When you are pregnant with baby number two you have plenty of time to prepare your first child for the arrival of their new brother or sister. Exactly how and when you tell them will depend on their age.  But here are some general tips:-

The most important tip

is to be realistic.  Don't promise them that they are getting a new playmate (newborns DON'T play!). Let them know that the baby will be loud, cry  a lot, sleep alot and need mummy to feed them alot. Babies are hard work.  Let them know you are glad that you have a big boy/girl to help.

Enlist their support with nappy changes and feeds.  My 2 year old boy would get a new nappy and un-velcro the dirty nappy, we would then check out if the bub had done a poo or not.  He thought this was very exciting.

A special new toy for your oldest child will help buy you some time for breastfeeding. We bought a toy carpark with ramps for his cars - he had hours of fun.

There are books and DVD's about becoming a big brother/sister  - but my 2 year old didn't really understand these.

We bought a present to give our oldest when he came to meet his new brother at the hospital.  But he really wasn't interested in this.  After about 30 minutes of playing with the bedside table, he eventually took an interest in the new baby.  I think it is important that he held the bub, and touched him, without us being too protective (as long as bub wasn't at risk). He thought it was hilarious that the new baby didn't have teeth - he would poke the bub in the mouth to look (as long as this was gently we let him).

Our oldest got special/quality time with one of us at bedtime (big talk, hugs and stories read to him) and if the new bub was napping (cooking cakes etc).

I indulged my oldest whenever he wanted to pretend to be a baby - he would like to sit in the bassinett, have a baby bottle and be held like a baby.  After a few minutes of these games I would tell him how happy I was that he was a big boy.

Don't worry too much, your second baby is usually much easier than your first! You will be less anxious and have so many more parenting skills.

Remember to enjoy every moment, it wonderful to see your two children grow up together.