CHILD SPACING

Spacing the birth of children within a family takes thoughtful consideration. It includes deciding how many children you want, the kind of family life you want to live, the type of birth control method you wish to use, and the goals you and your partner share. Having a child is a difficult decision that affects you, your partner, and the rest of your family.

Key questions to ask yourself might be:

Are you ready for the responsibility of raising one, two, three, or more children?
How do you see yourself dealing with the conflicts and pleasures that each child brings to family life?
Can you physically and financially manage to care for your children in a loving, comfortable home environment?

Having a child within one year of the birth of another child puts a physical strain on the mother. There are more miscarriages, premature births, and low birth weight babies when the birth of children is spaced so close. The mother's health is affected during this time. Her vitamin and iron reserves are low, and take time to restore to a more normal level. One study showed the optimal interval for preventing complications was 18 to 23 months.

Even though most women take vitamins during their pregnancies, they generally cannot keep up with the demands of the second pregnancy. Breastfeeding a closely spaced second child may also be less successful. The demands young babies place on parenting time are great. The attention that young babies need, especially when there is more than one in a family, does not follow a time schedule. Your partner, or job, may demand your time as well.

Once your toddler has been able to separate from you for short periods of time and is toilet trained, you may welcome the challenge of a new baby. If you are thinking about having another child, talk it over with your partner and healthcare provider.

Remember, there are no perfect answers to personal questions. It is always good to gain additional insight that is given by your loved ones and friends. A simple fact remains; any child that is planned and wanted should do well.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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