How soon is "too soon" to TTC #2? - Page 2

[riaketty]

DD1 and DD2 are 18 months apart almost to the day... DD1 was 9 months when I got pg with DD2.

That being said, obviously I got pg while BFing. Fairly quickly. My supply dried up completely -- partly because DD1 has never been a big nurser, and partly because I was pg. I do believe that if I had tried harder, I could have kept a little milk, but as it was, DD didn't want to nurse and I didn't pump or try to increase.

However, if this is your first child, I would caution against a 2nd so soon. Mostly because the change from 1 child to 2 is MUCH WORSE than the change from 0 to 1. You lose a LOT of freedom and if you're holding any resentment right now about being 'tied' to your DC1, it will just increase.

That being said, well, good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[jecombs]

From a medical standpoint, my MW recommended not TTC #2 until my DD #1 was at least 18 mo. old. At that point my MW felt that my body would be "recovered" from the first pregnancy/childbirth/breastfeeding experience. Waiting this long minimizes the potential of bone-loss and tooth damage that can happen if the body takes calcium from these areas to feed the growing fetus. Having children very close together also increases their chance of having low birth-weight and being born premature.

All that being said, my MW concieved her DC #2 when #1 was 5 mo. old. So obviously you do what you feel is right for your body, your baby(ies), and your family. Or sometimes nature just throws you a little curve-ball

[sarah04]

I don't have time to read all the responses, but wanted to tell you that my DH did the same thing, wanting another baby right away. I got pg with DS2 when DS1 was 7 months. I nursed through my pregnancy, started DS1 on solids at 9 or 10 months, and started supplementing with cow's milk at 12 months. We had a really supportive pediatrician, and that helped! He really believed in BF. Once I thought my supply was totally gone, but he reminded me that DS was still swallowing while nursing.

My boys act like twins now. They tandem nursed, and actually weaned at the same time. They are inseparable. So from that perspective it was great.