Medical experts in maternal health have raised concerns over increasingly short intervals between pregnancies, warning that the trend poses serious risks to both mothers and newborns.
The doctors, who spoke to a health publication, said women—especially those who delivered via caesarean section (CS)—are at higher risk when they conceive too soon after childbirth, stressing that the body needs sufficient time to recover before another pregnancy.
They recommended a minimum spacing of 24 months before conception after childbirth, noting that inadequate recovery time can lead to complications such as uterine scar rupture, anaemia, excessive bleeding, premature birth, poor foetal growth and, in severe cases, stillbirth.
The experts explained that women who have undergone CS are medically classified as high-risk, even when they appear healthy after delivery, due to the possibility of internal complications that may not be immediately visible.
They also warned against the growing influence of unverified health advice circulating on social media, urging women to rely strictly on guidance from qualified medical professionals.
The concern comes amid the emergence of a growing trend popularly referred to as “two-under-two,” where women have children in very rapid succession. According to the experts, such patterns may contribute to Nigeria’s already high rates of maternal and infant mortality if not properly addressed.
A Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Uyo, Aniekan Abasiattai, explained that the uterus must fully heal after a caesarean section before another pregnancy is attempted.
He warned that if the surgical scar is not fully healed, it may rupture during labour, creating a life-threatening emergency for both mother and child.
He further noted that women who do not observe adequate spacing after CS are often advised against vaginal delivery in subsequent pregnancies, meaning repeat surgical delivery becomes necessary.
Beyond scar-related risks, he said short birth intervals increase the likelihood of anaemia, gestational diabetes, placenta complications and postpartum haemorrhage, particularly among women who are already medically vulnerable.
Another expert, Abubakar Panti, described short birth spacing as a major public health concern in Nigeria, warning that it continues to contribute to preventable maternal and infant health complications.
He advised that women should maintain at least a 24-month gap between childbirth and the next pregnancy, which translates to about three years between successive births for optimal health outcomes.
Panti added that closely spaced pregnancies place significant physical strain on breastfeeding mothers and increase risks such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and newborn complications.
He identified poor contraceptive use, cultural expectations for rapid childbearing, and late marriages as key drivers of unsafe birth spacing practices.
While acknowledging concerns about declining fertility among some women, he stressed that the medical risks of rapid successive pregnancies far outweigh such fears.
Both experts called for stronger integration of postpartum family planning into maternal healthcare services, as well as intensified public awareness campaigns to educate women on safe pregnancy spacing and its importance for maternal and child survival.