Is it harder to get pregnant after your first child?

After having your first baby, you might think that getting pregnant a second will happen just as easily, but that's not always true. While many couples have no problem conceiving the second time around, millions of couples struggle with secondary infertility, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.


Is it harder to get pregnant a second time?

A woman's fertility declines with age, sometimes it can be harder to get pregnant with a second child than it was with the first. When a woman has trouble getting pregnant on her own after a previously successful natural conception and birth, fertility doctors refer to this as secondary infertility.

Why is it hard to get pregnant after first baby?

Increased age, complications from a prior pregnancy or surgery, increased weight, medications, sexually transmitted infections, impaired sperm production, alcohol abuse, and smoking are all examples of secondary infertility.


Is it easier to get pregnant after first child?

On one hand, you may have heard that having a baby can “reset” a couple's fertility. A 2013 study conducted at Boston University appears to support this claim. The study found that couples who had already had children were more likely to conceive than couples who had not.

Can you lose fertility after having a child?

Secondary infertility happens when you can't get pregnant or carry a baby to term after you've been pregnant before and had a baby without any trouble. Secondary infertility shares many of the same causes of primary infertility.


How much harder is it to get pregnant after age 35?



How can I get pregnant for a second baby fast?

You can increase your chances of getting pregnant again if you are in good health. It is also important that your partner is healthy. A bad diet, smoking, drinking and unhealthy working conditions can affect the quality of sperm and prevent pregnancy happening.

What are the tricks to get pregnant?

The highest pregnancy rates occur in couples who have sex every day or every other day. Have sex near the time of ovulation. If having sex every day isn't possible — or enjoyable — have sex every 2 to 3 days a week starting soon after the end of your period.

When is the best time to get pregnant with second child?

What's the best interval between pregnancies? To reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and other health problems, research suggests waiting 18 to 24 months but less than five years after a live birth before attempting your next pregnancy.


Do you feel pregnant faster the second time?

You'll probably “feel” pregnant sooner.

That said, the symptoms themselves might vary from the last time — you might have more or less morning sickness or other tummy troubles, for example, or more or less urinary frequency.

What's the best gap between babies?

Based on the study findings, they suggest the optimal time between giving birth and getting pregnant again is 18 months, with a range of 12 to 24 months. That said, many experts still adhere to the recommendation of 18 to 24 months.

How common is second child infertility?

Secondary infertility, difficulty conceiving after a past pregnancy, likely occurs at the same rate as primary infertility, affecting about 10% of couples.


What's the average time it takes to get pregnant?

30% of couples trying to conceive did so in the first month. 75% of couples conceived within 6 months. 90% of couples conceived within 1 year. 95% of couples conceived within 2 years.

What are 4 causes for female infertility?

Risk factors
  • Age. The quality and quantity of a woman's eggs begin to decline with age. ...
  • Smoking. Besides damaging your cervix and fallopian tubes, smoking increases your risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. ...
  • Weight. Being overweight or significantly underweight may affect ovulation. ...
  • Sexual history. ...
  • Alcohol.


How many times does it take for a couple to get pregnant?

One study found that for couples having regular unprotected sex: around 7 out of 10 women aged 30 will conceive within one year. around 6 out of 10 women aged 35 will conceive within one year. around 4 out of 10 women aged 40 will conceive within one year.


How do I know if I am fertile enough to get pregnant?

If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives like clockwork, it's likely that you'll ovulate on day 14. That's halfway through your cycle. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You're more likely to get pregnant if you have sex at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.

Are second babies always bigger?

There's evidence that second babies tend to be bigger than first babies (Bacci et al 2014). But this isn't always the case, and the difference doesn't tend to be dramatic. On average, second babies are about 100g (3.5oz) heavier than first babies (Bacci et al 2014).

What is second child syndrome?

Second child syndrome or middle child syndrome is when the second-born or middle-born child gets uncomfortable with the presence of their siblings. It can be due to the lack of importance or attention when the parents give more attention to younger children and give responsibilities to older siblings.


What are the benefits of having a second child?

  • There's always an extra set of hands to offer comfort. Every once in a while, mom or dad isn't enough to comfort one of the kids. ...
  • They offer legit help in times of need. ...
  • They seem to always know where the other one's stuff is. ...
  • Car trips are easier. ...
  • They're better eaters. ...
  • Things are less scary when they have a buddy.


What not to do when trying to get pregnant?

Things Not to Do If You Want to Get Pregnant
  1. Lose or Gain a Lot of Weight.
  2. Overdo the Exercise.
  3. Put Off Starting a Family Too Long.
  4. Wait Until You Miss Your Period to Stop Drinking.
  5. Smoke.
  6. Double Up on Your Vitamins.
  7. Amp Up on Energy Drinks or Espresso Shots.
  8. Skimp on Sex.


How do you test if a woman is infertile?

Tests to find out the cause of infertility in women include:
  1. Blood tests. Samples of your blood can be tested for a hormone called progesterone to check whether you're ovulating. ...
  2. Chlamydia test. Chlamydia is an STI that can affect fertility. ...
  3. Ultrasound scan. ...
  4. X-ray. ...
  5. Laparoscopy.


What is the quickest you can get pregnant?

Taking into account how long sperm survive and the time it takes for fertilization and implantation, you can be pregnant as soon as seven days after you had sex or as long as 15 days.

How likely is it to get pregnant the first time you try?

According to infertility research, the likelihood of getting pregnant in the first month is around 30% . For people without fertility issues, the approximate chances of conception are: 75% after 6 months. 90% after a year.

What is the #1 reason for infertility?

Infertility is commonly caused by problems with ovulation (the monthly release of an egg from the ovaries). Some problems stop an egg being released at all, while others prevent an egg being released during some cycles but not others. Ovulation problems can be a result of: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)


Why am I ovulating but not getting pregnant?

Some common reasons include stress, not timing baby-making sex with ovulation, residual effects of hormonal birth control, and certain health conditions. As much as we may try, pregnancy really can't really be planned—but you can increase your chances by being aware of common pitfalls.

Why is it so hard to get pregnant?

You might not be ovulating. Your male partner may be experiencing infertility. You may be experiencing age-related infertility. You may have blocked fallopian tubes.