How long should you wait between pregnancies?

The research

A study from the U.S. National Vital Statistics System in April found that one-third of American women aren’t waiting the recommended 18 months between births, which increases their risk of complications such as low birth weight and premature labour.

The caveat

“Research suggests that the greatest risks happen when we allow for fewer than six months between birth and the next pregnancy,” says Dr. Amanda Selk, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Women’s College Hospital in Toronto. She notes that the survey did not document how many of the women with short inter-pregnancy intervals actually did experience adverse outcomes.

The takeaway

“In general, the less time between pregnancies, the higher the risks,” says Selk. “But in women over 35, the risks of a short time between pregnancies should be balanced with the risks of pregnancy at an older age, like pre-eclampsia and the risks of infertility and miscarriage that increase with age”

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Update