Easier to get pregnant second time?

[Spiket77]

Do you ladies think/know if it is easier to conceive a child after you have had one? I know it is different for everyone but just wondering "in general". It took us 10 months to conceive our first child. I'm trying to decide when to start trying for our second. I was thinking when my son is a year old but, if it takes another year to conceive...I just don't know. I realize this isn't something I can control. But I am assuming my body has an idea of what to do now and it might be easier?
Thoughts?

[superchoc]

if either of you aging is a factor it may make it harder. have you or your husband been for tests or anything? or did you use ovulation kits? i never had a problem with either pregnancy so i could not say but you think your body would remember with the first time, which is why second pregnancies/labours are easier as you have been through it before. i hope you get an answer! maybe try for a month or two and see what happens? then if you arent pregnant by that stage it may take as long again?

[vmvnpv]

I hear a mix.  For some it's a lot easier.  For others it's much harder.  I have a friend who conceived no problem with her first.  She just now conceived her second.....nine years later.  They've been trying the whole time.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I can't answer this for certain myself, but I have heard of many couples that have had to do fertility type things to get pregnant the first time.  Then after that, they are able to conceive on their own.  Because of what you said....their body knows what to do.

Maybe you guys could not try but not try to prevent either and just see how it goes.  Good luck!

[JoyRenee]

I have also known people with infertility (and I'm talking severe or unexplained infertility) and are currently pregnant on their own without any assistance whatsoever. However I've also known people, myself included, who develop infertility after already having a child.

It's just one of those things... you never know.

[hopefulmom17]

I had no problem getting pregnant with my first than it took almost a year to get pregnant with my second which ended in a miscarriage. And now after five years of trying I'm finally pregnant so my kids will be nearly eight years apart when I planned for them just to be a couple of years apart. I think it just depends on the person.

[snagglepuss1]

I've had 6 pregnancies in total, 3 unsuccessful, 3 successful.
It took 8 months for me to get pregnant the 1st time (unsuccessful pregnancy)
3 months later I was pregnant again (unsuccessful pregnancy) it then took me 6 months to get pregnant again (unsuccessful pregnancy), then 5 months before I fell pregnant again (successful) started ttc baby number 2 when my dd was 7 months old and was pregnant again by the time she was 9 months (successful), then started ttc baby number 3 when my ds was 7 months and was pregnant by the time he was 8 months. I've read you are more fertile a year after having a baby, my body certainly was. Am ttc number 4 now and has so far we are in month 5 of trying, but I am a (aherm) few years old now! :D

[snagglepuss1]

*older not old!

[Spiket77]

Thank you for your responses. The other issue is that I am planning to breastfeed for the entire first year of my son's life. Only about 8 more months to go! I'm guessing this will prolong the return of my fertility. I'm 33 and don't think I am dried up or anything like that. We take very good care of ourselves around here. However, I don't really want to be pregnant after 35. Not because I'm 'old' but because I want my body back. So, I'm really hoping that it is 'easier' for us next time around. I know 10 months isn't really that long to TTC. Just not wanting to go over a year of TTC. If we could only pick when we became pregnant. HA!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

You are right about the nursing and the fertility thing.  For MOST women, it does keep your fertility at bay for some time.  It is actually the body's natural way of spacing out children.  I have a great article about it, if you are interested.  It will star it out if I try to post it here, but I can PM it to you.  

[Coopersmommy2]

I had no problem getting pregnant the first time..happened the first month and now we have been trying since December and have not had luck yet. I would say it depends on many factors and depends on each couple on a case by case basis.

[Coopersmommy2]

I had no problem getting pregnant the first time..happened the first month and now we have been trying since December and have not had luck yet. I would say it depends on many factors and depends on each couple on a case by case basis.

[angela418]

Well, it took us 8 months of actively trying with my son (I stopped the pill and we immediately TTC) and when he was 9 months old, I got pregnant by surprise!  We were going to start "trying" again when he turned a year, but apparently we weren't paying attention that month and what do you know - our second baby (a girl this time) was ready before we were!  I am now 34 1/2 weeks pregnant.  I think it helped that we were obviously not stressed about it the 2nd time, so maybe if you just don't prevent and see what happens, it might work faster.  But, everyone's different so you really never know.  Good luck to you, though! :-)  
Oh, by the way, I was going to breastfeed him until he was a year - but by the time I realized I was pregnant, my milk had pretty much dried up - he was only taking it 1x a day by then anyways.  I obviously wasn't eating enough to support a pregnancy AND nursing.  So, on his 10 month birthday, he had his very last bit of breast milk.  
One more thing, I got my period back 6 months after he was born - that was the same time he started eating more "solid" foods and taking less breast milk each day.

[illsurvive]

i think second time is harder. i took 1 yr to get pregnant. but only last 3 months i monitored my ovulation and all. but now second time i m monitoring my ovulation and doing BD same time it is not happening its been a over a year now.