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 There
are many women who never plan a family and they get pregnant as soon as they are
out of a child birth. While there are others who like to do proper planning and
give it second child a thought only after their first child is ready to go to
kindergarten. Well all this depends on personal choice and preference. While it
is not possible to say as to when a woman should think of having another baby,
these are a few things which should be considered before planning for another
baby.
What studies suggest:
Researchers have tried to tackle this question and according to studies it is
best for you and for your baby to wait for 22-34 months after birth of the first
child. Doctors found that babies conceived less than six months after the birth
of a previous child are 40 per cent more likely to be born prematurely or
underweight. Doctors suggest that a mother's body may need that much time to
recover from the stress and replenish all the nutrients she lost as a result of
the first pregnancy.
How old is your other child:
If you have a child who needs continuous care and attention then it is not
advisable to go for a second child. Pregnancy and post pregnancy, a woman
undergoes lots of physical stress and pregnancy literally tires her out. Under
such circumstances if you get pregnant gain your body will not be able to cope.
Therefore it is always advisable to wait till you first child is say 3 or 4 yrs
and is able to take care of himself. Studies suggest older your other children,
the better. That way they've had plenty of time with you and they can understand
and even talk about the effect another child might have. This will in a way
result in good bonding between the siblings.
Does your partner like the idea of having another baby:
Remember baby making is a joint effort. And therefore it is very important to
know how your partner feels about having another baby. Sit down together and
discuss your points of view. If he is not agreeable then it will not be a wise
thing to toss the birth control pills in the trash as yet. By talking and
discussing the issue you may not solve anything at that moment but you'll have a
better understanding of the issues.
What’s your financial situation:
This is also one of the most important consideration. Though you might argue
that money isn’t everything but it is necessary to raise a family. If having
another baby is going to create a lot of problems and your financial stability
is likely to go for a toss then you might want to postpone your pregnancy until
your financial situation is stable. It's important to consider your work
situation, too. Many women find it more difficult to keep up with full- or even
part-time work once the second child comes along. Can you afford to stay at home
or to pay for the new baby's childcare if you want to stay in your job? You have
to take all these points into consideration before you plan on a second child.
How will another child change your lifestyle:
You think that you are finally settled down with life, job and kids. You even
get time to spend with you husband and everything is perfect. Well now think are
you ready to give up all of this. These are all important considerations when
you're thinking of having another. Remember, a newborn will take over your life.
You will have to forget about the job and your perfect lifestyle. Consider
whether you have the time and energy an infant requires, and whether your
children are ready to deal with the reality of a baby in the house.
The age factor:
Age is also an important factor for women who are planning to have more than one
child. The older a woman gets fertility level drops. Many women can still get
pregnant in their early 40s but fertility rates do drop dramatically once you
reach 35. Thus if you are under 30 and you don't have any health problems that
could make conception difficult, you can be flexible with your timing. But if
you are above 35 then you obviously need to hurry.
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