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Family planning is an essential discussion required between two couples that are ready to start a family of their own. That aside, it is important to know that pregnancy spacing will allow a ‘breath-time’ for mother-to-be.
According to obstetricians/gynecologists, pregnancy spacing can have an impact on the mother and the child. Research indicates that a mother should wait a period of 18-24 months before getting pregnant again. This will in turn reduce risks of pregnancy or birth complications.
Here are the facts, as researched by HELLO NEWS, when it comes to pregnancy spacing:
Importance of family planning
Knowing one’s family planning methods and the period one wants to give birth is important in avoiding unplanned pregnancies.
In addition, having a child for the first time can make parents forget that they can conceive within the first day of having given birth. Therefore, after having a child, one should ask themselves whether they are ready to take care of another baby even before the ‘healing period’ ends.
It is important to consider the right and comfortable methods that will help avoid pregnancy before the appropriate or planned time.
Risks of spacing pregnancies too close
In accordance to numerous researches, conceiving a baby as early as six months from the previous pregnancy causes risk of:
- Low birth weight (Thus baby might have to end up in the nursery for monitoring)
- Premature birth (Which might have other adverse impacts on the baby)
- Maternal anemia
- Congenital disorders
- The placenta can partially or completely peel away from the inner wall of the uterus before actual delivery (Placental abruption)
- Schizophrenia
Additionally, pregnancies that are spaced within less than 12 months apart pose a risk of autism in the expected child. Autism can also occur in children born in less than 18 months apart from previous pregnancies.
Furthermore, research indicates that closely spaced births do not give the mother enough time to recover from the previous pregnancy. For instance, both pregnancy and breast-feeding deplete nutrients, especially folate, from the mother.
Becoming pregnant before managing to replace the stores for the folate can affect the health of the mother or baby.
Correct pregnancy spacing
Doctors suggests that to reduce risks associated with incorrect pregnancy spacing, it is better to wait 18-24 months before conceiving. However, one should not wait till five years. Moreover, women older than 35 years are advised to wait 12 months before getting pregnant.
But obstetricians/gynecologists suggest that couples who have had a miscarriage must not wait that long as their situation is different.
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