It is recommended that you wait at least 18 months in between each pregnancy.  This means after you give birth, wait one and a half years to get pregnant again. This gives your body time to heal from a previous pregnancy before having another. It also gives you and your family time to bond with your new baby. This bonding time is so important for a baby’s growth and development, and helps start a great relationship with your child!

What’s the big deal about waiting 1.5 years between pregnancies? Well, it helps prevent future preterm births. Preterm births (when your baby is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) are a huge cause of babies dying before their first birthdays. We want to do everything we can do prevent a baby being born too early. The closer your pregnancies are together, the more at risk you are for a preterm birth.

Spacing out pregnancies also helps prevent low birthweight babies. Babies that are born too small are at risk for all types of health problems.

Waiting 18 months to become pregnant again is a very effective way to have healthier babies in the future. Talk to your doctor and your family about making a plan to wait to get pregnant after giving birth. One way this can be done is by using a form of birth control in between pregnancies. You can learn more about types of birth control here.