Study suggests new mothers should wait a year before becoming pregnant again



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New mothers who become pregnant and have a high birth rate.

Researchers who looked at nearly 150,000 births in Canada said that they waited 12 to 18 months to conceive after having a baby reduced the risk of short- and long-term damage to both the mother and child's health.

The study, by the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, found to be relatively high-risk mothers aged over 35, while risks to the infant were found for all women-particularly for those aged 20 to 34.

Laura Schummers, a postdoctoral fellow at the UBC, said: "Our study is particularly important for women and children.

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

The study is described by the authors as "the most extensive evaluation of the role of pregnancy.

It is also the first investigation of pregnancy spacing and maternal mortality or severe morbidity – a rare but life-threatening complication of pregnancy, labor and delivery – in a high-income country, the authors said.

Among women over 35 who conceived six months after birth, the researchers found a risk of maternal mortality or severe morbidity. Waiting 18 months between pregnancies, however, reduced the risk to 0.5%, the authors said.

For younger women, the researchers found a pregnancy rate of six months before pregnancy.

For younger women who waited 18 months between pregnancies, however, the risk dropped to 3.7%.

Senior author Dr. Wendy Norman, UBC Associate Professor, said: "Achieving that optimal one-year interval should be doable for many women, and is clearly worthwhile to reduce complication risks."

Mandy Forrester, Head of Quality and Standards at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "This is a 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 fact that they are making their choice with the right information. Health professionals will always support a woman in her choice, which is going to be right for them and their pregnancy. "

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