Difference Between First and Second Pregnancy

Updated on June 05, 2012
K.L. asks from Fort Stewart, GA
13 answers

I was reading that for most women, the first pregnancy is a good indicator of how your later pregnancies will be. I am praying that is true because compared to my girlfriends, my pregnancy was a dream! I am still in the very early stage of pregnancy. How did your first pregnancy and labor compare to the second? Also, what was the weight gain like the second time around? And lastly, and the most silly of my questions, do stretvhmarks return in the same spots or do you et even more? I had HORRIBLE stretchmarks the first time around on my stomach, hips, and breast. Thanks!

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I.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

My pregnancies were more similar than different. I gained less weight with my second preg. Even though I was smaller and had a smaller baby the second time, I got all new stretch marks on my belly. In different places.

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S.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

Mine were completly different. I felt sick to my stomach alot during my first, and during my second it wasn't as bad. I gained alot less weight during my second then my first as well, because I wasn't in as much pain so I was alot more active.

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S.F.

answers from Utica on

My first pregnancy was about as text book as it gets =) I LOVED being pregnant with my first. Up until about 38 - 39 weeks when I think every woman has had enough of being a whale LOL. She was born 6 days late but I went into labour on my own and was in labour for 20 long hrs. She was 8 lbs and very healthy thank God. I gained about 30 lbs for my first and lost it all and then some with breastfeeding. My stretchmarks were very much there and everywhere with my first and there was nothing I could do about that. Now my second was born 2 years later (just 3 months ago actually) and it was similar but not the same. I had really bad nausea with my second that I didnt with my first and it made it really difficult considering my 2 yr old didnt get why I felt sick all day but by my 2nd trimester it went away. Again it was a pretty text book pregnancy though. I was more tired than with my first but I am a SAHM so I think trying to keep up with a toddler contributed to that. As for delivery, it was faster than I could have ever imagined. I went into labour at 11:45am and she came out in less than 2 hrs. I went to the hospital after 5 or so contractions and when I got there they took me in faster than I could even get my braclets and checked in. I was pushing when my husband came into the room LOL. She was born a healthy 9 lbs. I gained about 5 lbs less than my first and I gained a few more stretch marks with my 2nd but nothing too serious
Good Luck and Congrats

Updated

My first pregnancy was about as text book as it gets =) I LOVED being pregnant with my first. Up until about 38 - 39 weeks when I think every woman has had enough of being a whale LOL. She was born 6 days late but I went into labour on my own and was in labour for 20 long hrs. She was 8 lbs and very healthy thank God. I gained about 30 lbs for my first and lost it all and then some with breastfeeding. My stretchmarks were very much there and everywhere with my first and there was nothing I could do about that. Now my second was born 2 years later (just 3 months ago actually) and it was similar but not the same. I had really bad nausea with my second that I didnt with my first and it made it really difficult considering my 2 yr old didnt get why I felt sick all day but by my 2nd trimester it went away. Again it was a pretty text book pregnancy though. I was more tired than with my first but I am a SAHM so I think trying to keep up with a toddler contributed to that. As for delivery, it was faster than I could have ever imagined. I went into labour at 11:45am and she came out in less than 2 hrs. I went to the hospital after 5 or so contractions and when I got there they took me in faster than I could even get my braclets and checked in. I was pushing when my husband came into the room LOL. She was born a healthy 9 lbs. I gained about 5 lbs less than my first and I gained a few more stretch marks with my 2nd but nothing too serious
Good Luck and Congrats

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T.W.

answers from Syracuse on

My first and second pregnancies were pretty similar. Just a little sickness when my stomach was empty. I gained 35 lbs with my first and 28 lbs with my second. I exercised through both pregnancies, a little more with my second. I had a long labor and an epidural with my first. My second was a natural childbirth and so much faster and easier, 10-min. of pushing vs. 2 hours. I felt a lot better after my second also. I was lucky enough not to get any stretchmarks. The biggest difference with my second, aside from being more relaxed about everything, was that I felt like the baby was going to drop out of me around months 8 and 9...the muscles down there are just looser after the first pregnancy.

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A.M.

answers from Atlanta on

My first and second pregnancies were pretty similar except for weight gain, but that was my own fault. I gained 40 lbs the first time, over 41 weeks. I exercised almost daily, and I watched what I ate. My second pregnancy, I ate a ton of junk and never exercised & gained 70 lbs. So I also had more stretch marks the 2nd time, but I really think it had to do with gaining so much extra weight so fast.

