We had an easier time with number 2 - he was born around 20 months after our first son and, obviously, with my wife suffering the first time round, we were anxious too. I won't lie and say everything was plain sailing - some symptoms did return, but the important thing is that we expected them to and they were suitably managed.
My wife took low doses of medication throughout the pregnancy, moderate doses towards the end and higher doses immediately after birth, slowly decreasing afterwards. The result was, instead of several month's worth of mania and paranoia, a couple of short outbreaks, which worried me at the time. But in truth, it was much more manageable and everything worked out OK.
And I'd say number 2 was probably worth the trouble.
