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There are several reasons why a couple may decide to have a second child. It can be the planning itself, when the couple wants a certain age difference between the two children, it can be for reasons of age, since the older they are, the more problems they can have, it can also be simply by will.
No matter what the reason is, the truth is that an issue that always comes up when we talk about it is what is the waiting time to have another child . Many disagree, but there is always a general consensus among experts. Want to know what it is? That’s what we’re going to talk about today.
After all, how long to wait?
When you think about having another child, several factors must be taken into account. First, the biological factor. After delivery, the woman’s body needs time to recover from the entire pregnancy and the medical consensus is that this time lasts, on average, 18 months. In other words, the age difference between two close siblings should have been just over two years old.
Studies indicate that the baby who is conceived before this one-and-a-half year interval is more likely to be born premature or underweight. On the other hand, the same research shows that there are also risks if the difference between the two babies is more than five years old.
This is a risk that is taken, but it is not an established rule for either case and the baby may be born perfectly healthy.
Thinking this way, we can see that there is a general medical consensus that the waiting time to have another child varies between one and a half years and five years . However, it is necessary to take into account that there are other factors.
The Emotional State of Women to Have a Second Child
Having a child means a drastic change in a person’s life, especially the mother’s. So it is quite common for the emotional state to be affected by all the news that is happening all the time.
And it directly affects how a woman will deal with another pregnancy. It may be that the couple previously decided to have another child after 18 months, but it may happen that they do not feel prepared, are having more difficulties than they imagined and have to postpone these plans a little.
This is perfectly normal and should not be seen as negative. The most important thing is that the woman must be totally comfortable when it comes to getting pregnant again so that the pregnancy is smooth and easy to deal with.
The Social Factor
Another important topic that should be taken into account when thinking about the waiting time to have another child is the social factor. Often a couple or a mother has many difficulties in being able to deal with their professional life and the baby at the same time, mainly due to financial issues.
In such cases, it is very important to think how much having another would affect the family’s life and, if they reach a consensus that this is not the time, the couple can wait until they are more stabilized.
The presence of parents is very important for raising a child and, as much as they can count on the help of many people, they need to be there for them. So when you are in a phase where your professional life demands a lot from you, it is important to think if this is really the best time to have another child.
It’s your choice
Despite all the medical recommendations and advice you may receive from different people, the choice of waiting time to have another child will be entirely up to you.
Only the couple can know whether they are emotionally ready, whether their lives allow this to happen and whether or not this is the best time. In addition, the woman’s decision regarding her body must have a greater weight , since she is the one who becomes pregnant. Of course, all the tips and recommendations help to build that dialogue, but in the end, the choice is entirely yours.
Having a reason is always a reason for joy, whether it is the first or the second. There will always be doubts, anxieties, expectations and the great joy of having a new child in your home.
Of course, there are several factors that need to be taken into account when it comes to having a second child. It is not only the biological factor that is at stake, but the psychological of the parents, especially that of the mother and also the child who is already at home.
The sum of all these factors is that it will result in the best waiting time to have another child, be it long or faster. And regardless of what your choice is, the important thing is that you feel comfortable and know how to handle the situation.
See Also: Is My Family Ready to Have a Second Child?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
