Are you ready to have another baby?
According to the Utah Department of Health, experts recommend waiting at least 18 to 24 months before becoming pregnant again.
That’s because your body needs to renew itself so it can provide the proper nourishment for another pregnancy.
According to poweryourlife.org, a campaign launched by UDOH to help women of child-bearing age be at their optimal health, a woman is 40 percent more likely to deliver prematurely if becoming pregnant again six months after giving birth. She is also 61 percent more likely to have a low birth-weight baby during that same time frame.
After giving birth, said Ogden obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Margit Lister, women need to eat well, exercise, lose their pregnancy weight and try to get some sleep.
“Continue to take your prenatal vitamin for as long as you breast-feed, and if you were anemic with pregnancy, until your blood level gets back to normal,” she said. “Watch for danger signs in the postpartum period. Fever higher than 101, heavy vaginal bleeding and signs of postpartum depression.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of postpartum depression include intense irritability and anger, extreme fatigue, lack of joy in life, loss of appetite, difficulty bonding with the baby, and thoughts of harming self or baby.
Healthy moms/babies
Dr. Larry O. Smithing, an Ogden OB/GYN, said the period between babies is part of the reproductive journey, and women should take ownership of their health and know their body.
“Healthy mothers produce healthy babies,” Smithing said. “Studies have shown that having a healthy baby has positive lifelong effects for the child and throughout their lifetime.”
Before becoming pregnant the first time or subsequent times, Smithing said, women should be living a healthy lifestyle free of tobacco, alcohol and recreational drugs.
“An unhealthy lifestyle can result in low birth-weight babies, infant death, learning disabilities or a lower IQ,” he said. “Any chronic disease that the mother might have, such as diabetes, hypertension, anemia or hypothyroidism, should be checked and controlled prior to pregnancy.”
Take the quiz
Poweryourlife.org suggests asking yourself several questions before becoming pregnant again.
• Can we afford another child right now?
• Do we have the space for another child right now?
• Am I emotionally prepared to have another baby at this time?
• Can I give a new baby the attention it deserves?
• Has my doctor confirmed that I am physically ready to have another baby?
• How will my other children handle the arrival of a new sibling?
• Will getting pregnant take energy away from being a great mom now?
In the interim, it’s important to take adequate birth-control measures, since women can still become pregnant while breast-feeding, even though they are not menstruating.
Taking a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid will ensure you are getting all of the nutrients you need before becoming pregnant again.
And most important? Lister said to take time out for yourself.
“Women tend to put themselves last and put the children, husband, laundry, meals, housework and work all before they take time for themselves,” she said. “Go for a walk, run, yoga class, read a book, whatever moves you, at least three times a week.
“If you are feeling like things are out of control and you can barely keep up, then getting some control prior to starting another pregnancy will make it easier and more enjoyable.”
