving everything a quick wash you pack it into the drawers.

Close friends and family buy new clothes for bub to add to your collection.

3rd pregnancy:

You sort clothes based on “too stained to wear out of the house” and “suitable for public outings”. Nothing gets washed (you’re pretty sure you did that before storing them).

No one buys new clothes for bub, but everyone offers their three time hand me downs, which you gleefully accept. They’re just going to get spewed on anyway.

4. The nursery

1st pregnancy:

You spend hours on Pinterest planning out the perfect colour scheme and layout and then layby all your furniture as soon as you hit the magic 12 week mark.

The nursery is completed by 20 weeks and you spend the next 20 weeks gazing at it and sitting in the rocking chair daydreaming about your new baby.

2nd pregnancy:

You unceremoniously dump the toddler out of the cot and declare him a big boy now.

Decorating involves hanging a mobile, pulling out the change table from storage and attempting to locate the baby clothes boxes from the shed.

3rd pregnancy:

The nursery is the corner of your bedroom. If you’ve got a spare room it’s probably functioning as a playroom/office/dumping ground.

Your partner sets up the bassinet while you are in hospital.

5. Your worries

1st pregnancy:

Everything!

Is that blood on the toilet paper? Are those cramps normal? When will baby move? Can I eat that? What will the birth be like?

Worrying is basically a full time job for a first time mummy and you’ve got plenty of time to indulge it.

2nd pregnancy:

Your older child.

After spending the last pregnancy worrying about the pregnancy and impending baby, this pregnancy is likely to be spend worrying about how your older child will adjust to the new baby.

3rd pregnancy:

Most days you forget you are even pregnant!

When you do get a chance to think things through you mostly worry about your sanity and whether you are scarring your older kids for life by the amount of ABC for kids they are watching while you lay exhausted and sick on the couch.

6. Preparation for the birth

1st pregnancy:

You own every book on preparing for labour available at your local bookstore, plus several you needed to ship from overseas. You google everything and read birth stories on forums.

Your birth and hospital bag is packed from 30 weeks and you’ve written a birth plan and discussed it in detail with your midwife or doctor. You practice breathing and meditation daily.

2nd pregnancy:

You arrange someone to look after your older child for when you go into labour and given your partner strict instructions on what you do and don’t want him to do during labour.

You’ve written a list of things to go into your birth and hospital bag. You pack half of it by 35 weeks and the rest when you realise you are in labour. Breathing, Ha!

3rd pregnancy:

Preparation for birth? Ummm…

You pack a hospital bag when you realise you’re in labour, but forget half your stuff so have to send your partner home for breast pads, socks and toothpaste after baby is born.

You’ve given up on birth plans and are planning on taking any and all drugs offered to you the second you walk through the hospital door.

The Healthy Mummy Pregnancy Pack

Did you know the Healthy Mummy has a Pregnancy Pack?

This pack contacts a Pregnancy Smoothie and Eating & Exercise Book which have been specially formulated to help women reach additional calorie and nutrient needs.

The Pregnancy Smoothie is designed to complement, not replace, your prenatal vitamin intake.

Our nutritionists ensured that the vitamins and minerals in the smoothie are at a low level so there is no risk of doubling up on any pregnancy vitamins.

It is ideal as a high-protein, high-calcium snack in pregnancy. You can download the Pregnancy Smoothie Label here.

You can BUY your pack HERE.