We had been planning to have on a second child and even trying for a few months, but when I finally got pregnant I found myself worrying about how I would love two children. Will it happen automatically? How is it possible? Here’s how I realized the heart knows no bounds.
This is a sponsored post. Thanks for supporting Project Motherhood!
How I Prepared My Heart For a Second Child
If you guys are familiar with me and my family, you know that there is a pretty big age gap between our kids. Almost 9 years to be exact. Yes, we get questioned about it from time to time and in most cases, people get really surprised whenever we tell them that it was indeed planned. If you read my previous post with my brand partner, First Response, you learned that we had Branden really young. We even got pregnant with him before we were married. Gasp. We always had plans to make him a big brother, but were also determined to do it on our own terms – whenever we were 100% ready, versus when society was telling us to space our kids out.
So whenever we got to a point where we knew we were ready, so many emotions flooded us every single day. I had a really easy time getting pregnant with Branden, but this was 8 whole years later. I kept wondering if my body was still functioning the same or if we would need a little help. So, I turned to PRE-SEED™ Fertility-Friendly Lubricant and FIRST RESPONSE™ Ovulation Test for help.
Why First Response is a game changer in your journey to pregnancy
These two epic items are honestly the little helpers that you need handy whenever you are trying to conceive. First, the Ovulation Test helps you to stay in control by knowing which are your most fertile days to get pregnant during the month. It is 99% accurate¹, easy to read, and each package includes 7 ovulation tests. PRE-SEED™ Fertility-Friendly Lubricant is wonderful because it actually mimics your own fertile fluids, clinically shown to be fertility friendly and was honestly developed by doctors and used in fertility clinics nationwide. You know that you are in good hands whenever using these two products together to help you get pregnant and be as strategic about it as possible – but without turning it into work!
What came after we found out we were expecting
During the moments we found out we were pregnant with Blake (you can read more about that experience here) and through sharing our big news with Branden (I have a funny video of that here), we were so incredibly excited. With that excitement came so much planning and even more overwhelmed thinking about all the new mom things I would need to re-learn and how much has changed since I had Branden. I also started wondering how I was ever going to love a second child as much as I’ve loved my little guy for so long. We had eight years of bonding and how was bringing another child into the picture going to change that. I think these are things that all moms must feel, but probably don’t want to say out loud.
I worried. And I distracted myself. And I had moments of panic, followed by moments of joy and moments of kind of beating myself up for even being worried about this to begin with. So I pushed it aside and did my best to have Branden as involved in the pregnancy and baby preparations as he wanted to be, while still focusing on all of the special Branden things that had become a part of our daily life all these years.
Then Blake was born and all of my questions were answered. (You can read her birth story here.)
I sat in the hospital room after having a completely med-free delivery and felt like a total rockstar. That total “mom high” (as I called it) reached completely new heights whenever Branden first came to visit his sister and met her for the first time. He walked into the room and he was so incredibly enamored with her that he wouldn’t leave her side, jumped to fulfill any need and couldn’t stop smiling. He even had the opportunity to go to lunch at his favorite restaurant in the city with my Aunt and he wouldn’t leave Blake’s side – he was perfectly content just being in her presence.
It was then that all my worries washed away and I realized that the human heart knows no bounds. The heart can love infinitely and there was a very special place there for both of my children, and everyone and everything else I love for that matter. The heart expands automatically and quickly and the love is not limited, but grows and grows.
Looking for more pregnancy advice? I’ve got you covered!
- Where to Find the Most Awesome Support Groups For Moms
- 7 FAB Beauty Products For Pregnant Women
- How to Actually Choose Pregnancy Safe Makeup
- Why I Used a Midwife The Second Time Around
- The Difference Between My Midwife and OBGYN Experiences
- How to Buy Maternity Clothes That Actually Fit
- Your Complete Guide to Curating a Maternity Capsule Wardrobe
- Mom Knows Best
- The Best Sunscreen For Babies
These two crazy kids of mine have an inseparable bond and despite the age difference, play together and watch movies together and we are so proud to have a front-row seat as parents to watch their sibling love grow each and every day.
XOXO,
Allison
¹ >99% accurate in detecting the LH surge in laboratory studies.
It’s amazing what’s out there now to help women get pregnant. I love how far conception has come. It used to be hit or miss flying blind.
The advances in getting pregnant have come a long way. I’ve always been curious why people feel the need to question age gaps, like 9 years. Many variables come in to play. I know you love both of your kids with all your heart.
It is amazing how your heart just seems to grow. Grateful for all the products too.
It’s really sweet that your first child was so happy to be with your second. I do think allowing the kids to be involved in the preparation and planning helps!
Your daughter is too cute! I am glad you were able to get pregnant to have her!
Isn’t it amazing how much love our heart can hold? There’s 5 1/2 years between my two and totally get how you were feeling before you had your daughter.
It took us ten years to conceive our first child. Our second child is 3.5 years younger. I wanted to be a Mom for as long as I can remember so was grateful to be expecting both and had no doubt I could love them.
What a sweet story! First Response is the brand I usually buy.
It’s wonderful how big your heart can get! Despite the age difference of my children, they are as thick as thieves. So grateful our family has expanded to include them all.
We used a pre-seed type of thing too and some ovulation kits. I am glad they made this more readily available.
Your post is so informative about things to think about when having a second child. I think women in that situation will really appreciate your sound advice.
Your story is so beautiful. I remember when we were planning for our daughters and First Response was also a brand I trusted to be there for us.