The Importance of Pregnancy Spacing
Spacing children is not something really talked...but if you want more than one child and have the luxury of having the choice, hopefully this post gives you a few helpful things to consider.
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Nutrition is probably the most powerful tool for optimizing fertility and building healthy babies. Unfortunately:
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“...most women are nutritionally deficient during childbearing years.” — Dr. Catherine Shanahan
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Most of us have already started off in a nutrient-depleted state. The more children we have, the more nutrients are depleted from us, especially if we are gifted with the ability to breastfeed.
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“Over the course of a 265-day pregnancy, the baby takes about four pounds of minerals from the mother or about 10% of her total mineral supply.
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Pregnancies that are too close together take an even bigger toll. One of the earliest signs of mineral depletion is dental cavities and broken teeth. A recent rash of cavities is a sure-fire sign that the woman is minerally depleted.” — Dr. Robert Thompson, OBGYN
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“...unless the mother gives herself ample time (generally at least three years) and nutrients for her body to fully replenish itself, child number two may not be as healthy as his older sibling...compared to their older sibling, they grew up in a relatively malnourished environment in utero.” — Dr. Catherine Shanahan
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“For decades, doctors have observed that women who get pregnant soon after giving birth are more likely to have complications during pregnancy, such as intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, or having a child with neural tube defects, developmental delay, cerebral palsy, or autism.” — Lily Nichols, R.D.
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It’s been observed that even a new pregnancy within 18 months of giving birth is associated with increased risks and complications.
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Dr. Weston A. Price noted that many indigenous people spaced children a MINIMUM of 2.5-3 years was traditionally practiced. This allowed the mother to heal and replenish, especially if breastfeeding, while increasing the survival of the subsequent child.
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I’ll be talking more about this and how to replenish in between children in an upcoming course. Stay tuned!
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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
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References
Fallon, S. Cowan, T.S. (2013, 2015). The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care. Washington, D.C.: NewTrends Publishing.
Nichols, L. (2018). Real Food for Pregnancy. United States.
Thompson, R. Barnes, K. (2008). The Calcium Lie. United States: InTruth Press.
Shanahan, C. (2017). Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. Flatiron Books Publishing.
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