I am currently 8 months pregnant. At home I have a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son. Life is busy, noisy, and full of movement from morning until evening. Being pregnant after having a child with Down syndrome brings many emotions. Our two-year-old has Down syndrome, and now we are expecting another baby. This pregnancy feels different in many ways.
Still, I feel incredibly lucky. My body handles pregnancy very well. With none of my pregnancies have I had serious discomfort. I have energy, I sleep well, and I can eat everything normally.
The only moment I felt truly terrible was on the evening of our moving day. Every part of my body hurt, as if I were eighty years old. My partner felt exactly the same after carrying furniture all day.
But overall, this pregnancy has been surprisingly smooth.
Energetic Children and a Busy Household
My partner has golden hands, and our children are active and capable. That helps a lot in everyday life.
Both children already help clean up their toys. Even our son tries to put things back where they belong. Our daughter is especially good at taking her things and putting them away.
The bigger challenge is that our son wants to grab everything and throw it around. That is part of his current phase.
But we are also seeing wonderful progress. Recently he started taking steps while holding someone’s hands. We can even wash his hands together if he stands on a small step and holds the edge of the sink.
Small achievements like this make everyday life easier.
The Lifting Challenge
The hardest practical issue right now is lifting.
After two emergency C-sections caused by failed inductions, I will have a planned C-section this time. Because of that, I will not be allowed to lift anything heavier than the baby for two months after birth.
Our son is already much heavier than that.
Right now I still lift him when necessary, but I try to do it carefully – using the correct posture with my back and legs. Fortunately, our daughter no longer wants to be carried much. She stopped asking to be lifted even during my previous pregnancy.
If I sit down, she is happy to cuddle on my lap, but usually both children prefer running and crawling around rather than sitting still.
Choosing Peace Over Constant Medical Tests
During this pregnancy I decided to do things differently.
I have not attended many medical examinations. When I was pregnant with my son, the endless ultrasounds and medical visits were extremely stressful and traumatic. The entire experience left a deep emotional mark on me.
This time I chose a calmer approach. A child is a child, no matter what. I will welcome and care for the baby when they arrive.
However, I will still go for an ultrasound and consultation at 36 weeks. Because of the planned C-section, doctors need to know the position of the placenta and other important details.
Even though I would prefer to avoid it, I know it is the reasonable decision.
Sometimes we must balance emotions with practical thinking.
Preparing for Life with a New Baby
I am already preparing for life with a newborn.
My plan is to breastfeed the baby as much as needed, even if that means day and night feeding. Because of that, I am encouraging our daughter to become as independent as possible.
She is learning to:
- go to the toilet by herself
- wash her hands
- brush her teeth
Our son is still in diapers, so the focus with him is simply to avoid lifting too much.
If everything goes well, we still have about seven weeks before the baby arrives. Children develop quickly, and we already see big changes – especially in our son since we moved into our own home.
In many ways, our whole family is becoming more independent.
Small Pregnancy Adventures
Pregnancy has also brought some unusual moments.
When we first moved into our new home, the toilet was broken. Because of that, I had to go outside to the snowbank to pee – even at three o’clock in the morning.
Pregnancy does not allow you to wait very long when the bladder is full. The baby presses on everything.
Another funny experience happened during Christmas when I led a singing and movement activity at a bus stop. I had plenty of energy, knew all the songs and lyrics, but I was constantly out of breath.
During pregnancy the lungs simply have less space, because the baby pushes everything upward.
After all, the baby is not alone in there. All the internal organs still need space too.
The Best Medicine: Walking Outside
One of the best parts of my day is going for a walk.
I push our son in the stroller while our daughter rides her balance bike. Walking during pregnancy feels wonderful for my body and mind.
I have never been a fan of intense workouts, but long walks are something I can do easily.
The hardest times are when everyone is sick. Then we spend hours caring for runny noses, coughs, and fevers, and we cannot go outside at all.
Fortunately, that does not happen too often.
Although our son has Down syndrome, he has not been sick more often or more severely than other children. Around Christmas he was hospitalized for observation, but mostly because doctors wanted to be cautious.
In reality, he recovered quite quickly.
Every Pregnancy Is Different
When I compare my pregnancies, they are similar in some ways and different in others.
When I was pregnant with my daughter, the biggest stress came from finishing my master’s degree and traveling between cities for university.
When I was pregnant with my son, the stress came from constant medical examinations and worrying that I was not present enough for my daughter.
Now, during this pregnancy, the challenges are different again – caring for two small children, lifting my son, and managing a move to a new home.
Still, I am grateful that my midwife follows my pregnancy. My health is good, my blood tests and urine tests are normal, and there are no infections.
Most importantly, I have a supportive partner beside me.
The Question Everyone Asks
One thing that surprises me is how often people ask when I will return to work.
Honestly, I do not know.
Every day I spend about:
- three hours cooking and doing household tasks
- two hours intentionally spending time with my partner or walking
- six to seven hours caring for the children
During illnesses it is even more.
There are diapers, potty training, washing, dressing, feeding, playing, singing, reading books, and comforting emotions. Soon there will also be round-the-clock breastfeeding.
I have not worked outside the home since 2021, and at the moment I simply do not have the energy to add job stress to everything else.
For now, our family lives on my partner’s income and support benefits. It is a matter of priorities.
Small Creative Work on the Side
I do still have one small responsibility outside the home.
In the choir where I have sung for many years, they asked me to help teach vocal parts. I receive a small amount of pocket money for that.
Sometimes I have wondered if I should have accepted the responsibility, because preparing the songs and piano accompaniments takes time.
But I have managed to find the time, and soon I will take a longer break when the baby arrives.
Feeling Younger Than My Age
Overall, I can say that being pregnant while parenting two toddlers is not as frightening as it might sound.
I am already 37 years old, but honestly I often feel younger.
The most important thing is having a loving and supportive family.
When we stay close to each other and work as a team, even the busiest seasons of life feel manageable – and full of meaning.
You are not alone.
If this story resonated with you and you’d like to go deeper, you can explore my e-book Our Journey – A Different Path. It offers honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post.
If you’re looking for practical support, I’ve created Routine Templates to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding.
You can also read my previous posts or follow along on Instagram @parentguidancehub, where I share everyday reflections on parenting, family life, and finding balance.
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