What’s your experience with getting pregnant around nine months after the first baby? Doable or you would have rather waited? Specially for working moms.

[u/Hunter-Candid]

I am 34 years old and have one baby. She was also a preemie for context. She came 6 1/2 weeks early and I’m thinking about not delaying it too much to start for another baby given my age.

Curious about your experiences

[u/snowshepherd]

I only wish I could have been so fortunate to have conceived so quickly. Didn’t even get my period back until 10 months postpartum and had no idea the TTC journey that was ahead of me. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky ones, but most come to this sub because they are not.

[u/Useful-Requirement-3]

Edit to add I’m a mom of a 34weeker as well.

Depending on the reason you had a preemie, I would consider that closer spacing can be associated with subsequent preemie births. Something to discuss with a doctor and research.

I am not a working mom but I still would have preferred to wait. We got pregnant at 14 months postpartum and it felt really soon. My preemie (34weeker) was also delayed and in therapies until 3 yrs. We weren’t told to start until 1 yr old. I would at least wait until then so you have a better idea of any delays you’re dealing with. You may need to be navigating early intervention while working and pregnant.

[u/athousandships_]

I got pregnant 11 months after my first, ended up with a 20 months age gap. I wouldn't do it again. I love my two kids and want another, but the age gap was terrible. It took 1.5 years for me to really start enjoying having two kids. 2.5 years or more would have been ideal. I was and am still working full time although I took 6+ months of maternity leave with each baby, and I honestly think that going back to work saved my sanity.

Edit: I also conceived in our first cycle both times, and wasn't really expecting it with #2. Would have waited longer if I had thought it would happen again.

[u/steppygirl → u/athousandships_]

Similar boat. Expecting number 2 now, will have a 21m gap. First cycle for both too and wasn’t expecting it. I’m nervous… good luck with #3 TTC.

[u/ex-squirrelfriend]

Giving birth too soon after another baby can increase your chances of pregnancy loss and prematurity so I would definitely speak with your doctor first if you can. My OB told me it's healthiest to have at least 18 months between births

[u/999cranberries → u/ex-squirrelfriend]

Since this post is about getting pregnant at 9 months postpartum, that actually would be an 18 month interbirth interval. But the global guideline is an 18 month interpregnancy interval. It's not unheard of for an OB to sign off on closer spacing, particularly for uncomplicated pregnancies and/or when there are factors like maternal age. I definitely agree that OP should talk to her doctor since her first was already born at 35 weeks, and having had one premature birth increases your risk for another, in addition to short interpregnancy interval independently raising that risk.

[u/ex-squirrelfriend → u/999cranberries]

Oops you're right, I misspoke! I meant to say this was what my doctor recommended

[u/999cranberries]

I am a working mom and got pregnant at 9 months pp, barely spent more time not pregnant than pregnant. I was pregnant for 37 weeks and 1 day with my first and then got pregnant when he was 39 weeks and 2 days old.

I wanted close spacing because I was only planning to work full time to get a second maternity leave. I was actually going to throw in the towel and switch to part time if I didn't conceive by my child's first birthday. I am brutally tired, and I think part of that is because I didn't recover sufficiently between pregnancies even though I "felt fine". I have more pelvic floor issues this time around, and I needed an iron infusion. I really feel like I had to make a lot of compromises with my parenting. I never fed my son any packaged snacks until I got pregnant. I spent a lot less time watching YouTube videos around him, but now I'm just so exhausted.

My milk supply decreased very dramatically, but I'm keeping the tandem nursing dream alive for now despite a lot of discomfort. This is hopefully not against the rules because you've specifically asked for these kinds of responses, but I have not had my second child yet. I'm just about at the start of the third trimester.

Most of all, I feel extremely lucky, and I know I'm suffering from my own success. I try not to complain too much, especially not in these spaces for people who desperately want to get pregnant again (which is exactly how I felt!!). But the reality is that it's hard to work full-time while pregnant, it's also hard to be pregnant with a baby/young toddler, and you may not be fully physically recovered if you have less than the recommended interpregnancy interval.

[u/jvmo41]

I got pregnant at around the 8 month mark after baby #1 and again after baby #2 (ended up with three under three).

My pregnancies went pretty smoothly each time. I actually felt the worst during my first pregnancy (morning sickness went on for months!). It’s definitely more tiring because you have other little ones to take care of. I’m a nurse and worked full-time up until a couple of weeks before each delivery.

It’s chaotic, but doable! No regrets.

[u/No-Competition-1775]

I didn’t get pregnant until 2 years later

[u/Prize_Common_8875]

I started trying 9 months postpartum with my first. Ended up conceiving right after my first’s birthday, so we have a 21 month age gap between our girls. It’s been doable, but I’m SO thankful they’re not closer in age. We’re hoping for a 2.5-3 year age gap if we have a third.

[u/CreativeJudgment3529]

My 2nd was 6.5 months when my 3rd was conceived.

I'm not really seeing why it's that difficult cause I don't think the kids are that hard. it's everything else that's sorta hard? idk

I would do it again if I was not working but I WFH with these rugrats so we have to wait until I can stop working and then I'd love to do 2 under 2 one more time if we are lucky.