Women who have only a very short interval between pregnancies are at an increased risk of complications such as premature birth, neonatal death, and low birth weight, say researchers in this week's BMJ.

The study, which was led by Professor Gordon Smith of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, involved over 89,000 women having second births in Scotland in 1992-8. Women whose interval between pregnancies was less than six months were much more likely to have had complicated first births. They were also more likely to be less than 20 years old, to smoke, and to live in an area of high social and economic deprivation.

Even among women with an uncomplicated first birth, and after taking account of social and economic factors, a short interval between pregnancies was associated with an increased risk of premature birth and neonatal death.

Professor Smith says that women need to be made aware of the risks: "Women should be informed of a small but significantly higher risk of premature birth and death when they conceive shortly after a birth."

In particular they need to focus their advice on those most at risk: "Contraceptive advice should be targeted towards women who are most likely to have a short interpregnancy interval, such as teenagers and women who have lost a newborn baby," he concludes.

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