Study reveals how long women should wait between pregnancies

There was an 8.5% increase in pre-term labour found.

A study has discovered the safest interval between pregnancies. Published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, the study confirmed the most medically safe time women should wait between their pregnancies. Obviously, a lot of other factors come into this decision, including financial stability and fertility, but doctors believe women should wait between one year and 18 months before conceiving after pregnancy. The researchers explained that pregnancies that happen after this time period tend to come with fewer risks compared to women who get pregnant less than a year after their previous pregnancy. Babies were at a higher risk in these pregnancies. There was an 8.5% increase in pre-term labour found. The researchers also found that the risk for pre-term labour was higher for women who only had six months between pregnancies. However, only women over 35 posed a greater risk if they didn't wait between 12 and 18 months. They shared, "Although short intervals were associated with elevated risks of spontaneous preterm delivery and adverse fetal and infant outcomes for women of all ages, these risks were highest among younger women." The study authors shared, "Our study found increased risks to both mother and infant when pregnancies are closely spaced, including for women older than 35. The findings for older women are particularly important, as older women tend to more closely space their pregnancies and often do so intentionally." They added that short pregnancy spacing might reflect unplanned pregnancies among younger women. They believe healthcare officials should improve access to "postpartum contraception, or abstain from unprotected sexual intercourse with a male partner following a birth". The team stressed, "Achieving that optimal one-year interval should be doable for many women, and is clearly worthwhile to reduce complication risks." The authors acknowledge that some women's "decisions regarding the optimal timing and spacing of pregnancy are multifactorial".