How have your pregnancies/PP experiences differed?

[Anonymous]

Newly pregnant with my 2nd. I'm curious if most people experience similar symptoms, weight gain, etc. as well as deliveries, breastfeeding ease, etc. or if the pregnancies/deliveries are totally different and independent from each other.

[Anonymous]

I only have one, but my sister had two incredibly different pregnancies - one where she glowed, hair got thick, felt like a goddess, no sickness; another where her hair fell out in handfuls, her skin went to shit, and she was sick the whole time. Both boys. No rhyme or reason.

[Anonymous]

I have two. More morning sickness with girl (first birth). Same weight gain. First labor was 7 hrs, she was transverse so I had to push hard for several hours. Second labor was induced. I pushed twice and he was out. Easy Peasy. I loved both days! Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

PS I needed a lactation consultant for first one. Hard to get the hang of it. Second was a breeze.

[Anonymous]

Two pregnancies, both girls. I was 37 when my oldest was born and 41 for DD2. Pregnancies were nearly identical. Symptoms nearly identical throughout pregnancy. I was a bit more tired during first trimester with DD2, but I mostly attribute that to the fact that I was trying to keep up with a very energetic 4yo and couldn’t really nap. Blood pressure towards the end with my second pregnancy was actually much bette than with my first, despite the fact that I was older. No complications with either pregnancy. Both vaginal deliveries, but the second was MUCH easier and faster with no tearing and pretty minimal recovery time.
Post-partum has been completely different, because my 2 DDs were completely different newborns. DD1 had severe reflux, only slept when being held upright, and nursed around the clock for months. She didn’t actually sleep through the night for nearly a year. My supply was great, but I was a zombie and ended up with very bad PPD/PPA.
Second DD had no issues with reflux, nurses well, and started giving us 5 and 6 hour stretches of sleep by the time she was a month old. Started consistently sleeping 10 hours at 4mo. My supply hasn’t been quite as good this time around, so I made the decision to start combo feeding. Despite giving birth in the middle of a pandemic, I’ve managed to avoid PPD. I feel like the fact that I’m a more relaxed, experienced mom helps, along with getting more sleep!

[Anonymous]

I had two. Definitely felt like I gained weight/showed faster with the second, but really it was just bloat and I ended up being smaller with my second (girl) than my first (boy). I was SO much more tired with my second pregnancy but that was because I was chasing a toddler around and also was dependent on his nap schedule.

However, my milk came in MUCH faster with my second. Like, she was latching 30 minutes after my c-section. My body just knew what to do, which was really cool. But it was so much more painful to breastfeed her though.

[Anonymous]

My pregnancies were all very similar except #2 and #3 were much harder just due to having other kid(s) to parent during pregnancy.

My deliveries and recoveries were all wildly different, no discernible pattern. #1 was the hardest L&D, #3 was the hardest postpartum recovery and #2 was easiest delivery and recovery.

[Anonymous]

I have 4, pregnant with #5. All of my pregnancies have been the same. Smooth, uneventful, no symptoms except for when I start to feel movements. Labor and deliveries have also been the same. They were all born in 3 or less pushes. Labors have actually gotten significantly quicker with each child, but pregnancies have lasted longer with each child, too. Recovery always seems quick, no tears, or grazing. I'm on my feet walking around immediately after giving birth, and EBF has been easy each time.

[Anonymous]

2 pregnancies, several years apart. I was really sick for both as in throwing up every single day. The first pregnancy got better after 20 weeks, 2nd, I felt miserable the entire pregnancy. First pregnancy there was no change with my boobs, 2nd pregnancy they got real big. I didn’t breastfeed with first, I didn’t try enough and ended up drying up. 2nd baby ebf.

I gained the same amount of weight for both - about 55 lbs. Not an issue when I was younger because I started at a low weight. 2nd time around I started heavier and now have a hard time losing the remaining weight.

I was in labor longer with 2nd baby - 12hrs vs 6. First pregnancy 2 epidurals didn’t work, 2nd pregnancy it worked for half my body. Both pregnancies I was given something else to numb me. Recovery for 2nd has taken longer.

Had 2 girls.

[Anonymous]

I'm due with #2 in one week! I gained less weight with #2 but I was also heavier when I got pregnant. I weigh about the same now as I did when I gave birth to #1.

This pregnancy has been tougher, but I think that's just becasue I have a 3 year old to care for. I don't get the rest and free time I had with #1. I'm tired a lot. I worked out regularly up until month 7 with #1, but I had a lot of round ligament pain that made it difficult to even take long walks with this pregnancy starting in the 2nd tri.

Nausea was slightly worse this time around. I ended up getting an Rx for diclegis.