How long in between babies?

sopranoali

I think this was discussed once before but couldn't find it. What is medically recommended as enough recovery time between babies, and what do STMs+ recommend? My SIL says it was hard to have two kids in diapers at once, but that's really the only advice I've got.

mcfife09

Mine will be exactly 2 yrs apart. My due date with this little girl is 3/28, and my due date with DS was 4/1. I don't know about recommendations, but I know a lot of people who have 2u2 have had healthy pregnancies meaning much less than a 2 year gap between pregnancies. Think it depends on what is best for your family and much less about recommendations. I will agree with your sister in-law 2 in diapers will be hard, but I just keep telling myself it's only temporary. 

dannie2011

Two in diapers is not hard, costs more at once but not hard. 

My first 4 kinds are all about 2yrs apart give or take a month. Then I have the youngest of the 4 who was 14 when Alexis was born and now will have 3 yrs between Alexis and this little guy.

I think the recommendation is more for c-sections even more if you want to try for a vaginal birth the next time. I don't ever remember one other then that.

NorBar39

I may be wrong but I think there is a higher risk of hemorrhage if you have kids back to back super quickly. My mil had 4 kids in 3 years (twins) and had hemorrhage issues between all of them

lvlichelle

I am not sure.. a lady at my church had 4 under 4yrs old. Then again she has 13 total.

hisbeautyalways

About 2 years is the official recommendation I believe. There are various risks (you can find them if you google) to having kids much closer together, but obviously they aren't super common risks because people have 2 under 2 all the time and everything goes perfectly.

My son is turning 2 next week, so it'll be just over 2 years age difference between mine.

TradeMama

For a CS, the recommendation is 12 mos. For a vbac it's 18 mos. or more. Not sure if there is a recommendation for an uncomplicated vaginal birth. I didn't follow recommendations and got pregnant 8 weeks after a CS, and was told that makes me higher risk for rupture.

carrieandtim

I read an interesting article when DH and I were considering trying again.  It discussed an increase in autism if less than 2 years from the birth of a child to getting pregnant again.  I do not know where I read it...

DD will be 2 on St. Patrick's Day.  So 2u2 for us, barely.  We joke that it would be funny if this baby is born on Valentine's Day - then we'd have two holiday babies.  (With baby measuring with a due date of Feb 23 instead of Mar 1, that wouldn't be too far away from possible. They won't officially change my due date though...)

clo1982

Mine will be about 28 months apart, which ironically is exactly how far apart my sister and I are. I don't think there is a set rule except if your dr sets something. I will have a repeat c/s and nothing was ever mentioned after my first about having to wait. Who knows though, I may have made it abundantly clear that it wasn't going to be anytime soon!

Excitedmum35

My mum had us all 18 mths apart- she breast fed all of us and she was trying for the next one ASAP- this is just how we were naturally spaced. I would think that would be a good age gap going by your body's ability to be pregnant again.
My SIL bottle fed and ended up with two 11 1/2 mths apart and ppd. For this reason I wouldn't recommend them that close together- my poor SIL! The kids are older now and she is fine, but it was very difficult for her at the time, especially since she had a 3 yr old as well.

Momackf

My first 1st and 2nd are 11 months apart, my 2nd and 3rd are 13 months apart. I had c sections with all of them and never had any issues. It was recommended to me that you wait a full year after a c section to get pregnant, I never followed that rule, but that's what they recommend. I had 3 kids in diapers at one time, you just make it work. All of my kids are very close do what works for you.

jennybean80

It was recommended that we have at least 18 months between pregnancies (not deliveries, so 27 mo between babies) because a closer interval can increase your chances of preterm labour. Since DS was so early this was a big concern for us. Our due date will be right around DS's 3rd birthday.
If you want a VBAC most docs prefer at least 18 months between deliveries (closer to 24 is recommended).

BrideNamedMeg

Mine are 2.5 and 3 years apart.  I was never talked to anyone about how long to wait, it was just what felt right for our family.  

babylimas

My doctor told me 2 yrs after my CS. I will have almost 4 years between deliveries and my daughter is just so easy right now. If we have another I want it super close but I think that will depend how the delivery goes. (RCS or VBAC).

katykatykaty

After reading all the responses I'm second-guessing myself, but I'm pretty sure my doctor said I just had to wait 6 months after my c-section before we started trying. We ended up waiting 18 months, but I really think he said 6 months was fine.

aLsMay24

Jenstwins said:

It was recommended that we have at least 18 months between pregnancies (not deliveries, so 27 mo between babies) because a closer interval can increase your chances of preterm labour. Since DS was so early this was a big concern for us. Our due date will be right around DS's 3rd birthday.
If you want a VBAC most docs prefer at least 18 months between deliveries (closer to 24 is recommended).

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VineyardMel

I had a c/s and my OB and I discussed at length. She initially wanted me to wait 12 months after delivery before getting pregnant again, but given my age and how my first pregnancy/surgery went, she eventually said 8mo was fine. I think we both expected that if I started trying at 8mo it would take at least a couple of cycles to get pregnant. Nope. Shocked that it happened quickly. It was also my first PP cycle. No complications at this point (28+1). I have a friend who is nearing the end of a surprise pregnancy. She's been approved to go for a VBAC even though hers will only be 14mo apart. I think there are a lot of variables--mostly what each OB is comfortable with.

DTNZ4Ever

DS1 & 2 will be exactly 5 years apart. We were hoping for more like 4 years apart but it took us a year of TTC before our BFP. I love that DS1 is very independent potty trained, can get himself dressed, coat and shoes on, can get himself a snack or something to drink on his own. I can't imagine having 2 in diapers and 2 in DC for that long. The cost alone is crazy. I will only have 2 in DC for 3 months.

Parryt

My dr told me a year. My girls will be 2 1/2 years apart. Not planned but a good span I think.

laurendom

I am not sure if I was told, but for some reason I feel like my doctor mentioned a minimum of 6 months.  DD turned 1 and I got pregnant. I wanted them about 2 years apart, but did not expect to get PG right out of the gate so they will be 22 mos apart. 

My younger brother, sister and I are almost exactly 2 years apart from each other.  My mother had no issues with any birth and as far as I know, we have no issues lol.  She did say she liked having us in similar phases, she did not like that by the time my older sister (6 yrs older) grew out of phases she had to do it all over again with me, she was in baby/toddler mode with us and then one day it was over for good.

kelley72

Other than specific health reasons I think it depends on you/ your family and lifestyle.  I had my boys fairly close together (24 mns apart, 17mns apart, 15 mns apart).  I loved it!  I was a sahm and it didn't matter if I had one or all four (didn't) in diapers at once.  With child care costs that would change things I'm sure.  I would have loved to have had this lo a year ago but it didn't work that way... took 13 mnths to conceive.  Best wishes with your decision.

tinkiewinkie

#2 will be 18 months younger than #1. I was braestfeeding and didn't even have my cycle back yet but I found out I was pregnant when #1 was 10 months old. I am not concerned. If my body wasn't ready to have another baby then I honestly believe I wouldn't have become pregnant.

carrieactually

My doctor recommended 18 months between pregnancies

scrumpfy

My doc said he has no "rules" for patients with uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Mine will be 16 months apart.

sopranoali

Thanks, everyone! This is our first of hopefully 3 or 4...and I am already 29 yo so just trying to plan.

ProudMommy030614

3 years between my first two and 8 years between number 2 & 3.

JKS21

After cesarian, doc said to wait a year to get pregnant. Well, we were a month short and she said it was totally fine.  Our babes will be about 19.5 months apart.  Two in diapers may be tough, but might as well keep up what we know now