Considering a Second Pregnancy?by Heather Long | More from this Blogger 16 Jun 2006 07:30 AM My daughter is eager for us to have another child so that she can enjoy being an older sibling. When my sister-in-law was pregnant last year, she enjoyed the experience of watching her belly expand and grow. Her favorite thing to do was to ask if she could touch her tummy and then she would sing to it. At the age of 4, I wondered if she would understand that the pregnancy was going to ultimately lead to another baby. I should never have worried about it. When she came to me with her questions about the baby and how it would get out - I was honest in the explanation. Her aunt would have to push the baby out so that it could be born. Unfortunately, this lead to a few weeks of encouragement from my daughter to her aunt that she should start pushing now because she really wanted her younger sibling. Pregnancy and Older Children When you are contemplating having a second child, involve your older child in the discussions. It's important for them to feel a part of the baby before the baby arrives. This includes involving them in the pregnancy - my daughter likes to read to my tummy in preparation for the day we actually have a baby in there to hear her. This not only fosters good relationships for later when the baby arrives and demands so much attention from you. It can also make your pregnancy more fun and entertaining as your older child involves themselves, asks honest questions and gets to tickle themselves when they can help you out. There's a great deal more to pregnancy when you already have a family with older children than just preparing for the baby. It's preparing for the growing family and the changes your older children will face as much as the ones you will. It's a time for enjoying the developing bonds you are fostering in your little ones both those already here and those who are one their way. What do you do to help your older children prepare for the arrival of a new baby to the family? Related Articles: Preparing Your Home for a Newborn Learn more about Heather Long  Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago. Relevantpregnancy tags User Comments  Lisa P (24013) 17 Jun 2006 06:02 AMGreat advice! I have a friend whose daughter was 3 when she became pregnant with her second child. She always answered her daughters questions and was very open and honest. When that baby boy came along, the then 4-year-old girl was thrilled. She was included in everything and became a wonderful and responsible little helper. The two children have a wonderful loving bond and adore each other now. I was 4 when my baby brother came along. I was never included or informed. I wasn't allowed in the room when a diaper was being changed and touching the baby was a HUGE no-no. My brother and I grew up in the same house but we never bonded. How you include (or not include) your second child will have a major effect on your children's relationships with each other for the rest of their lives. Don't forget it.  TRACY FISK (107) 14 Sep 2007 10:42 AMI AM IN MY 5TH PREGNANCY! OUR OTHER 4 ARE ALL GIRLS- 18,15,13 AND 2 YRS OLD. WE JUST FOUND OUT A FEW DAYS AGO WE ARE PREGGO AGAIN, ACTUALLY IT WAS ON HUBBY'S 39TH B-DAY- WOW WAS HE SURPRISED AND ECSTATIC! I WAS SO HAPPY I AM FLOATING! HIS/HER SISTERS ARE DUMBFOUNDED RIGHT NOW ACCEPT THE LIL ONE SHE'S EXCITED AND MY 13 YR OLD IS SOOOOOO HAPPY NOW! PEACE TRACY FISK Community Tags expanding family, new brother, new sister, second child, second pregnancy Discuss this article
|
Pregnancy categories |
