The second pregnancy is a little more calmer for the woman as the insecurities and fears of the first-time mother have already been resolved. Of course, there are always doubts and points to be considered while creating a life.
Do you want to know this? Great! Continue reading and learn from the tips we’ve compiled:
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What are the benefits of a second pregnancy?
For some ladies, the anxiety of a first-time pregnancy, coupled with feelings of insecurity is quite normal. You become a lot more familiar with the process the second time, so by knowing what to anticipate, you can manage the inevitable physical, emotional and mental shifts in a far more relaxed manner.
Now, women worry less and stress off, if planning everything for the second pregnancy, throughout the entire course of the first to correct and enhance where they went wrong to make the next experience far better.
In addition, the mother can use many items from her first child’s layette, thus having less to worry about what might be missing for her future baby.
It is also important to consider the firstborn when it comes to a second pregnancy. Now, besides the baby growing inside the womb, the woman has another child to whom she needs to dedicate her care and attention.
If the first child is small, then this requires a higher physical effort, because this child still depends on care, cuddling, and many hours of attention. In case an older child is involved, a mother will also need to work on jealousy and receiving a new sibling from pregnancy onset, as their relationship can be very stormy if not managed.
Apart from these precautionary measures, a woman’s body is not the same as when she first fell pregnant. Thus, pregnant women need to be reminded of these changes and know the right way to care for their bodies. This we shall talk about below.
Differences in a pregnant woman’s body
Regarding the second pregnancy, the bump growth develops much faster and one feels like she is four months pregnant at approximately ten weeks of carrying. This scenario is common as the abdominal muscles are looser after the first pregnancy.
In addition to the abdomen, the breasts also change, which tend to become more flaccid after the first pregnancy and there is an accumulation of fat in the pelvic region.
The lady in the second pregnancy will be experiencing extreme tiredness, particularly during the first semesters. She will explain this on account of the fact that her body, which she would normally be busy taking care of, has to now bear the first child as well. She will, therefore, take time to recover and suffer the effects of overload from her body.
Concerning the existence of stretch marks, if these did not develop during the first pregnancy, the chances of them coming out during the second pregnancy are slim. Otherwise, they will most probably become visible again.
Varicose veins rise in the second pregnancy, because during the second pregnancy, various hormonal changes and the bigger size of the abdomen increase more pressure on the pelvic vessels, causing the vessels to widen both in the belly and the legs.
Weight gain also leads to the emergence of new varicose veins and to the growth of existing ones. This is why pregnant women should avoid gaining weight over and above what their doctor advises, lest their bodies be affected by all these and other consequences as we will see below.
What can a woman do for herself?
A second pregnancy requires some care as in any pregnancy and some specific care. See below what pregnant women can do to take care of themselves.
Practice of physical activities
Just like in the first pregnancy, a woman should maintain physical activity during the second pregnancy as well. Doing so allows a pregnant woman to avoid excessive weight gain, and varicose veins, putting excessive strain on the joints, and it generally benefits the woman. Interestingly, physical activity has quite an assortment of benefits for mother and baby as well.
By exercising, the pregnant woman prepares for the moment of childbirth, as she gains flexibility, strengthens the lumbar region, and increases pain tolerance, in addition to working the perineum region, a crucial muscle during childbirth.
In addition to physical preparation, practicing an activity also forms an opportunity for pregnant women to attain mental well-being and relaxation, and relief from the tension that eventually overloads the mind of a pregnant woman who submits to hormonal changes.
In addition to the other aspects, exercise is a type of prevention against postnatal depression. It assists an individual in building his esteem and, more importantly the pregnant woman’s association and relation with her body.
Finally, pregnant women, while moving around, prevent their legs and feet from swelling, prevent diabetes and gestational hypertension, and get lesser edema in the limbs.
All these benefits impact positively on the baby who would grow better, because exercise conditions improve intrauterine.
Nutrition and hydration care
A diet, just like physical exercise, means to ensure the well-being of the pregnant woman as well as the child and consider the quality of life during pregnancy and after delivery.
However, some measures should be observed so that both mother and child can enjoy the finest food while remaining healthy.
Avoid sweeteners
Pregnant women should only use sweeteners with stevia as they are natural and safe for the baby. Other sweeteners are contraindicated since they can cross the placenta and may affect the baby’s health.
The best would be to avoid using sweeteners as much as possible, especially if the goal is only to prevent weight gain, since their effectiveness in that case has not been proven. It is better to make smart swaps, such as replacing refined sugar with demerara sugar, which is more nutritious.
Other alternatives to sweetened foods are coconut sugar, honey, and molasses. Or, better still, re-evaluate the necessity to sweeten some foods, such as juices, for instance.
Avoid fried foods, fats, and excess salt
Pregnant women should avoid all preparations that contain a lot of fat, frying, and excess salt, not only because they are enemies of the fight against being overweight but also because avoiding these foods is a way of preventing hypertension and the risks of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
Moreover, most of these meals are poor in nutrients, overload the stomach and liver, and contribute to fluid retention and consequent bloating.
Invest in raw, fiber-rich foods
As a precaution, raw fruits, vegetables, and greens should be the first choice of food for pregnant women because they contain essential vitamins, iron calcium, and potassium among other important elements which are necessary not only for baby growth but also for the mother’s nutrition.
Other than that, these foods also include whole grain bread and rice which are also a good source of fiber hence they help enhance bowel movements reducing chances of a pregnant woman getting constipated which is quite common. They also come alongside a satiating feeling which ensures that one doesn’t overeat.
Hydration
Being hydrated is essential for individuals in every stage of life but when pregnant, it is even more critical.
Women who are in the process of delivering a baby need to take care that they drink plenty of water throughout the day because the habit has several advantages:
- Helps in irrigation of the uterus and placenta;
- Improves blood circulation;
- Removes toxins;
- Stabilizes blood pressure;
- Prevents urinary infections;
- Maintains amniotic fluid in ideal conditions;
- Prevents fluid retention and swelling;
- Helps control body temperature.
It should be from at least up to 2 liters in a day and does not depend on your feel of being thirsty or not. For breastfeeding mothers who do not have experience in drinking these lots of water, then its consumption may be replaced with natural juices, coconut water, or fruits full of water.
