New research shows that it is important to plan how much time you will take between pregnancies. Careful planning can prevent pregnancy complications and birth defects, according to experts.
The study's lead author says the findings indicate that women should wait at least 12 months before they start trying to have another baby. This is especially important for women who had a preterm birth the first time around.
An unrelated, 2006 study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" found similar results in regards to taking enough time between pregnancies. But even more interesting, the study found that women who took too much time between pregnancies can experience complications as well. According to the study's findings, mothers who took longer than 59 months between birth and conception of the next child had a 20 to 43 percent increased risk of health problems, like small birth weight. Experts say they are not sure why this is the case, but think it could simply be the due to the way the aging process normally affects pregnancy.
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