Preparing for Another

Updated on November 18, 2010
M.S. asks from Albany, CA
7 answers

Hello Moms!

My husband and I are going to start trying for our third child in February or March. We are very excited and we are trying to prepare ourselves. :) I plan to start taking prenatal vitamins beginning the 1st of the year, and am thinking of using ovulation predictor kits for the next couple months to track my ovulation (my periods have been irregular since I stopped nursing my daughter 9 months ago). I am also trying to get my body into better shape before getting pregnant (5'7" 145 lbs) and lose a few pounds.

With our other two children, we never though much of the "before" preparation. What do you think are the most important things to do pre-pregnancy? Any advice in going from 2 to 3? Additional words of wisdom? BTW - my kids are ages 2 & 3 right now (at least 3 & 4 before baby would arrive).

Thanks Mamas!

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A.B.

answers from Portland on

Quick tip about the ovulation kits, Dollar Trees/Stores have them for... yup, a dollar!

I used their pregnancy tests (about 6 of them) to confirm my pregnancy with my son, so they certainly work!

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

Don't wait to start taking the prenatals. Start tomorrow.

I don't think I'd waste the money at this point to track your ovulation since you aren't planning on trying until after the first of the year. For some women it takes time to get back on track after pregnancy/nursing.

I would think about your vehicles and where/how will the car seats fit.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from New London on

Take Folic Acid pills.

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A.K.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi, I have three kids (4, 2 & 9mo). All girls :) :) :)
1)You can fit three car seats in a row if you buy Sunshine Radian carseats. They are the narrowest car seats around.
2) Regarding prenatal vitamins: make sure that you are not taking synthetic vitamins because they would do nothing good for you, if not harm. Do your research about it. When choosing vitamins, make sure that they are actually derived from food, not chemically created. You can buy vitamins online, at vitacost.com, for example. (I absolutely not affiliated with them, not advertising them, just think that other moms might benefit of the prices they offer on organic/natural vitamins) Take fish oil. Coconut oil is good also if you are planning to breastfeed.
3) Don't spend money on ovulation kits. I would recommend to buy a book called "Taking charge of your fertility" by Tony Weschler and basal thermometer. Get educated about body, your periods, you will know exactly when your ovulate. Then when you will start trying, then you'll know WHEN to try & you will know if you are pregnant just by taking your temperature every morning. To confirm if you are pregnant, I agree with another answer, go to Dollar Store and buy pregnancy test there. They work just as well as $7-$14 ones at other stores.
4)I read a lot of books about natural healing, etc and whenever they are talking about preparation for trying for a baby, they say that BOTH wife and husband should be prepare by eating healthy foods, exsercise, etc.

This is it for now. I'll write you if I'll remember anything else.

Hope this helps,

Wife of 1
Mom of 3

G.K.

answers from San Francisco on

My only advise is to not go overboard on the prenatal vitamins. I couldn't take them with either of my kids (made me sick), and both my OB and my midwives said that my daily vitamin plus the couple supplements I was taking were more than sufficient. They basically added up to the amounts in the prenatals (or better!), and I didn't get sick.

Women's daily (I do the off-brand for cost)
Fish Oil (I get the lemon "flavor" from Nordic, Whole Foods)
Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc
1000 IU Vitamin D3
Super B-Complex (I use the NatureMade brand)

I also agree on a trial with 3 car seats! I always thought that 3 would be fine in our Escape until our 2nd was born. There's NO WAY we'd be able to fit 3 car seats!!!

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B.B.

answers from Dallas on

I agree, start the prenatal vitamins now! Eat lots of healthy foods. Good fats, fiber, whole grains, lean protein, good fruits and veggies. Exercise and stay away from too much sugar and fried, or processed foods.
Good luck ;)

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I would say to just eat healthy and start walking 5+ days a week. I wouldn't spend the money on ovulation kits until you actually start trying. They get very expensive. I would just track your cycles. I use mymonthlycycles.com to track mine.
Best of luck!

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