Thinking About Another Baby?

Increasing numbers of women in China are thinking about having multiple pregnancies; hear from world-renowned OB/GYN Dr. Sam Liu about how to prepare.

I want to have another baby! Do I need to have a pre-pregnancy checkup before getting pregnant?

It’s vital to understand your unique situation when thinking about pregnancy, whether it’s your first or fifth child. The goal of a pre-pregnancy checkup is to identify things that could affect your pregnancy, like nutrition, weight, and lifestyle choices. Your health and nutrition are key in the first few weeks of pregnancy to your growing baby’s growth and development. Even if your previous pregnancy was healthy and without complication, your body has aged and is not the same as it was one pregnancy ago.

I’m worried that I may be “too old…”

Age is a factor to keep in mind while planning for additions to the family. Fecundity, the capacity to conceive, starts to decline after age 35. Even for patients utilizing in vitro fertilization (IVF), age will affect your ability to conceive.

The decline in fertility that comes with age is accompanied by a significant increase in the rates of miscarriage and still birth, as well as genetic abnormalities. Women older than the age of 35 should receive evaluation and treatment after six months of trying to conceive. Talk with your healthcare provider to understand your own situation.

How can dad help prepare for baby number two (or three, or four)?

Mothers are generally healthier and their pregnancies have fewer complications when they have strong family support. If possible, dad should accompany the pregnancy as the strongest supporting family member. Sometimes an over-supportive family may cause an expecting mother to become nervous or worry, but a partner that understands your situation can support you through your pregnancy and raising your growing family.

We advise that dad should also accompany you to childbirth classes and be understanding of the changes you will go through during your pregnancy. Plan and practice sharing domestic and childcare responsibilities.

How should I psychologically prepare for a growing family?

It’s important to mentally prepare that a mother’s age does affect the ability to conceive, as well as add risk to complications during pregnancy.

Family planning is also crucial in deciding if your family is ready to take on another child. Are your finances in order? Will you work after maternity leave? Can your family support and share your childcare needs?

I’m worried about how my firstborn will react.

Let your firstborn share your excitement about getting pregnant. Encourage them to be proud, and think, “I’m going to be a big brother/sister!”

While older siblings should enjoy having a companion, there is the potential for them to feel left out if they’re used to being the center of attention. Include them in the excitement of the new baby and instill the pride and responsibility of being a big sibling. Also sometimes purchasing a nice gift around the time of the birth can be a nice touch to show that they are still loved and appreciated by mom and dad.

Can I do VABC?

Let’s start with understanding what VBAC is. VBAC stands for Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. When you’re weighing your options, and decide to have another child via vaginal delivery, you’re interested in trying for a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC). TOLAC is just the attempt of the vaginal birth. VBAC is when the successful vaginal delivery takes place.

In China, we’re in a special situation due to the One-Child Policy; many women come in and say, “Since this will be my only pregnancy, I might as well just get a cesarean and bear myself the pain.” However, there are more and more women in China having second children, and international patients often come to hospitals like United Family for second and multiple births

At BJU, we have a long history of high success rates for VBAC. In the United States, the VBAC success rate is between 60-80%. Over our 16 year history, we have had a VBAC success rate of 72%. And from 2012 to 2013, that success rate was over 90%.

BJU is one of the only hospitals in Beijing that performs VBAC, and UFH hospitals are some of the very few that offer the procedure in China.

What’s the benefit of VBAC?

Women who give birth vaginally have a faster recovery rate after birth, thereby having a shorter hospital stay. They’re able to return quicker to normal activities because there is no prolonged pain from surgery.

A woman’s medical and prenatal history is important when considering TOLAC, making consultation with your healthcare provider essential while exploring your options. The biggest risk associated with TOLAC is a tear in the uterus from the previous cesarean; however, the risks are very low (less than 0.9%).

Our professional OB/GYN staff is readily trained to handle emergency situations, should they arise. We pride ourselves in handling emergency deliveries and in providing good consultation beforehand so patients feel well-informed.

How long should I wait to give birth of the second child?

While deliveries closer than 18 months apart increase the risk for an unsuccessful VBAC, for women who have given birth naturally, there shouldn’t be any other reason medically to wait to have another child.