Birth spacing.  Is there a perfect interval?

Birth spacing is the interval between the delivery of a baby and the conception of the next. Dr. David Kiragu, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, discusses birth spacing.

What is the proper interval?

One cannot be rigid about the recommended birth interval because different individuals have different health status and lifestyles. But generally, two to three years is considered the ideal spacing.

When is a mother advised to space children for a longer period than the recommended?

When she is suffering from a major medical condition which could be considered a major health risk thus needing to be stabilized before conception. For instance, a major heart disorder or severe diabetes.

What of a short birth interval?

There are two instances where a mother is given a go-ahead to space the children for a short interval.

One, if she has lost a baby as a result of a still birth or miscarriage and the loss was not connected to any health issue. Usually there ore no constraints because no newborn is present whose nutritional status will be at stake, unless there are some maternal issues that could have led to the still birth, thus need for correction. Still births caused by the mother’s ill-health are however uncommon.

Two, if she is of an advanced maternal age. Advanced age brings with it the high possibility of infertility and risk to health, to both the mother and the baby. So if a mother wishes to have children when she is past 35 years she may have to space them closely to be through with it early enough.

Benefits of birth spacing

It saves parents from financial strain. Pregnancy and delivery is an expensive venture. Even after delivery, one has to think of the child’s up-bringing costs.

With birth spacing, there is time to bond with the newborn. Children who get sufficient attention from their parents develop into responsible persons. Parent-child bonding should therefore be given priority.

The mother gets enough time to breastfeed. In ideal circumstances, it would be preferable to breastfeed a child for a minimum of two years. This may not happen if the mother has another child closely following the first.

Problems of poor birth spacing

It is possible for a mother to conceive as close as twice in a year. However, this has serious effects such as: Premature births or getting a baby with very low birth weight.

Maternal health implications such as mineral deficiency and low maternal weight: A close interval compromises the mother’s health so her bones weaken and she gets frequent back aches because most of her calcium is used up. She also suffers from anaemia due to iron deficiency.

Children suffer the consequences of early weaning such as a weak immunity and diarrhoeal diseases.

Imperfect bonding: There is sibling jealousy since the mother is forced to give more attention to a newborn causing the elder child to feel left out and view the newborn as a competitor rather than a sibling.

How to ensure effective birth spacing

Breastfeed your baby exclusively for at least four to six months: In most cases, exclusive breastfeeding acts as a contraceptive to a woman by way of delaying ovulation and menstruation.

Adopting contemporary family planning methods: From the sixth week after delivery, a mother is fertile. In some cases, this happens even while she is still breastfeeding exclusively.

Fathers have a role too: Child spacing is a joint responsibility in that the fathers are in a position to ensure proper use of contraceptives at a desired time.

END:PG16/08