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As I am now in my 33rd week of pregnancy, I thought it might be a good time to consider in what ways my second pregnancy has been different from my first and to review a few for those who are contemplating diving in.

To begin with, I can safely dispel the myth that a dramatic change in morning sickness levels for a single person over multiple pregnancies indicates gender.  I spent months assessing tulle dresses and miniature ballet shoes laboring under this assumption.   Not the case. The first time I was as sick as a dog, this time nothing, and in both cases my husband, as his friend said, "put the stem on the apple". 

I can also swiftly dash the hopes of those of you who carried compactly in your first pregnancy, who gained on the very low end of the "recommended weight gain" schedule, and who may be believing they are genetically blessed to remain shapely during gestation and bounce back from pregnancy.  I, who gained 17lbs with my first pregnancy, now resemble a hot air balloon in my second.  I swear there are twins or triplets in there that my five sonograms have missed.

Finally, in your second pregnancy you will find yourself saying the words "I'm pregnant...remember?" a lot, and generally with some annoyance.  The long lost days of napping, putting your feet up, having your husband fawn over you like a delicate flower, are His-Tor-Y.  Instead you will have to remind your husband that its probably not best for you to spread the  lawn herbicide, cart the 50lb box of goodwill stuff to the trunk or sign up for a triathlon the week you are due.  This while running after a preschooler who has no intentions of letting you fall asleep at 7pm with an empty bowl of chocolate ice cream resting on your belly, as often happened when he was in utero. 

It's still a miracle of course, there is a just a tad bit less strewing of rose petals as you walk the path.  But at least the second time around you realize that you (probably) won't die from labor pains and you know first-hand the amazement and joy that awaits you on the other side.