Effects of birth spacing on maternal health: a systematic review

Interpregnancy interval and perinatal outcomes across Latin America from 1990 to 2009: a large multi‐country study

“…Offspring death included both fetal death (delivery of a dead baby at or after 20 weeks of gestation) and neonatal death (death of a liveborn infant within the first 28 days of life). Secondary maternal outcomes were the main causes of death, postpartum haemorrhage, pre‐eclampsia, eclampsia, and puerperal infection, classified in our database according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD‐10) 5. Secondary offspring outcomes were the main causes of neonatal death,9 low birthweight (live baby weighing less than 2.5 kg at birth), and preterm birth (live baby delivered before 37 weeks of gestation, defined as the time between the date of the mother's last menstrual period and the infant's birth date).…”

“…Birth spacing has shown fluctuations, including shifts towards shorter intervals 3. Generating public health guidance on birth spacing remains an important topic, but many studies that purport an association of short and long birth intervals with maternal and offspring outcomes are not from recent times 4, 5. Studies frequently ignore the inverse relationship that exists between maternal and offspring outcomes.…”

Birth Spacing and Risk of Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review

“…Women who become pregnant before folate restoration is complete have an increased risk of folate insufficiency at the time of conception and during pregnancy. 16,41 As a consequence, there would be an early alteration in the fetal neurodevelopment that could lead to ASD in early childhood. 28 This hypothesis is reasonably supported by a recent, large population-based cohort study, which reported that periconceptional folic acid supplementation was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of autistic disorder in the offspring.…”

“…13,14 There is compelling evidence from several systematic reviews and meta-analyses that both short and long intervals between pregnancies are associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal, perinatal, infant, and child outcomes. [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] The relationship between birth spacing and the risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities has received less attention. In 2005, a World Health Organization technical consultation on birth spacing recommended conducting studies that investigate the impact of birth spacing on the psychological and neurologic development of children.…”

Etonogestrel contraceptive implant (Implanon): analysis of patient compliance and adverse effects in the breastfeeding period

“…Reluctance to use other methods of contraception, contraceptive failure and non-use of contraceptive services are leading causes of unintended pregnancy during breastfeeding. It is well reported that pregnancy which continues to childbirth is often associated with delay of initiation of prenatal care and shorter interpregnancy intervals and may negatively influence the health of the child and mother (3)(4)(5)(6). When choosing a method of post-partum contraception, it is important that it does not interfere with lactation or have negative effects on the infant.…”