Healthy Pregnancy

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Getting Pregnant Again

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Having another baby might be the last thing on your mind right now. But getting pregnant too soon after giving birth can be risky. One recent large study found that becoming pregnant less than six months after giving birth increased the risk of preterm birth by 41 percent. And becoming pregnant 6 to 12 months after giving birth increased the risk of preterm birth by 14 percent. The study also found that getting pregnant between 12 and 18 months after giving birth posed no significant increase risk of preterm birth. A separate study had similar results, and also found that babies born to mothers who waited more than 59 months to become pregnant again had a 20 percent to 43 percent increased risk of health problems.

The take-home message is that planning your next pregnancy if you want more children — or preventing a pregnancy if you don't — is important. Spacing pregnancies at least 12 months apart will give your body time to fully recover. In the meantime, using reliable birth control is the best way to prevent pregnancy until you decide if and when to have another baby. Talk to your doctor about your birth control options. Keep in mind that breastfeeding alone isn't a foolproof way to prevent pregnancy, and some birth control methods should not be used by breastfeeding mothers.

Additional Resources

Publications

1.   Frequently Asked Questions - Birth Control Methods — This fact sheet explains the different types of birth control (contraceptives) that are available for women and answers common questions that can help a woman decide which form is best for her. It discusses the safety and effectiveness of each method, and whether or not it protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/birthcont.htm

2. Birth Control: How Hormones Work to Prevent Pregnancy (Copyright © ARHP) — This interactive Internet site provides information on how the various types of birth control methods work to regulate hormones and prevent a woman from becoming pregnant.

   http://www.arhp.org/hormonalcontraception/#ring2

3. What is withdrawal? (Copyright © American Pregnancy Association) — This fact sheet has information on the birth control method called withdrawal. It explains what it is and how effective it is as a natural method of family planning.

   http://www.americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/withdrawal.html

Organizations

1.   Food and Drug Administration, HHS
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Resource Center
3. Familydoctor.org
4. March of Dimes Foundation
5. Planned Parenthood Federation of America

= Indicates Federal Resources

Content last updated March 5, 2009.