A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that one-third of American women don’t allow enough space between children, falling pregnant again less than 18 months after their baby’s birth.
“That is actually pretty high and very problematic,” Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, a reproductive health researcher told the AP.
According to the report, a short timespan between pregnancies will impact the mother's health, mentally and physically.
And women should ideally wait around 18 months before falling pregnant again.
The University of Florida said: “Pregnancies that occur before a woman has time to regain her health status, replenish her maternal stores (particularly of folate and red blood cells), restore her hormonal balance, or to establish strong bonds with her previous newborn create physical and mental stress that can lead to serious medical complications for both her and her next newborn.”
A short interval between pregnancies may also "affect the risk of pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and small gestational age," the report said.
Douglas Richards, who is a doctor specialising in maternal and foetal medicine, also added that women who have undergone a C-section need to, in particular, give their bodies time to heal between pregnancies.
“Another group of women that we really strongly emphasise waiting is women who’ve had a cesarean and hope to have a vaginal birth with the next pregnancy,” he said.
“There is more chance for the scar in the uterus to get strong, so there’s a lower risk of rupture in the uterus if they try a vaginal birth.”
Using the time to heal physically, and emotionally, is also very important for baby, as it gives them some much-needed one-on-one time with mum.
“If she’s having a difficult time coping with new babies, it takes some time for her to get used to that and get the children to an age where she feels psychologically and emotionally, and as far as the family dynamic is concerned, she is ready to bring another child into the family,” Richards said.
Do you agree with the experts - should women wait at least 18 months between pregnancies? Or do you believe that only you can know when your body is ready for another child?
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