4 Second Birth Myths: Busted

Pregnancy is an overwhelming feeling for every mother, and being a mother for the second time can be an even more joyous journey. You already have a toddler on your hands now, and a second baby is on the way. If you had easy labor the first time around, you are hoping this one would be the same case too. Or is it the other way around? You might be more prepared for your second time, thinking you are going to have the same experience. You may also have many friends of yours who have gone through the experience of a second birth sharing their wisdom. While it is true for their case, it may not be the same for you as well. Here are 4 second birth myths that you’ve heard time and again all through your pregnancy that needs to be busted.

1. Second Babies Are Early Arrivers

Though it is true for some cases, there are women who’ve had second delivery past their due date. Only a marginal 4% of babies arrive on time. There are numerous cases of the firstborn being late, and numerous cases of others who are born early. The due date of the second child can depend on the length of the gap between when the first and second conception occurred. Studies have found that first babies are born slightly later than the subsequent babies, but not more than 16 hours. So the assumption that second babies arrive few days or even a week early is not true as 16 hours is considered a very less time difference (1).

2. Second Child Will Weigh Less

We’ve heard the tale that there’s more probability of the second baby weighing less than your first child. But it is not the case. Studies have shown that the birthweight of second-child is remarkably higher than the first one. So, one the contrary, there’s a greater chance of the second child weighing more than the first child (2). The weight difference of the first and second born is dependent on factors like the gestational period and the gender of the baby. If the period between the pregnancies is too short, it affects the recovery of nutritional reserves for the growth and development of the fetus.

3. Second Birth Labors Are Quicker

You might have heard the age-old myth that everything is easier the second time around. Once you have already experienced the process of childbirth, you can go into it with a much calmer mind and have an easy labor. In the case of first labor, the second stage of labor can continue up to 1 to 2 hours. But if you’ve had a baby before, this stage is pretty quick (3). However every labor is different, and if you had a C-section before, you can either have a short or long labor. And if you are over 40, you are likely to have complications, and it may not be a smooth ride.

4. You Cannot Feel the Baby Kick Much Early

Feeling the kick of the baby is one of the most ecstatic moments of pregnancy. It is also a nice bonding experience for the mother and child. Feeling those little kicks gives you the assurance that the child is healthy and growing. You start to feel the first movements of your baby between 16 to 25 weeks of pregnancy. For the first time mom-to-be, these movements may not appear until the end of 25 weeks. By the second time, some women start to experience movements by their 13^th week (4).

Now that we’ve busted these myths for you, it is time to embrace your pregnancy and get ready to be a new mom for the second time.

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