How long in between pregnancies

There’s no ‘right time’ to have a baby, whether it’s your first, second, or even your third, and there are a lot of things to consider when you’re thinking of bringing a little one into your family. You might be considering how having another baby will impact your routine, your family dynamic, your relationship with your partner, and your job, but we want to talk a little bit more about how having another baby can affect you and your body, mama. We’re sharing the recommended wait times between pregnancies, according to research.

It’s important to remember that the wait times and research below does not apply to women who are trying to conceive after a miscarriage. If you're healthy and feel ready, there's no need to wait to try to conceive again after having a miscarriage. Find more resources here.

What is the recommended wait time between pregnancies? 

There’s some conflicting advice on how long you should wait between pregnancies. The World Health Organization recommends waiting 24 months between pregnancies, with a minimum wait time of 18 months, whilst a 2018 study suggested that 12-18 months was the ideal length of time between giving birth and becoming pregnant again. 

New research from Curtin University suggests that waiting 24 months may be unnecessary for mothers in high-income countries such as Australia, Finland, Norway, and the United States. Lead researcher Dr. Gizachew Tessema said that “the risk of adverse birth outcomes after an interpregnancy interval of less than six months was no greater than for those born after an 18-23 month interval.” 

Ultimately, it’s important to talk to your health care provider if you are planning another pregnancy to find out recommended wait times in your country and discuss any individual worries or concerns you might have about falling pregnant. 

What are the potential risks of falling pregnant “too soon” after childbirth?

Currently, studies suggest waiting at least 18 months but no more than 5 years after a live birth before attempting your next pregnancy to reduce the risk of:

• Premature birth

• Placental abruption

• Low birth weight

• Congenital disorders

• Schizophrenia

• Maternal anemia

One study found that women over 35 who conceived just 6 months after a previous birth had a 1.2% risk of maternal mortality or harm, waiting 18 months between pregnancies reduced the risk to 0.5%. The same study showed that younger women who fell pregnant 6 months after a previous birth had an 8.5% chance of premature labor; this reduced to 3.7% if they fell pregnant after waiting 18 months between pregnancies. 

Are there any risks associated with waiting for longer between pregnancies? 

Although there is less research available on long wait times between pregnancies, some research does suggest that longer intervals (over 5 years) between pregnancies can increase the risk of some conditions such as preeclampsia, although it is not clear why. 

Do previous pregnancy and birth experiences affect the recommended wait times between pregnancies?

The short answer is yes, they do. Pregnancy and childbirth are extremely tough on your body and you’ve achieved incredible things by doing it, mama! You need to give your body and mind enough time to recover, particularly if you experienced any complications during any previous pregnancies. We recommend talking to your health care provider about getting pregnant again so you can discuss any concerns you or they might have. 

It’s also important to think about your mental health before trying to get pregnant again. In the UK, the NHS recommends talking to your doctor before you try to conceive if you have previously experienced any mental health conditions such as postnatal depression, postpartum psychosis, or PTSD. 

You might also be interested in Are You Ready For Baby? 9 Things To Discuss With Your Partner Before You Conceive. 

Want to know more about second pregnancies? Let us know in the comments below!

Pregnancy gap should be at least a year - researchers

Image source, Getty Images

Mothers should wait at least a year between giving birth and getting pregnant again to reduce health risks to mother and baby, a new study says.

But researchers say they need not wait as long as the 18 months recommended in the current World Health Organization guidelines.

Small gaps between pregnancies risk premature births, smaller babies and infant and mother mortality.

The researchers hope the findings will be "reassuring" for older women.

Senior study author Dr Wendy Norman said it was "encouraging news" for women over 35 who were planning their families.

"Older mothers for the first time have excellent evidence to guide the spacing of their children," she said.

"Achieving that optimal one-year interval should be doable for many women and is clearly worthwhile to reduce complication risks."

The study, of nearly 150,000 births in Canada, by University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

The study found 12-to-18 months was the ideal length of time between giving birth and becoming pregnant again.

Current World Health Organization guidelines recommend an ideal interval of 24 months and no fewer than 18 months.

The researchers also found:

• Getting pregnant less than 12 months after giving birth was associated with risks for women for all ages
• There were risks to the mother only for women over the age of 35, while risks to the infant were found for all women, but were greatest for those aged between 20 and 34
• Women over 35 who conceived six months after a previous birth had a 1.2% risk of maternal mortality or harm (12 cases per 1,000 pregnancies)
• Waiting 18 months between pregnancies reduced the risk to 0.5% (five cases per 1,000)
• Younger women who got pregnant six months after a previous birth had an 8.5% risk (85 cases per 1,000) of premature labour
• This dropped to 3.7% (37 per 1,000) if they waited 18 months between pregnancies

The study's lead author, Laura Schummers, said: "Our study found increased risks to both mother and infant when pregnancies are closely spaced, including for women older than 35.

"The findings for older women are particularly important, as older women tend to more closely space their pregnancies and often do so intentionally."

Image source, Getty Images

The study looked at only one population of women - in Canada - so it is unclear how applicable this would be worldwide.

Researcher Dr. Sonia Hernandez-Diaz said the findings suggested different risks for each age group.

"Short pregnancy spacing might reflect unplanned pregnancies, particularly among young women.

"Whether the elevated risks are due to our bodies not having time to recover if we conceive soon after delivering or to factors associated with unplanned pregnancies, like inadequate prenatal care, the recommendation might be the same: improve access to postpartum contraception, or abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse with a male partner following a birth."

Mandy Forrester, from the Royal College of Midwives, said the study was "useful research and builds on previous research into birth spacing".

"Ultimately, it will be a woman's choice, whatever age they are, about how long they leave between their pregnancies. What is important is that they are aware of the evidence around birth spacing and that they make their choice armed with the right information.

"Health professionals will always support a woman in her choice, which will be about what is right for them and their pregnancy.

She said women needed access to contraceptive advice to allow them to space their births, if that was their choice, but said in specialist family planning service provision in the UK was "patchy, with GPs frequently offering only oral contraception".

"Specialist services should be available for all women."