A new study has claimed that mums who have babies less than 18 months after a previous birth are putting themselves and their child at risk.
Experts from the American Centres for Disease Control and Prevention claim that having children in closer succession can result in ‘serious medical complications’.
Researchers looked at 2001 birth certificates from 36 states in the US, and the District of Columbia, comparing the statistics of birth frequencies with those from 2006 to 2010. They found that a staggering 30% of mothers became pregnant within 18 months of their previous pregnancy.
For the baby, a short interval between pregnancies can lead to pregnancy complications such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and small gestational age.
In the expectant mother’s case, getting pregnant less than 18 months after giving birth can open her up to risks, particularly if she has had a Caesarean and wants to have a vaginal birth.
Researcher Douglas Richards said: “Another group of women that we really strongly emphasise waiting is women who’ve had a Caesarean and hope to have a vaginal birth with the next pregnancy. 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."
The study also emphasised the importance of physical and emotional healing after welcoming a child, before planning the next.
