4 Myths About Birth Spacing Debunked
- There are several myths about birth spacing out there
- Birth spacing is essential for a mother's health and well-being
- Most myths about birth spacing are easily debunked
Birth spacing is an important technique that improves birth outcomes and the bond between a mother and child. Pregnancy can be tough; birth spacing gives the mother’s body time to recuperate and replenish after bringing another life into the world. Here are some common myths about birth spacing:
Myth 1: You shouldn’t wait long between births.
Doctors recommend that women wait between 18 and 24 months between the birth of one child and the conception of the next. Shorter intervals between births are associated with premature births, low and extremely low birth weights, miscarriage, and uterine rupture.
Myth 2: I won’t get pregnant as long as I’m still breastfeeding, right?
It is possible to become pregnant while breastfeeding, especially if your baby is older than 6 months and you aren’t breastfeeding exclusively. Breastfeeding only works as a form of birth control if your child is under 6 months, breastfed on demand and exclusively, and you haven’t had a period yet. Otherwise, you should use an alternate form of birth control.
Myth 3: I can't get pregnant right now, I haven't had my period yet!
You can still be ovulating even if you haven’t had your period since giving birth! Breastfeeding can suppress your period, but if you aren’t breastfeed exclusively, you might have started ovulating. Nursing your newborn causes your body to secrete the hormone prolactin, and the prolactin tells your body not to release eggs. But the prolactin levels drop as your baby gets older, or as you nurse less, and your body will start the menstrual cycle up again.
Myth 4: Birth control will affect the quality of my breast milk.
Nope! Hormonal birth control like the mini pill, the Depo-Provera shot, and hormonal long-acting birth control only contain progestin, which doesn’t affect a nursing child. Plus, there are non-hormonal methods like barrier protection and the copper IUD!
