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How Many Women Have Difficult Second Pregnancies?

by Korey Lane

As most women are well-aware, there's nothing easy about pregnancy. Of course, positive emotions such as happiness and joy abound, but they don't exactly do away with the stretch marks, fatigue, swelling, and general discomfort that come with it. While some may assume that pregnancy is easier the second time around, that might not exactly be true. But exactly how many women have more difficulties during their second pregnancy?

There isn't really an exact number, but if you're going through your second pregnancy and experiencing some difficulties, just know that you aren't alone; According to a 2014 U.S. Census Bureau report, the average number of women with two or more biological children in the United States hovers around 42 per every 1,000 women. Just how many of those women report having more difficulties is unclear, perhaps for privacy reasons, but regardless, it likely means that a good number of those women have experienced what you're going through right now.

For many women, their first pregnancy is a unique and special time. There's a large amount of research new mothers tend to complete, along with a new sense of bonding with their little one. But then, the second time around, things can tend to shift. Many women experience more difficulties during their second pregnancy, however, these difficulties can vary and aren't consistent from woman to woman. Depending on several factors, women can experience increased fatigue, a greater sense of discomfort, and more pain during their second pregnancies. You should also still keep an eye out for more severe warning signs, such as evidence of preeclampsia, or other more serious health concerns.

Difficulties during your second pregnancy that are considered normal include increased fatigue, your bump appearing sooner, as well as "increased pelvic discomfort," due to carrying your baby lower the second time around, according to Parents.com.

However, if you've had high blood pressure in the past, or experienced preeclampsia symptoms or preeclampsia itself during your first pregnancy, you're at a higher risk of developing it during your second pregnancy. According to Healthline, the symptoms of preeclampsia to look out for include "headaches, blurred vision, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, and urinating in small amounts and infrequently."

However, as many mothers also claim, second pregnancies can also be more relaxed, with many women joking about how much less they researched for their second pregnancy. Compared with her first pregnancy, one women even joked about "not even remembering how many weeks pregnant you are half the time" during a second pregnancy.

So while carrying baby number two might seem daunting, especially if you experienced issues and difficulties with your first, as long as you're monitoring symptoms and talking to your doctor regularly, you should be fine. And of course, know that whatever you're feeling, you're not alone.