Watching your baby near the toddler years may have you wistfully thinking about how precious—and fleeting—your time wtih your infant has been. Are you thinking about getting pregnant again? What is the ideal time to bring another child into your family?
A 2018 Canadian study looked at nearly 150,000 births and found that the ideal gap between childbirth and getting pregnant again is 12 to 18 months. A shorter time span raises the risk of serious, even life-threatening health complications for older expectant mothers (over age 35) and for the fetuses or infants of younger expectant mothers, the study found.
With that in mind, make sure you and your partner are using effective contraception. Breastfeeding should not be considered reliable contraception. Talk with your healthcare provider about what method would be best for you and your partner.
See also ...
• Research findings on gap between childbirth and new pregnancy
This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.
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