According to doctors here, couples should take a 'baby holiday' of at least two years following a birth. This will allow the mother time to recover and lower the risk of a problematic second birth.
'Mothers and babies are both healthier if there are at least two years between the birth of the babies. This is known as optimal birth spacing,' says Kang Wee, senior consultant at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
Recent medical research has shown that women who get pregnant just months after giving birth increase their risk of premature labour by an alarming 40 per cent. What's even more frightening, however, is the danger of having 'small babies' and all the risks associated with underweight births.
'Having children at close intervals poses many real problems. Babies that are conceived less than six months following a birth, for example, have a 61 per cent chance of being born underweight,' says Choo Wan Ling, a consultant gynaecologist at Pacific Healthcare Specialist Clinic. This translates to almost two out of every three back-to-back cases.
The problem, however, does not stop at a premature birth.
'Prematurely born babies may develop lung problems and have breathing difficulties. Sometimes, such problems resolve themselves after a period of time, but there are those whose lungs do not fully clear up. Also, in some instances, the babies' mental development could be affected,' warns Dr Choo, who adds that about 5 per cent of all births in Singapore are premature.
The reasons for this association between a short interval between pregnancies and adverse perinatal outcomes are still unclear, but one explanation may be that a close succession of pregnancies takes a heavy toll on the mother's body.
'Pregnancy makes heavy demands on the body. The mother must have enough time to recover from the physiological stresses of the previous pregnancy before getting pregnant again. It takes about two years or more for a mother to replenish her body's nutrients, to prepare for the next birth,' advises Dr Choo.
Too short a birth interval could result in anaemia for the mum, as it takes time for a woman to build up her store of iron. Socially, mothers should be given enough 'breathing space' between pregnancies to bond with their newborn. 'Ultimately, it is about quality of life. Afterall, you should enjoy your baby and not rush these things,' says Dr Choo, who herself is mother to two children spaced six years apart.
So what should a woman do to ensure adequate birth spacing and lower her chances of 'birth accidents' or unplanned pregnancies?
'The condom, pill and Intrauterine System (IUS) are all safe, reliable and reversible birth spacing methods,' advises Dr Kang.
But be warned - not all methods are equal in terms of effectiveness. 'Personally, I would opt for the IUS, since this gives the lowest failure rate. For mothers who have hectic work-and-family schedules, complying with the pill may prove difficult. As for the condom, we all know that does not always work!' says Dr Choo.
There are many types and brands of IUS in the market, including the Bayer Schering's Mirena IUS that cost about $600.
'In effect, it is as good as sterilisation, but using the IUS has a bonus - it gives good side benefits. Apart from being reversible - it takes only a month for fertility to return after removal - the IUS user also experiences much lighter periods, for example, which is a real blessing for busy women,' says Dr Choo.
This article was first published in The Business Times on Jun 28, 2008.
