You just had a baby, you’re just getting the hang of parenting, and all of a sudden… Surprise, some good times with your significant other has resulted in a surprise pregnancy.

Yikes!

If you just had a baby less than a year ago, it can feel overwealming to find yourself pregnant again. Here are some pros and cons and how to deal:

Pro: You’ll have all the kids in diapers at the same time - which means that likely, they’ll also all be out of diapers at the same time.

Con: Your body needs a year to recoup from a pregnancy and birth. If you’re pregnant again, this pregnancy will most likely be harder on your body than the last. What’s key is to work closely with your care provider, and get plenty of rest.

Pro: Siblings who are close in age can develop extra close bonds.

Con: Your babies won’t get your full attention for as long as they would have had you spaced them further apart.

Pro: Your babies will learn to deal with close in age peers.

Con: Remember how tired you were during the first pregnancy? Remember the morning sickness, the achy back, the lack of a good night’s rest? Well, now you may have all that again, but you’ll also have a baby to care for.

Pro: You won’t have to re-learn baby care skills with the new baby; it’ll be fresh in your mind. If you wait five years, who knows what you might forget.

Overall, baby spacing is what it is. You’ll manage if you have another right away, and you’ll manage if you have one later on. The trick is to get plenty of rest, healthy food, and support from family and friends no matter how your babies are spaced.