It May Take Longer to Get Pregnant This Time—or Not
It’s difficult to predict how easy or difficult it will be to become pregnant with your second child because every pregnancy is unique. Consult your doctor if you and your partner engage in regular unprotected sex and you don’t get pregnant within a year if you’re under 35 (or after six months if you’re 35 or older) When trying for their second child, some couples may experience secondary infertility, which is when they have trouble getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term. That may be brought on by a number of factors, including sperm production issues, endometriosis, complications from a prior pregnancy, and risk factors like advanced age or high body mass index. If a fertility specialist or procedure is appropriate for you and your partner, your doctor can help you decide.
You Don’t Need to Rush into It
Even though you may be beyond eager to expand your family, it’s best to wait 12 to 18 months after giving birth before trying to get pregnant again. Only six months between pregnancies can have unfavorable and occasionally terrifying consequences, according to recent research published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal: It may increase the likelihood of a preterm birth while also raising the mother’s risk of passing away or developing serious illness.
If you had a c-section with your first baby, it’s recommended that you wait even longer and postpone trying for a second child for 18 months, says Lakeisha Richardson, an ob-gyn practicing in Greenville, Mississippi. “There’s an increased risk of uterine rupture for a woman who has had a cesarean section if she conceives before the uterus has had time to heal.”
The development of a baby bump
Each person’s pregnancy bump develops differently. A typical timeline states that your child will be about the size of a lemon at 12 weeks. You’ll experience a slight bump as your uterus enlarges to accommodate the growing baby, which may or may not be noticeable to others.
By the time you reach week 16, your baby might be the size of an avocado. By weeks 20 (banana) and 24 (cantaloupe), you’ll likely notice noticeable variations.
When you start your third trimester at 28 weeks and reach week 35 of your pregnancy, your baby will be the size of an eggplant. Given that your body is also storing amniotic fluid and extra fat to sustain the baby, you’ll probably have a pretty full-looking belly at this point. Your child could be the size of a watermelon by the time your due date arrives.