While I think your post has some very valid points, I do think a lot of it is just opinions. I had 3 babies in 2.5yrs and all of them very healthy, full term and the 'smallest' was the last at 8lbs 8ozs. Obviously each woman's body is very different to what they can handle. In the olden days I'd be described as a good 'breeder'.
I also suffered no PP depression, had no issues juggling 3 small kids, 3 in diapers, getting out and about and running my household including being able to chase my 16mth old and 28mth old around while 9mths pregnant! LOL My kids all sleep through the night by 3mths. My first DS co-slept w/ us he was 10mths old to facilitate BF'ing...while his crib sat empty and his sister was in her crib. We had 2 of everything needed and no one had to give up their things.
I know multiple moms like myself. Maybe I gravitate towards like minded similar families but I find it hard to believe we are the exception.
It's not opinion, it's scientific fact, from my doc (the chief of obstretics), and multiple obstetric studies that I have researched. You are just one person, so just because you didn't have issues, doesn't mean that thousands of others won't and haven't. Remember, my doc is coming from a scientific background after delivering thousands upon thousands of babies, and having 3 babies in 2.5 years from that perspective, could have put you and your babes at risk for multiple reasons as described in my post. That is where he is coming from - he wants the most optimum environment possible for 'growing babes' and spacing them very close together, from a scientific perspective, is not it. I have also read many psychological studies that now refute the old evidence of having kids so close together as many of our parents did. It's all very interesting as it seems that many people (many posters on here in fact), assume that just because kids are close in age that they are going to like each other and be best friends, and that is not the case. In many cases, siblings are forced into these relationships as mom and dad have no choice as there are several babies running around who need tending to, so much of that is done at the same time out of necessity.
Incidentally, my post doesn't say that if you do all of those things you are going to have problems, it says that based on sound scientific research, and thousands of case studies, that the
potential for issues is there since you have multiple risk factors in place. The postpartum depression thing is totally valid and you can find tons of research on that - many people assume it's just 'sleep deprivation' but many studies are now showing that it's mild forms of postpartum depression. With so many women on anti-anxiety pills
before they get pregnant for various depression, anxiety and coping issues, it means that during your pregnancy and after, you have a higher incidence of postpartum depression, as you are now considered at-risk in this category.
Based on many comments on here, and my friends/family, we were one of the very few who actually planned/researched pregnancy. Most people it seems just have babies, and this is where the potential for issues can arise. My doc and many others are trying to educate people on the
potential problems that can arise and therefore, when planning pregnancies, they should be considered. Scientists actually have been and continue to study when the best time is to bear children, ages between children, etc. and I took these very seriously when planning out my pregnancies.
Regardless of whether people agree with my doc or not, someone should not even be entertaining the thought of having another child at 3months postpartum, as that is a very stressful time on the body (still recuperating from birth) and mind, and therefore no important life altering decisions should be made during that time period whatsoever, according to my doc and many others in the field and I totally agree with him!
Good luck, Tiger
I wouldnt' change it, but again, i don't know it any other way! By the time my 5th was born, my first was almost 6.
