How long between two pregnancies? Is there an ideal age gap between two children? Apart from these important considerations, the medical side is also involved in determining the best interval. Neither too early nor too late, to live a serene pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. This is what emerges from the conclusions of recent studies on the subject. Explanations.
The desire for a new pregnancy
Do you feel ready to carry and welcome a new child? Do you dream of rediscovering the sensations of pregnancy and mothering a newborn? Beyond your desires, it is important to listen to your body and your intuition. If a strong majority of parents decide to leave an interval of 2 to 3 years between the arrival of the first and second child, the second child and the third child, be aware that it is possible to get pregnant a little before or later, depending on your age and fertility.
Pregnancies too close together: possible risks
Pregnancies that are too close together seem to increase the risk of prematurity, low birth weight and stunted growth. When the interval between two pregnancies is less than six months, the rate of prematurity is reported to be as high as 40%, rising to 14% between six and twelve months. This phenomenon would be explained by the fact that the mothers would not have had enough time to replenish their reserves. According to the researchers, the good gap to become pregnant again, not to make premature births increase, would be between twelve and eighteen months. Other studies indicate that an interval of twenty-seven to thirty-two months between childbirth and the beginning of the next pregnancy would reduce the risks of hemorrhage in the third trimester (placenta previa and premature detachment of the placenta), but also of uterine infection or anemia in the mother compared to a shorter gap.
Contraindications to too close a pregnancy
- If you've given birth to a large baby or have had forceps, you'll have to wait until your perineal muscles, which are under great strain, regain their tone, or your little urinary problems have disappeared.
- Similarly, anemia, which is common after childbirth, can persist for several months. Pregnancy too soon can make you tired and affect your baby's health.
- If you had a caesarean section, the scar should heal. Doctors usually advise waiting at least a year before doing the baby brother or sister.
- Also, if your pregnancy has become complicated by pre-eclampsia or diabetes, it's best to make sure that your blood work has returned to normal. Don't worry, usually everything goes back to normal within a year.
2nd pregnancy: don't wait too long either
Conversely, one should not wait too long! Beyond the age of six, the risk of miscarriage and death at birth would increase. Expectant mothers would also be at greater risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia (preceding the eclampsia attack) or gestational diabetes. These problems would result from a loss of the protection gained after the previous birth. Women who become pregnant after a prolonged interval would then find themselves with the same risk of complications as in a first pregnancy. In short, one should not wait too long.
Close Pregnancy: The Right Timing for a Second Baby
These statistical data evoke very concrete figures that must of course be put into perspective. In reality, it is up to the future parents to decide. Many moms wait until they're back in shape before considering a new baby. The occurrence of a pregnancy then depends on Mother Nature! The body is ready to function quickly: the uterus regains its size in a few weeks and in mothers who do not breastfeed and who do not take any contraception, ovulation can occur one month after birth.
