11 Ways a Third Pregnancy is Different Than the First

Pregnancy the third time around has been a little different from the first time. I’m older (for better or worse!), wiser and definitely more laid back as a “been there, done that” mom-to-be. There’s a calm that comes from experience — and a peace in me that this is the last kiddo I’ll have. As I’ve survived these first few weeks of pregnancy, the differences in pregnancies have struck me — and made me laugh. Read on for 11 of the differences I’ve discovered from pregnancy 1 to pregnancy 3!

11 Ways a Third Pregnancy Is Different Than the First

1. You start showing at conception rather than at the mid-way point.

2. You’re way more exhausted, and you can’t tell if it’s because you’re chasing two other kids, you’re several years older or if your third child is just exceptionally gifted at sucking all of your energy out.

3. Your older kids being gross can make you gag quite easily when you’re dealing with morning sickness.

4. You use an expired pregnancy test that’s been sitting around.

5. Instead of calling the doctor as soon as the pee dries on the stick, you wait so long to make your first appointment that they’re like “See you tomorrow!”

6. You have to rest strategically and play games like “nap on the floor” with your kids.

7. You get A Look far more frequently when you say it’s your third. Gasp!

8. You don’t plan to plan at all for the third child’s arrival — in fact, you figure you’ll figure out the bedroom situation once the baby grows out of the bedside bassinet.

9. You accept the fact that food aversions and cravings are temporary and don’t feel guilty for eating bacon 24/7 or needing to practically dump salt on your tongue.

10. You get to involve your other kiddos in the fun — showing them ultrasound pictures, letting them come up with names (Captain Flynn is a front-runner right now) and making guesses as to whether it’ll be a boy or a girl.

11. You find yourself having to look at the calendar to remember exactly which week you’re in — whereas with the first you knew how far along you were to the day.



And one way it’s exactly the same? It’s just as exciting to see that little baby on the ultrasound screen and to hear that heartbeat for the first time.

In what ways were your subsequent pregnancies different from your first? Did you find yourself waaaay more laid back, too? —Erin