If you are thinking about having another child, but are not sure the time is right, talk it over with a friend or family member. This is a difficult decision that will affect you, your partner, and the rest of your family. You need to talk with your partner about your personal and common goals. You need to think ahead about the stages of life you and your children are reaching. The conflicts that come up while raising children are different with each age. There is no perfect time.

What we do know is that having a child within one year of the birth of another puts a physical strain on the mother. There are more miscarriages and premature births in this situation. This is likely due to the health of the mother. We know that vitamin and iron stores of the woman are very low, and take time to restore themselves. Even though most women take vitamins during their pregnancies, they cannot keep up with the demands of the second pregnancy. Breast feeding a closely spaced second child may also be less successful.

The demands by young babies on your parenting time are great. The attention that your babies need at these ages does not follow a time schedule. Your partner or job may demand time of you as well. Once your toddler has been able to separate from you for short periods of time and is toilet trained, you may welcome the challenge of a new baby.

These are personal questions that have no perfect answers. Any child that is planned and wanted should do well.

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