Medical experts have warned women against getting pregnant too quickly after undergoing a caesarean section, stressing that the body — especially the womb — needs enough time to heal properly before another pregnancy.
According to gynaecologists, women who give birth through CS should wait at least two years before conceiving again to reduce the risk of serious health complications for both mother and baby.
The specialists explained that becoming pregnant too soon after surgery could weaken the scar on the womb and increase the chances of uterine rupture, excessive bleeding, anaemia, preterm birth, poor baby growth, and even stillbirth.
The warning comes amid growing conversations online around the “two-under-two” lifestyle, where women intentionally have children in quick succession.
But doctors say while the trend may look attractive on social media, it carries major health risks, especially for mothers who delivered through surgery.
Speaking on the issue, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Uyo, Prof. Aniekan Abasiattai, explained that the womb requires enough recovery time after a caesarean operation.
According to him, women who become pregnant too early after a CS are often denied the chance to attempt natural childbirth because of fears the womb scar may rupture during labour.
“For women who had caesarean delivery, the scar on the womb must heal properly. If the scar is weak, it can rupture during labour, which is extremely dangerous,” he explained.
He added that women with close pregnancies after childbirth are also more likely to develop complications such as anaemia, gestational diabetes, placental problems and severe bleeding after delivery.
Another maternal health expert, Prof. Abubakar Panti of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, also warned that short birth intervals place enormous physical stress on women, especially mothers still breastfeeding.
He noted that pregnancies occurring less than 24 months after delivery could lead to low birth weight, premature delivery, restricted baby growth and neonatal death.
“If a woman is breastfeeding and becomes pregnant too soon, it puts stress on her body and may also affect the baby growing inside her,” he said.
The experts blamed poor use of contraceptives, cultural pressure, fear of infertility and misinformation from social media for the growing trend of short birth spacing in Nigeria.
They called on hospitals and healthcare workers to make family planning counselling a compulsory part of postpartum care for women after delivery.
The doctors also advised women to rely on verified medical information rather than online trends when making decisions about pregnancy and childbirth.
According to the World Health Organisation, women should ideally wait at least 24 months after childbirth before trying for another baby to allow the body fully recover.
Health experts say proper child spacing not only protects mothers but also improves the health and survival chances of babies.
Source: PUNCH Healthwise
