One pregnancy too close to another may harm maternal health, and can also lead to additional pregnancy complications and problems for babies, as well. For optimal health of mother and baby, obstetricians recommend waiting at least 18 months between pregnancies.
At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges and the team want you to understand the ins and outs of your reproductive health needs. We support new and existing patients from locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas. In this blog, Dr. Bridges informs you why 18 months is the sweet spot in terms of spacing out healthy pregnancies as your family grows, and recommends birth control options that work well for new mothers.
After giving birth, every woman’s fertility returns on its own schedule. Some women find that they can’t get pregnant again right away. In other cases, your ability to conceive could return as soon as you get home from the hospital. And, despite the common myth, it is possible to become pregnant while still breastfeeding.
However, pregnancies spaced too closely together come with health risks. Your body goes through a lot during a pregnancy and needs time to recover. Without sufficient postpartum recovery time, you may not be able to fully physically support a second pregnancy. Pregnancies spaced very closely together increase the risks of small size during gestation, low birth weight, and premature birth.
Even though your normal menstrual cycle may start again in 3-6 months, waiting for at least 18 months protects you and your family from health risks. Early delivery puts children at higher risk of health complications and can be very hard on you and your family, as well.
Dr. Bridges helps you understand when it’s safe for you to return to sexual activity after giving birth, as well as when you can start safely trying to conceive again. As your family grows, attention to family planning keeps everyone healthy and on track for long-term wellness.
You should pay close attention to preventing pregnancy as you recover from delivery. It’s possible to become pregnant again before you have your first postpartum menstrual period, so you need to think about family planning strategies sooner than you might think.
Talk to Dr. Bridges about your dreams for your family. She supports you in identifying strategies to allow you to conceive only when it’s right for you. If you’re breastfeeding, you may need to avoid estrogen-based birth control to maintain your milk supply.
Barrier methods like condoms, and progestin-based birth control like the Depo-Provera® shot or the minipill, often work well for new mothers. You can also ask Dr. Bridges about whether a hormonal or nonhormonal intrauterine device (IUD) may be right for you.
Natural family planning based on tracking your cycle can also reduce your chance of becoming pregnant again right away, although this method of birth control has variable effectiveness and may not work well for all.
When you have a new baby, it’s important to take care of your health and to wait for at least 18 months before becoming pregnant again. With the right support, Dr. Bridges and the Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin team care for mothers’ health and wellness and do everything possible to ensure safe, healthy pregnancies with positive outcomes.
If you’re recently postpartum and wondering what you should do to address your returning fertility, contact Dr. Bridges today. Schedule your initial consultation appointment at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin online or over the phone today.
