Introduction:
Parenthood poses strong effects on the life of individuals. Some of these impacts are positive, and some are negative, which may influence the decision to get pregnant with other children after the first. The decision to get pregnant with a second baby entails a complex decision process. It requires the potential parents to assess several aspects of life, ranging from economic to individual matters. While second pregnancy is a joyful event, childbirth has radical consequences on the life of new parents whose attention must now circle around the needs of the new baby, especially during their early childhood. During the initial years of a baby's life, childcare is intense.
The parents must swap time of leisure and social activities for childcare, including waking up during the night to feed or diapering the baby. In addition, any potential mismatch between the parents' expected and actual responsibilities in different life dimensions, including love relationships, family, and work, may worsen stress. In sum, the birth of a new baby is likely to have significant effects on the subjective well-being of the individual.
How Long Should a Couple Wait Before Getting Pregnant for a Second Baby?
For most women, it is best to wait for at least 18 months after giving birth to the baby and getting pregnant again. The first baby should be at least one and a half years old before getting pregnant with the second baby. This time gives the women's body sufficient time to fully recover after their last pregnancy before it is ready for the next pregnancy.
This time between giving birth to a child and getting pregnant again is known as pregnancy spacing, birth spacing, and interpregnancy interval.
Why Is Pregnancy Spacing Important?
Getting pregnant with the second child before 18 months of the first pregnancy increases the risk for certain health issues for the second baby, including:
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Premature Birth - A baby born before 37 weeks of gestation, which is too soon, is called premature delivery. Premature babies tend to have more health issues and need to stay in the hospital longer after birth compared to babies born on time. So if there is a short time between pregnancies, then the risk of premature birth increases accordingly.
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Low Birthweight - The baby born weighing less than five pounds, eight ounces is considered low birth weight.
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Being Small for Gestational Age - The baby is smaller compared to normal according to the number of weeks pregnant.
Babies born with such health conditions are at a more heightened risk of suffering from long-term health concerns or even death.
What Are the Tips to Get the Right Amount of Time Span Between Pregnancies?
Wait at least 18 months after the first baby before getting pregnant for the second baby.
Use effective birth control until fully ready to get pregnant again. Contraception helps to keep away from getting unintentionally pregnant. Examples of contraception include intrauterine devices, contraceptive implants, pills, and condoms. Apart from abstinence (not having sexual intercourse), contraceptive implants and IUDs are the most effective methods of birth control. They are also low maintenance as they provide contraceptive effects for many years after their insertion.
However, if the woman is older than 35 or has a history of miscarriage or stillbirth, the couple should consult the specialist about how long to wait for the second pregnancy, as waiting for 18 months may not be appropriate for them. A miscarriage is when the baby passes away before 20 weeks of gestation inside the womb. A stillbirth is when a baby passes away after 20 weeks of gestation inside the womb.
How Does Getting Pregnant With a Second Baby Too Soon Increase the Chances of Premature Birth?
There is no clear evidence regarding why getting pregnant with a second baby too soon increases the risk of premature delivery and other health issues for the baby. It may be due to the body needing time to:
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Nutrient Buildup: To build up a supply of nutrients, including folic acid, in women's bodies. Nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, help the body stay strong and healthy. If the pregnancy occurs when the nutrients in the woman's body are not enough, it may cause health issues for the mother and baby both. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the baby gets nutrients from the mother's body. After having the first baby, the mother's body may not have a sufficient amount of certain nutrients, such as folic acid, which is a vitamin every cell in the body needs for growth and development. If the women take folic acid before getting pregnant for at least three months, it can help reduce the chances of the baby having birth defects related to the spine and brain, called neural tube defects. If the woman gets pregnant again too soon with low folic acid levels, the second baby is more likely to have neural tube defects, with low birth weight, and be born prematurely.
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Healing From Infection and Inflammation: During pregnancy, an infection can lead to inflammation, that is, redness and swelling in the uterus. If the woman suffers from a condition like endometritis which is inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus in a first pregnancy, and gets pregnant with the second baby before their body has fully healed, they may have this condition again in their second pregnancy. In addition, inflammation may play a part in preterm premature rupture of membranes which is the rupture of the sac of amniotic fluid around the baby before 37 weeks of pregnancy. This causes the labor to start early and subsequent preterm birth.
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Reset the Microbiome of the Vagina: It is a group of microorganisms like bacteria residing in vagina. Some experts suggest vaginal microbiome may influence premature birth. For example, bacterial vaginosis (an infection in the vagina) affects the vaginal microbiome, which can increase the chances of premature delivery. Moreover, the vaginal microbiome of women with a premature baby might be different from women who give birth after 37 weeks of pregnancy. The vaginal microbiome may take time to go back to its pregnancy status. Hence, getting pregnant too soon after the first delivery can lead to premature birth issues.
Conclusion:
Getting pregnant with a second baby too soon after the first delivery can increase the chances of premature birth, low birth weight, and small gestational age in the fetus. Babies with these conditions can be at increased risk for long-term health issues. There is also a higher risk of placental abruption and rupture before delivery. The short interval between pregnancies also exerts negative effects on the mother’s health also. Thus, most doctors suggest at least 18 months gap between two pregnancies.
