If you’re anything like me, the newborn phase can feel like a fog of feeding and sleeplessness and diaper changes. But all of a sudden, you blink and you have a growing baby or even a toddler. The days are long, but the months and years absolutely fly by! 

As time passes, you might start thinking about adding another new member to your family. But how do you know if it’s the right time? 

There are many opinions out there about the “right age gap” between siblings growing up. Should you have all your babies quickly and then be done with your pregnancy years? Should you space them out so that you have time between each newborn phase? What intervals will give your kids a great opportunity to play together, share life stages, and become friends while also keeping you sane? 

I can’t answer all of those questions for you, unfortunately. There are many factors that go into the right timing in growing a family, and lots of them are totally individual to your family preference and situation. However, when it comes to the impact of multiple pregnancies on your body, there is an optimal window of time to conceive again. But before we get into the details of spacing between pregnancies, let’s define some terms. 

Interpregnancy interval, or IPI, is the time between one live birth to the next pregnancy. Interdelivery interval, or IDI, is the time from end of one delivery to the next delivery. I’ll talk about both of these things in today’s post! Let’s get into the research. 

How long should I wait between pregnancies?

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) emphasizes the importance of interpregnancy care. This means women should receive continued medical care after early postpartum “to optimize health before a subsequent pregnancy.” Pregnancy causes a huge amount of bodily changes, and healing time is essential in having healthy pregnancies in the future. Initial postpartum recovery may only last for the first few weeks or months, but your body is doing so much you cannot see to prepare you for future pregnancies. 

Every woman is different, and every pregnancy is too, so interpregnancy care can help your provider speak to your specific situation. If you’ve faced pregnancy outcomes like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, hypertension, or postpartum depression, your provider can help you ensure those conditions are cared for properly before you get pregnant again. 

However, as a general rule, ACOG recommends avoiding interpregnancy intervals of less than 6 months, and women should be counseled on risks with interpregnancy intervals of less than 18 months. The “gold standard” for IPI is 18-23 months, because it offers the lowest risk potential for adverse outcomes during subsequent pregnancies. 

What about really long interpregnancy intervals?

A really short space between pregnancies can cause problems — but waiting too long can raise your risks, too. Waiting more than 60 months (5 years) before getting pregnant again comes with a higher risk of adverse effects on both  maternal and fetal health. 

Of course, there’s no perfect formula that can guarantee the outcome and health of a pregnancy. However, timing your IPI correctly has the potential to help you and your baby thrive! The good news: there’s a pretty large window. Maybe you want to wait 18 months before trying to get pregnant again, or maybe you want to wait 36 months (3 years). Both of these options are fine! 

18-23 months is the “optimal window,” but exceeding it by a year or so doesn’t mean you’ll inherently be stuck with an adverse outcome. Take a deep breath, talk to your provider, and do what’s best for your body and your family!

What about between cesarean deliveries?

Cesarean deliveries and subsequent pregnancy timing has not been researched as much as vaginal deliveries, but most studies recommend an IPI of at least 6 months and an IDI of around 18  months to reduce the risk of uterine rupture, placenta previa and placental abruption. Your scar becomes stronger with time, so the more time between deliveries can help to reduce uterine rupture risk. 

Remember: you know your body! So If you had a c-section, consider the many factors at play. Your pelvic floor is still greatly impacted by pregnancy, even without vaginal delivery. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to heal after the significant changes pregnancy brings and the significant bodily trauma of major surgery! 

When timing future pregnancies after a c-section, ask yourself: How recovered do I feel? Is my scar care routine alleviating adhesions and pain? Did I have any complications from my cesarean? This is also a huge reason for the kind interpregnancy care mentioned above. Your provider, who walked with you through your previous pregnancy and delivery, can help you make the most informed and empowered choice for your body. 

What about trying for a VBAC?

We’ve been talking a lot about interpregnancy intervals, but when it comes to attempting vaginal birth after a c-section (VBAC), interdelivery intervals enter the chat. Research from ACOG indicates an increased risk of uterine rupture with IDIs of less than 18 months. However, some kinds of cesarean scars have higher risk of rupture — so this is an important conversation to have with your provider. 

How to best prepare your body for another pregnancy 

No matter what factors influenced your last pregnancy, and no matter what your hopes for future pregnancies may be, there are some foundational recovery steps that will help to set you up for success. 

First, rehab your core and pelvic floor after childbirth! Your body is an incredible healer, but I cannot emphasize enough that it needs your help. Even in your first six weeks postpartum, there are small healing movements you can perform that will aid your recovery so much. I just went through this after giving birth to my son, and I can completely vouch for the fact that it makes a huge difference in recovery! 

As you work on core and pelvic floor recovery, please see a pelvic floor physical therapist if you’re able. Their expertise will go a long way in helping you rehab your body and its specific needs. Like I said, every pregnancy and delivery is different! Getting individualized help can make all the difference. 

After your initial recovery, it’s time to strength train! Focus on building muscle between pregnancies, because as you know, being pregnant is a workout all on its own, and delivery definitely requires strength. 

Not sure how to recover well from your last pregnancy and prep well for the next one? I’m here to help. 

Recover and prepare well 

As a pelvic floor physical therapist and a mom of two, I know how essential it is to set yourself up for a healthy and strong season of motherhood, no matter what the future may hold with future pregnancies. That’s why I created the Movement Through Early Postpartum program! 

Inside, you’ll find a 12 week movement plan (actually, two! – one for vaginal deliveries and one for cesarean sections) that will help you heal, restore your pelvic floor and core, and then strengthen your body when you’re ready. 

I’ve also recorded more than 40 educational videos for this program to help you understand what’s going on in your postpartum body so that you can care for it well. You’ll even get PDF “cheat sheets” with a summary of each module so you can get the info you need right when you need it. 

Movement Through Early Postpartum was designed to help you: 

• Recover effectively
• Reduce pain
• Restore your pelvic floor
• Reclaim your body 

I know that every mama out there would love to check all four of those boxes. With this program, you can!

Join the Movement Through Early Postpartum program to begin your recovery today and prepare well for your next pregnancy when it comes along! I’m rooting for you!