Table of contents:
- Too early, children are at risk of premature birth and autism
- Too far, the mother is at risk for preeclampsia
- The socioeconomic aspects of the family must also be considered
Whether you want to get pregnant with your second child, or if you want to wait a long time before enjoying another baby, there are pros and cons to you, no matter how close - or far - your kids are.
Planning to conceive a second child is a personal choice, and sometimes it's not entirely within your control. What's more, women whose families are in their thirties may not have the opportunity to wait too long to get pregnant again as their chances of success diminish with age.
Even so, reported by the Daily Mail, a new study from the CDC in 2011 shows that timing is everything. The study found that the gap between the birth of one child and another, also known as the 'interpregnancy interval' (IPI) can significantly affect the health conditions of both mother and baby.
Too early, children are at risk of premature birth and autism
The study found that a short interval between pregnancies (less than 18 months; especially within one year) affects the risk of birth complications in the fetus, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and small gestational age - and also increases the risk of having a child with a defect. birth or behavior problems in their infancy.
In the results of this study, the second child of a mother-to-be who gave birth within one year was usually born before 39 weeks. Furthermore, one in five (20.5%) women who give birth twice a year will have their second child before 37 weeks of gestation - a time when the chance of medical complications is much more likely. This figure is almost three times higher than those who waited a year and a half or more before having another baby, with the incidence of giving birth before 37 weeks was only 7.7%.
Not only that. Quoting from the New Health Guide, at least one study shows that the chance of autism is three times higher if a second child is conceived within one year after the first child is born.
Too far, the mother is at risk for preeclampsia
Some experts believe that short-term pregnancies don't give the mother enough time to recover from the physical stress of one pregnancy, before being ready for the next. Pregnancy and breastfeeding can deplete your stock of essential nutrients, such as iron and folic acid. If you get pregnant again before replenishing these nutritional stocks, your body will work hard to produce red blood cells so that the fetus in the womb can get enough folate intake. However, at the same time, the mother's body is still in a state of anemia after giving birth to her first child.
Inflammation of the genital tract that develops during pregnancy and does not completely heal before the next pregnancy can also play a role in opportunities for maternal health.
Citing WebMD, the pregnancy of a second child within 12 months after the first birth is associated with an increased risk of:
- The placenta partially or completely peels off the inner wall of the uterus before delivery (placental abruption).
- The placenta is attached to the lower part of the uterine wall, partially or completely covering the cervix (placenta previa), in women who have had their first birth by cesarean section.
- Torn uterus, in women who had a normal delivery less than 18 months after the first cesarean section of the child.
Not only physical stress, pregnancy at close range can also affect your mental state.
Baby blues syndrome, aka postpartum depression, affects 1 in 5 women. If they are pregnant with their second child too early and have not resolved the signs and symptoms of depression, there is a high chance that the postpartum depression will continue, and possibly get worse, because they haven't had enough time to undertake depression recovery therapy.
Another study found that short spacing between two births carries a higher risk of maternal mortality and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy including bleeding and anemia. Developing countries tend to be the most affected, as they have a higher risk of blood loss and malnutrition.
On the other hand, women who wait up to five years - or more - to have another child may also face increased health risks, including:
- High blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of gestation (preeclampsia)
- Premature pregnancy
- Low birth weight
- Small gestational age
It is unclear why long pregnancy intervals are associated with health problems for both mother and baby. Some experts believe that pregnancy increases the capacity of the uterus to increase fetal growth and support, but over time these beneficial physiological changes will disappear. There may also be other factors that are not measured, such as maternal illness.
The socioeconomic aspects of the family must also be considered
From a lifestyle perspective, a smaller age gap between children means that the hard work of raising children can end more quickly. In terms of sibling relationships, the relationship between your two children will also be stronger if their ages are not too far apart.
The idea of growing a small family into an even bigger one also has a profound impact on your life - from work, to financial planning for your life with your spouse and firstborn. Caring for two babies at the same time certainly requires a lot of money. The good news is that there are many children's activities, such as dancing lessons, camping and outbound, and some schools even offer discounts for siblings.
But, be prepared to face double the tantrums from your children. Not to mention the quarrels between children (and parents!) That may occur because the interests of children and households will often overlap.
An age range of 2-4 years between siblings would probably be more ideal. Brothers and sisters are still close enough to enjoy playing together. Your eldest child is also more receptive to the arrival of a new baby and will easily perceive himself as a "big brother", rather than an "enemy", to accompany, nurture, and teach his little brother everything he has learned first.
Seeing that, with the various pros and cons of second child pregnancy, both from a medical and social point of view, experts and WHO now agree to recommend that mothers wait at least 18-24 months after the first birth to become pregnant with a second child.
