You are thrilled to learn that you will have another child. The happiness that your first child brought into your life is immeasurable and you are certain that the second child will bring as much happiness. But preparing for a second child is slightly different. There are extra responsibilities and things to consider when preparing for the birth of a second child. A large part is to help your older child understand that a sibling is on the way. This can lessen the anxiety for the entire family. Being aware of the changes involved with having a second child is the best way to prepare. Having two children can be overwhelming to the most capable of parents. Although it may be a challenge, it is best to get organized prior to the birth of the second child. This can pose much more of a challenge that it was the first time around. Most parents with one child have time restrictions. Adding a newborn into the scenario will probably stretch your organized scheduled to the limit. Both meal and sleeping schedules will fluctuate, at least for the first eight weeks while you are trying to get your infant on a feeding and sleeping schedule. A pleasant aspect of a second child is the parents increased knowledge and confidence in their abilities and knowledge of child rearing. The first time around, things such as breast feeding, changing diapers and handling illness seemed so hard and scary. Now things such as these will be like second nature to the seasoned parent. Having and bringing home a newborn will affect a mother in several ways, both emotionally and physically. Increased exhaustion and anxiety is normal after having a child. These symptoms are typically called the "baby blues". Be sure to talk to your family and your medical doctor about this. Your doctor will make sure you have the "baby blues" and not postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that requires medical intervention. Bringing home a newborn will cause you to be physically sore and quite tired. This is particularly true if you had a cesarean delivery or a difficult birth. If you breast feed your child, the feeding sessions during the night can be especially tough. Some people hire a "doula" to help during the day so the mom can rest. A doula is specially trained to care for an infant and mother during the first few weeks of an infant's life. It will seem as if you have no time for yourself the first months after a child is born. The seemingly endless, sleepless nights and tensions of the day can be overwhelming. Try to make "alone time" a priority. It is important to spend time alone with your partner. Be sure to have an occasional "date night" once things settle down. As a parent, you will try to help your first child adjust to the role of a sibling. Your older child may experience many emotions, from excitement to jealousy to resentment. Younger toddlers may regress when the infant comes home. They may forget their potty training, suck their thumb, or want to drink from a bottle. Older toddlers and children may misbehave, throw tantrums, or just generally try to test your patience. Time has shown that these problems go away and a little preparation will help the older child adjust to his new life. A great way of doing this is to play up the role of the older child. This time is not a good time to introduce other major changes in the life of the older child. Try to include the child in the decision making. Letting him participate in the activities of the new baby will help with the adjustment period. There are so many positive aspects of having two children in a family. Once the chaos of having a newborn has settled down, you and your family will start to enjoy the benefits of having two children to love. |
