After your vaginal or C-section delivery, you may have bleeding for six to eight weeks. Experts recommend holding your next pregnancy thoughts at least 18 months later as the best decision. This is because your baby becomes 1½ years old before you get pregnant with another baby and this much time may require your body to recover completely.

Whatever your mode of delivery might be, whether you had a vaginal or c-section, you can get pregnant easily in a short time. The chances of getting pregnant again are high, once your ovulation starts after giving birth. However, apart from the fact, that experts do not recommend having sex before the 6th-week checkup and advice from your doctor. 

If you are an exclusive breastfeeding mother, your ovulation may get delayed. Because breastfeeding is an effective method of birth control if you are following the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), which means you never use a breast pump or bottle feeding.

Risks of getting pregnant within a short span

The risk is more in the next shorter spacing pregnancy. The main reason is that your body may not recover completely until you are 18 weeks after birth. Even when you feel healed outwards, your body is still balancing and it takes time to adapt to the hormone level change.

If you get pregnant within six months of giving birth, the risk for complications may increase including-

• Low Birth weight
• Growth disorder
• Early Water breaking
• Preterm labor
• Abruption of the Placenta

When can you think about your next pregnancy?

Medical experts recommend getting pregnant for at least 12 to 18 months after giving birth is safe for you and both your babies too. This time is required for your body to heal and recover and also for caretaking your newborn before you start developing and feeding another baby.

However, there are also women having the next pregnancy and childbirth in a shorter span with less criticality. The body condition and pregnancy development may vary from woman to woman. In case, if you are older and concerned about your fertility, you may consult your doctor to explain the requirement and your postpartum birth control options in advance.

Related: Know About Contraception Methods