eRedbook Essentials: Information and tips for when you are having another baby

Thinking of having another baby?

• Even if your previous pregnancy wasn’t that long ago, it’s amazing how the planning and early stages can seem like a distant memory once you have a baby or toddler in tow. If you’re planning another pregnancy, the NHS has some reminders for making sure you and your partner are ready and in good health.

 

Your new pregnancy

• Congratulations! Remember to create an entry for your new pregnancy in eRedbook. Put in your due date and you will get all the information you need on your timeline as your pregnancy progresses.
• Having another baby is a big change for you and your family, and you might be feeling a mixture of emotions. The National Childbirth Trust (NCT) looks at the facts and finds out how mums felt about having their second child.

 

Being pregnant when you have a toddler

• Pregnancy nausea and tiredness are tricky when you have a toddler too. Here’s the NCT’s guide on how to manage the discomforts and how to avoid lifting and rough play.
• While your first pregnancy might have featured resting up and self-care, pregnancy when you already have a toddler is likely to be a little different. Here are six tips from the NCT on how to balance your own needs, your toddler’s and those of your unborn baby.

 

Preparing for the birth

• NCT refresher courses are for parents who’ve been to antenatal classes before, revisiting all the important information you learned. The sessions will also help you meet a group of parents with new babies due around the same time as yours.
• Will your next labour be a rerun of your first? Or is there no link between the two? The NCT explores what you can expect this time around.
• You might decide to have your baby in a different place from where you had your previous baby – perhaps you have moved area, have different options available to you this time, or simply want to explore the possibilities again. This NHS booklet has all the information you need to help you make your birthing decisions.
• On a practical level, you might be starting to get out all your old baby equipment and working out what else you will need to buy. Here’s NCT’s guide to what can be safely reused and what should be bought new for your next baby.

 

Life with two (or more)

• The arrival of a new brother or sister can be unsettling for a toddler who is used to having your full attention. The NHS has some tips to make introducing your toddler to their new brother or sister a little easier.
• You might find that your toddler sometimes gets jealous of their baby brother or sister. Here are some tips from the NCT on how to handle sibling jealousy, and how to adjust to family life if you have a close age gap between your children.

And finally, what about the practicalities? Buggy boards, slings, double buggies … here are NCT’s top tips on how to make juggling two or more children a little easier