My second labor was quicker than my first (first was 46 hours, second was 13), and pushing was a lot quicker (45 minutes first time, 12 minutes 2nd time). But labor hurt a lot worse second time because my baby was posterior so I had back labor. I was unmedicated for both labors. I think if not for the back labor, the 2nd would have been easier - mainly because I knew more of what to expect. There was less fear.

Best of luck to you this second time around!

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E.S.

answers from Jacksonville on

My pregnancies were pretty similar. I didn't get stretch marks, I recommend using olive oil. Rub it all over your belly, butt and breasts. It's oily but it works.

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A.C.

answers from Atlanta on

My second pregnancy was much easier than my first. I was sick for a lot of my first - the first two trimesters. I was sick for about two weeks of my second. I had already figured out how to cope with back aches and such from my first, so that was easier. I was also able to control weight-gain better because I knew how much my body really needed. The stretch marks ABSOLUTELY came back, plus some, but I think I minded them less. As my girlfriend says, "I am a tiger who earned her stripes!" My first child was late but came naturally. My second child was so late I had to be induced, and that was difficult. Being late was less painful the second time around, but it became more and more painful the longer I had to wait, and by the end, I was pretty miserable. But my second labor was an extremely easy process. Overall, my second pregnancy was much easier.

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A.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I've had completely different pregnancies! Of course, I'm still pregnant with my second, but still...With my first I lost 20 lbs the first trimester because I couldn't quit vomiting, but ended up weighing 40 lbs more than my starting weight. Even though I didn't have preeclampsia, my blood pressure got so high, my doctor was afraid I would stroke out, so we enduced 3 weeks early. After 12 hours of pitocin, they were finally at the point where they would break my water, when the doctor realized he was breech, and I went into emergency c-section. With this pregnancy, I'm currently at 35 weeks, have gained about 18 lbs. and had very minor nausea the first trimester; I think I only threw up maybe 3 times.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Totally different for me.
1 sick, 1 not.
I gained a little more with the second (no change in diet or exercise from the first).
Stretch marks...I didn't have the red ones the second time around, but had MUCH MORE sagginess afterwards.
Pre-eclampsia with the first. No issues with the second...

Every preggo is different.

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M.H.

answers from Dallas on

My first and second were the same except my second was a bigger baby. I did not get stretch marks on either pregnancy so can't comment on that. I actually gained less weight the second time around (only 4 lbs less but still...) I had a scheduled c-section on both so that went pretty easy and the recovery was alot easier the second time around probably because I knew what to expect.

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L.K.

answers from Boise on

My pregnancies were almost identical. Similar weight gain, both delivered in the same week, same symptoms or lack thereof.....I thought FOR SURE they would be the same sex (even after having an u/s telling us otherwise because they were ONLY 80% certain ;). They were right though, one of each!

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D.B.

answers from Madison on

Each of my 3 pregnancies have been totally different.

1st - I was much younger, gained 30 pounds and only due to bed rest the last 3 months, horrible bleeding the entire pregnancy. Morning sickness the entire time. I went 2 weeks over so she was my biggest - I got all my stretch marks with her as she was the biggest. And most of them came in the 2 weeks over!! I was induced and the whole process was 6 hours - pretty quick.

2nd - I was soooo sick, I was on in-home IVs the entire prengancy - gained 60 pounds!!! Imagine my shock to not be able to eat and gain 60 pounds!! Doctor thinks it was the sugar in the IVs. Crazy!! The only positive thing was I didn't need an IV went I went in to deliver because I already had it. I My water broke one week after due date, but didn't progress past 5 cm. I was given pitocin and she was born an hour later.

3rd - 15 years after my first and by far the best pregnancy, delivery and recovery I ever had!! Gained 35 pounds - more than I wanted, but it happens. I was sick, but not as bad as the other two. I felt first contraction at noon, not timable until 430pm and she was born at 720 pm. So mine definately got quicker as they went along.

Oh, and they were all girls!!

Congrats and good luck!!

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

Both of mine were pretty much polar opposites.

The first one I gained like 65 pounds, mostly fluid and water. They kept watching me for pre-eclampsia. I had aches and pains everywhere. Delivery was tough to the point I was completely prepped for a c-section, 'just in case'. The only good thing, I guess, is that I didn't have any morning sickness at all.

The second one, 4 years later was a breeze! Average weight gain, felt good, and delivery was so easy! But I did have mild morning sickness the first trimester.

Good Luck.

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