Second pregnancy early symptoms: Is it any different from your first pregnancy?

Being pregnant for the second time is just as exciting and, often, less stressful because you already know what to prepare for. Generally, the second pregnancy early symptoms remain the same as in the first pregnancy and include:

• Missed period
• Breast tenderness
• Increased urination
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• And others

The difference? Often, second-time mothers know they’re pregnant sooner. That is, you can expect your early pregnancy symptoms to start earlier and be more intense than they were in the first pregnancy. Further down the road, you will also notice other differences between your first and second pregnancy, such as feeling your baby’s movement sooner, seeing a faster bump growth, and experiencing more Braxton Hicks contractions.

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When you already have a child, planning for the second one tends to be much simpler. There are fewer unknowns on this journey for you. You already know what to expect at different stages of pregnancy, and your body too. It's ready for the changes that will begin as you conceive, and this might affect certain areas of pregnancy.

In particular, it’s thought that your past experience and muscle memory play a significant role in second pregnancies, and can make the symptoms appear earlier. But is it really true? Will there be any difference between the first and second pregnancy?

In this article, we’ll talk about the second pregnancy early symptoms and how they might be different from your previous pregnancy. Let’s dive in!

Typical Early Pregnancy Symptoms

Since you’ve already given birth once, you probably know everything about the earliest pregnancy signs. Things that typically come first include:

• Missed period. If implantation is successful and you’re pregnant, you should miss your expected period in this cycle. Typically, the first day of expected menstruation coincides with 14 DPO.
• Breast tenderness. As your pregnancy hormones kick in, your breasts will typically become more sensitive and tender. Some women experience significant soreness in their breasts until their bodies adjust to hormonal changes.
• Increased urination. In pregnancy, your blood volume increases by 20% and 100%, and so does the overall liquid volume in your body. This naturally makes your kidneys work with extra power and can cause a frequent urge to pee.
• Fatigue. Progesterone that continues to rise to support early pregnancy is associated with a whole range of symptoms. Increased fatigue is one of the earliest high progesterone symptoms that you may feel.
• Nausea. Morning sickness is one of the best-known early pregnancy symptoms that women watch out for. It can come with or without vomiting.

Other early pregnancy symptoms that might be less obvious or prominent can include mood swings, bloating, constipation, and food aversions. It’s also common to experience cramping and spotting caused by implantation.

Are Second Pregnancy Early Symptoms Much Different?

One way or another, all early pregnancy symptoms are linked to pregnancy-related hormonal shifts. Needless to say, the hormones involved in pregnancy remain the same, whether it’s your first or second baby. That is, the list of the second pregnancy early symptoms is not much different from those described earlier.

But this doesn’t mean that just everything will be the same. You can still notice many significant differences between your first and second pregnancy, and it’s important to prepare for them.

Early Pregnancy Symptoms 2nd Baby: What to Expect

So, the list of symptoms should be similar. Then, what’s the difference?

Going for your second baby, you can expect the following differences:

• Often, you will know that you’re pregnant sooner. Since you and your body already know what it feels like to be pregnant, it’s common for pregnancy symptoms to appear much earlier than in the first pregnancy. It’s also common to feel them more intensely than before. 
• It’s not uncommon for women to feel more exhausted during a second pregnancy and think that they have nearly no time for themselves. And this is no surprise. This time, you have to manage your pregnancy with all the associated changes, while already having parental commitment. Combining this can feel hard, but proper self-care, planning, and support systems can help.
• Your back pain can become more prominent the second time around. The thing is that your abdominal muscles become weaker and more lax after the first pregnancy and offer less back support, unless you’ve had time to strengthen them. This symptom can also occur earlier in pregnancy than it did the last time.
• Your emotional state might be different. When you’re pregnant for the second time, you will know this sooner and will already know what’s to come. This can make it a little less tense emotionally than in the first pregnancy. Yet, there might be other causes for concern this time. Firstly, managing your pregnancy and already being a mom can be more physically and emotionally tiring. Also, there is often more anxiety related to the maternal-fetal relationship in second-time mothers. So it’s hard to tell for sure if your second pregnancy will be less intense emotionally or not.
• Running to the bathroom can become even more frequent. When you’re pregnant for the second time, it’s common to carry your baby lower. This can create additional pressure on your pelvis and bladder, and cause a more frequent urge to pee. It’s not among the uncommon early pregnancy symptoms with a second child.

What to Prepare for Next?

Now that you know more about the second pregnancy early symptoms, it’s also natural to wonder what other differences will be there between your first and second childbearing. The short answer is that there is quite a lot to prepare for. Generally, the dynamic of the second gestation is considered to be much higher, and here’s why:

• Your stomach muscles have already been stretched before and hold that muscle memory from your first pregnancy. This can make your baby bump become prominent significantly earlier, although the general pace of fetal development does not change.
• You can feel your baby move sooner. Generally, the first quickening in pregnancy happens around 16 to 20 weeks in both the first and second pregnancy. But now, you already know how it feels and what exactly to expect. This can help you recognize movement much earlier, when it just begins.
• It’s very common to notice changes in Braxton Hicks contractions too. According to experts, they begin earlier and usually feel more intense when it’s a second or subsequent pregnancy. This is just because your body is already familiar with them, and your muscles and ligaments (abdominal and uterine) are already more lax.
• Generally, you can also expect some changes in your baby number two. Studies reveal that women are more likely to deliver a heavier baby in the second labor. During pregnancy, this fact, as well as the fact that your muscles are already lax and offer less support, could mean that you can experience more back pain. But it’s possible to manage through physical activity and other management techniques.

The good news? When you embark on your pregnancy journey for the second time, most likely your labor and birth will be faster and much easier than the first time. And many exciting things, such as feeling movement faster, can make your path more enjoyable.

FAQ

How early do pregnancy symptoms start with a second baby?

There is insufficient research on this to tell exactly when your symptoms may begin. Besides, it’s important to remember that every pregnancy is different and there are no rules on what’s normal or not. Nevertheless, most women start feeling their second pregnancy early symptoms much earlier than they did in the first pregnancy. So you can expect to know that you’re pregnant sooner and, possibly, experience more intense early signs.

Is there any special 2nd pregnancy early symptoms discharge?

When you get pregnant, it’s common to experience an increase in vaginal discharge. This is due to hormonal changes and increased blood and fluid volumes in your body. In particular, you may notice more voluminous, clear, whitish, or pale yellow, odorless mucus. However, it’s important to note that your 2nd pregnancy early symptoms discharge is generally similar to that you had during your first pregnancy. You might just notice it sooner, as you already know what it looks like.

Will the second pregnancy be harder or easier for me?

Answering this question requires an individual approach because every pregnancy is different. According to many experts and second-time mothers, being pregnant for the second time is generally easier in many ways. You’ll likely know that you’re pregnant sooner and already know what to expect. Labor may also be much easier. On the other hand, your symptoms may intensify, and you may feel more exhausted because you have to combine being a mother and pregnancy.

Conclusion

As you now know, there are no specific, uncommon early pregnancy symptoms with a second child compared to the first childbearing. In fact, the majority of symptoms remain just the same. But it doesn’t mean that your entire experience will be the same.

The truth is that many women experience their early pregnancy symptoms sooner and more intensely with the second baby. Things like exhaustion, back pain, nausea, and others can become more prominent. And there are many other new experiences to prepare for. Luckily, you’ve been on this journey before and are well familiar with what’s to come. Besides, many things are generally simpler in your second pregnancy. So don’t worry and embark on this journey with confidence and a positive mindset!

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