Many women get pregnant relatively quickly from the first child, but when looking for another baby things are not so easy. When the second child takes to arrive It is a matter of great concern, especially since it usually has the same expectations as in the previous pregnancy. You know that about "If the first time I have been so soon, now it will be the same".
Let's agree first that it is not easy at all to get pregnant. Some couples get it on the first try while others watch the months go by and nothing.
The probability of pregnancy in each sexual relationship is one 25 percentTherefore, without protection and under normal conditions, months can pass until conception occurs.
Anyway, it is false to believe that if it has been fertile once it will always be so. Since the last pregnancy there may have been changes in lifestyle that have produced alterations in the couple's reproductive health, such as leading a more stressful life, changes in diet, diseases, weight variations, and of course, age.
Why so soon with the first and the second it takes so long?
This is the question asked by all parents who have been searching for the little brother for a few months.
With the first it has been very fast and they believe that with the second it will be the same as if it were a factory that we press a button and that's it. But the organism is much more complex than that.
It can be very frustrating to see month after month how the rule goes down without having succeeded. It is inevitable to think about the possibility of a problem.
As a rule, both in the first and in the following pregnancies, when after a year of trying it has not been possible to conceive, it is time to see a doctor to rule out any problems.
In these cases one cannot speak of sterility, since it has already been possible to conceive a child, but of secondary infertility, when the couple has had a child without problems but has difficulty having another.
What factors hinder the conception of the second pregnancy
As in any pregnancy there are factors that make conception difficult. Factors that may not have been in the first pregnancy and yes in the second, such as:
Woman's age
Obviously, the woman became pregnant with the first child being younger. Each passing year the odds are reduced of getting pregnant
Thus, a woman in her 20s who is trying to get pregnant on her fertile days has a 25% chance of getting it, around 30 years has a 15%, from 35 the possibilities decrease to 8% and a 3% from 38 years.
Stress
Keep in mind that now you have a child to care for. The conditions are not the same as in the first pregnancy, now you have more obligations, you are probably more tired and lead a more stressful life.
Stress, fatigue and anxiety can alter a woman's periods and hinder pregnancy.
To all this, the pressures of family and friends are added with the obligatory question: "When is the little brother?".
Problems in women
There may be one medical explanation to the impossibility of achieving pregnancy such as ovulatory problems, endometriosis, pelvic adhesions or the presence of fibroids or polyps in the uterus.
It is advisable before looking for a second pregnancy to go to a gynecological examination to make sure everything is in order to conceive.
You should also tell the doctor if you have irregular periods, if they are very painful, if you have very frequent vaginal secretions or unusual vaginal burning.
The problem can also be of man
In these cases the woman is usually thought, especially if she is already an age, due to alterations in the ovulation, but the problem may also be of man.
A small number of sperm or poor quality of them can cause difficulties when conceiving. Even when man has been able to conceive once, there are factors that can alter this ability.
In 30-40 percent of the cases the problem is of the woman, in 10-30 percent it is of the man and in 15-30 percent it is both at the same time.
Recognize fertile days
You may have gotten pregnant the first time without planning too much or doing anything special to make it happen, and for the second it costs more.
It is very important to know how to recognize fertile days to increase the chances of pregnancy. As much as you try many times, if sexual intercourse does not occur in the fertile period, it is impossible for conception to occur.
It is also essential that women prepare for the second pregnancy, take care of their diet, take folic acid, avoid tobacco and alcohol, exercise and respect the recommended time between pregnancies.
There is no time to lose
Today, because women are increasingly delaying the age of being mothers, it is not surprising that the search for the second pregnancy "falls" after age 35.
Many couples have no time to lose and from the moment they decide to look for a little brother they are looking forward to becoming pregnant.
In those cases, if they are over 35 years old and the couple's lifestyle has not changed, it is advisable to visit the gynecologist when they have not been able to conceive after six months.
When the second child takes to arrive The couple may suffer emotional consequences. It can be so frustrating or more than if it were the first pregnancy because there is already a previous expectation that it will be more or less soon if the first one has been.
It is important first to try to recognize possible signs that something is wrong, cope with the anxiety of waiting together and of course go to the doctor if too much time has passed and the pregnancy does not occur.
In your case, How long has it taken for the second child to arrive, more or less than the first?
Photos | christyscherrer and Ernst Vikne on Flickr
In Babies and more | Frequently asked questions about conception and fertility (I) and (II), How to prepare for the second pregnancy, When to look for a second pregnancy?
