There are many factors to consider when thinking about whether or not you are ready for another baby. Are you prepared physically, emotionally, mentally, financially? What are the pros and cons of spacing? What are your priorities? What can you handle? And what does your spouse think?
Let’s dive in and consider some of these questions and see what you think.
Physically:
Studies show that a woman should allow her body at least 12 months after the birth of a child to conceive another child. This allows the body to recover effectively from the changes that occur during pregnancy and birth, allowing nutrients and vitamins to restore balance, to allow hormones to restore balance and for blood supply to regulate.
How have you done getting the baby weight off? Waiting at least a year before conception also allows you to work on getting to a good weight for you and maintaining, returning to or starting a healthy lifestyle of good eating and exercise.
How have you been sleeping? Um ya, well chances are not as good as you use to. Hopefully by the time your little one is a year old they are getting to have better sleep habits and more consistency with their sleep, this means you are getting better sleep and more consistency too.
Emotionally:
Having a newborn can be stressful, overwhelming and tiring. This definitely needs to be considered when thinking of doing it all over again. How has it been with your baby? Have you struggled with postpartum depression? Do you have a good support structure? Do you have established coping skills? You want to know that when you enter the baby arena again that you are prepared to cover your bases emotionally and have in place the support you will require.
Spacing them out:
Well this is pretty personal. Take into consideration the above recommendation of at least 12 months before conceiving, that would indicate that your babies will be at least 21 months apart. The most common spacing is between 18 months and 3 years of age.
Pros – They are close enough in age to have much in common and the hope would be that they will be playmates for life. (On a personal note I tried this and forgot to consider personality – they were NOT playmates for life!! However now that they are older they are becoming much better friends J)
Cons – They will still be pretty little, perhaps even both in diapers. So it is busy, and tiring. Are you up for it? Maybe it is just how you want it.
There is a lot to consider when thinking about spacing. When it comes right down to it you have to consider what is best for you and your partner, what is more important to you and what you can and want to handle. Kids have its joys and challenges no matter what the spacing so do what is right for you.
You already know that having a child is a big decision and responsibility; this is not your first rodeo. You just have to decide what you want out of life and how to create the family that suits you.
