When you have your first child although it can be scary, it’s full of excitement. It’s full of new adventures and endless love. The great thing about having your first little one, is the fact that it’s the first, there’s only one. No one really talks about what it’s like having two or more than one. You always hear how hard it can be, or how tired you will be. But honestly, when i had my first child. It was pretty easy compared to what it is like now, raising two babies.
The transition from one baby to two is pretty hard, or at least it was for me. Especially with breastfeeding. I have a one and a half year old and a now almost 2 month old baby. When my second child was born, after we got home it was so hard for me to adjust for a couple different reasons. Breastfeeding is very painful at first, and it’s super demanding. You have to constantly sit down every 2-3 hours and feed baby or pump and hope that your toddler is satisfied or distracted until you’re done. Breastfeeding is also painful every time at first. It also makes your body cramp, and for me after having my second child, the cramps were unearthly painful. I really didn’t think i could continue to breastfeed because i was in so much pain. Both of those things combine, on top of not getting any sleep, and having to chase a toddler around after just having a baby made my world chaos.
I really though for a couple of weeks that i was going to lose my mind, it was the first time ever that i had felt completely defeated regarding motherhood. I was so upset and tired, really questioning myself and if i was able todo this. As if i had any choice, haha. But it was really hard for me for awhile. Eventually i adjusted to the loss of sleep, breastfeeding became easier and the cramping stopped. It was still hard because the schedule i had with my toddler was out the door. He wasn’t napping, didn’t want to sleep in his crib, and i felt absolutely awful for the fact i could no longer give him all my attention. I was heartbroken. Because i knew he just wanted the attention. Which made it even harder to reenforce the schedule.
Right now, after adjusting things still get hard. I still have my mini breakdowns and i still stress out from time to time. At first it was figuring out how to balance two children, and now i’m trying to make those little times for me to regroup. Like taking a shower alone, or riding to town alone, or just walking to the mailbox alone. Just to give me that short amount of time to breath. It’s important to have that. Mother’s and father’s need that. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty for needing a second to just breath.
Having children is really an amazing thing, it’s a beautiful experience. But no one prepared me for the adjustment of a second child and having them close together didn’t make it easier. And i’m still learning, it’s still hard. Time is now divided, i get very little time to myself, if any at all. Dishes don’t get done right away, laundry sits awhile before it gets folded, toys may sit on the floor a little longer, and the list goes on. But i really couldn’t imagine my life any other way. When times get hard, when i feel like i’m at my breaking point i just remember they are only little once. And i know before i even realize it, that this time will be gone.
So to all those stressed momma’s out there, ones who are going through this, who are about to, let your toddler crawl in the bed with you. Hold that newborn a little longer. Enjoy watching your toddler run around playing with everything they can get their hands on. Because as hard as it might be in that moment, it will end. You’ll find time for a little break. And everything will be okay. Although having another child, is an adjustment and can be hard it’s such a blessing.





