Twice Blessed: Everything You Need To Know About Having A Second Child-- Preparing Yourself, Your Marriage, And Your Firstborn For A New Family Of Four

Less time, more demands, jealous siblings, displaced spouses, bigger bills, and bigger automobiles: given all these cons, why on earth would any sane couple consider having more than one child? Author Joan Leonard deals readers a rather loaded deck of cards as she succinctly describes the joys--but mostly the burdens--of "welcoming" a second child to the family. Despite its sweet title, this little book takes a rather acrid look at the unique challenges second-time moms and dads encounter. Luckily for the reader, Leonard presents plenty of advice from pediatricians, gynecologists, family therapists, and parents who have been through it themselves. Topics cover changes couples face during pregnancy, birth, and all of baby number two's first year.

A confessed firstborn herself, Leonard openly admits she did not enjoy being knocked off her proverbial pedestal when "The Other One," her own baby sister, arrived. Perhaps that's why this former contributing editor to Parent's Magazine and author of Tales from Toddler Hell seems to take such glee in reporting the many stresses and strains caused by adding to the family. Don't expect any gloppy, saccharin-tainted anecdotes from Leonard's contributing parents, either. Their "Tips from the Trenches" offer important food for thought about maternity leave and treating your spouse as a mate rather than as a business partner. Some of Leonard's own advice about appeasing the oldest child--like asking if the newborn can wear his or her outgrown clothes rather than just making it happen--lean a little too far toward spoiling. Most helpful are Leonard's chapters on assessing the first labor and delivery and taking steps to ensure a better one the second time around and her final chapter on effective family management. --Liane Thomas