Every pregnancy is unique, but things can be a little different after your first. You’re a little older, a little wiser. You’ve learned a lot about what it means to be a good mom and have a healthy pregnancy.

Your attention is also more divided, and unfortunately, help might be more scarce. As a result, bringing home a baby is both harder and easier the second time around.

Here’s what you should know.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT

Having a baby for the first time is like feeling your way through a dark room you’ve never been in before. Even if you’ve been around babies your whole life, creating your own is an entirely different experience.

What does a baby kick feel like? How will I know if I’m in labor? How do I get the baby to latch the first time he breastfeeds?

Once you’ve gone through the whole process of pregnancy and labor, the second (or third or fourth) time around isn’t quite as mysterious. Sure, there will be plenty of things that are different.

Your growing baby bump might grow higher or lower, your face might change, your labor and delivery could be faster or slower — but you’re no longer a rookie. You’ve been through this before and likely know what is coming next.

That is especially true for moms who’ve had difficult pregnancies. Your risk for certain complications like low birth weight goes up if you’ve had them before.

While that’s a good reason to be cautious, it’s also a reason to be optimistic because those risks can be managed and prepared for.

YOU’RE A LOT BUSIER

Taking a nap during your first pregnancy might have been feasible, but that was before you had a toddler hanging on you every moment of every day. You aren’t just focused on growing one human; you’re raising two — one of which might be a very active, very loud, very snuggly kid who needs a lot of your attention.

If you’re also working, being pregnant is just one more thing on your list to think about and manage.

If you’ve been running around trying to hold it all together, take a breath, mama. Things might not be the same as they were before — and that’s OK.

Eat on paper plates sometimes for dinner. Leave those clean clothes unfolded in the hallway, or ask a visiting friend to do the dishes while you take a nap. The chaos is temporary.

Right now, think about what’s most important to care for right now in your life, and make it a priority. The rest isn’t worth stressing over.

YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MUCH HELP

There’s something about a first-time pregnancy that gets people really excited, especially if it’s the first grandbaby in the family, too. The second time around, however, might be more of a sizzle than a spark.

You might not get a baby shower or a rotating delivery of home-cooked meals during the baby’s first few weeks. Help might not come unsolicited — so ask for it.

When you’re pregnant with a child at home, you need the help now more than ever. You are strong and capable, but growing a human is hard work.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

YOU’RE ALREADY A BABY EXPERT

Your second child might not have the same feeding preferences or sleep patterns as your first. They might not be as fussy or as chill.

But you already have the basics down. You know how to change a diaper, swaddle, and shush a baby to sleep in minutes. You’ve had months of practice making sure your first child is fed, clothed, bathed, and engaged.

Adding a second kid to the mix changes the calculus a bit, it’s true. But you’ve acquired some serious baby skills since becoming a parent. You’re already a supermom. Now you just get to be supermom for two.