How Close Is Too Close?

Nobody's opinion on this matter counts except for you and the daddy's. My grandmother had 8 children all close together and my mother and her siblings are extremely close.

the babies already on the way stop stressing its not good for you or the little one! Good luck!!!

It can be done! My cousin has 7 kids, some are this close together. All are healthy including her. Eat healthy food and rest enough. You can do it. Think positive thoughts!

I will have to agree with Momma L. I for the life of me cannot see how you can have 4 children under three (soon 5 kids under 4) and work and find the time to give every single child the attention they need. Sorry, but I just don't see it.

But then, to each their own and I guess as long as your doctor thinks your body is handling it just fine and you and your husband are happy, who cares what others, including me, think.

Congrats and good luck.

Good grief! What happened to, "congratulations!" Your coworker was insensitive. It is what it is make the most of it and celebrate this new addition. We all know how to prevent pregnancies, so if you're pregnant - yeah you! There is no "right way" to have or raise a family. Good luck with yours!

Is this question for real? You have an almost 3 year old, and almost 2 year old, a one year old, a 2 month old AND are pregnant?

No offense but this sounds like a joke - not sure about your physical body but I would think that many kids that close together has got to wreck havoc on your sanity if nothing else.

Good luck.

For some women, pregnancy is NO problem

For others, pregnancy after pregnancy wears out their bodies and they grow "old" very quickly. Looking 40 in your 20's or 60/70 in your 30's for ecample. For the very good reason that your body is a complete mess (usually from sustained malnutrition and sleep deprivation), which causes organ damage (including bone loss, brain damage, etc.), and a compromised immune system.

TOTALLY DEPENDS ON
a) genetics
b) support at home
c) diet

There are HUGE families close in age (10 in 10, or 15 in 20 for example) where mom is fit and energetic and vivacious...

And small families (even just a single pregnancy) where the mom's body is suffering from major damage.

Successive pregnancies CAN cause major health problems now and later on... BUT they don't have to.

"Worn out from childbirth" used to be a major cause of women's early deaths (40s), and still is in parts of the world where birth control isn't allowed... but with good medical treatment, and good diet, and a supportive home life/ partner... many women THRIVE on successive pregnancies.

You're already pregnant. It is what it is. Now it's time to deal with it. Do not pay attention to the nay sayers. It's just too late to be concerned with how close they are. They and you will be fine.

In the "old days" women frequently had their babies this close together and children turned out just fine

. I don't know how you do it working as well as raising a family. It's just hard but you do the best that you can. I hope you have help.

It is *possible* to have kids so close. What do you mean, "I have just begun thinning"...you have been losing weight?
I do not know if it is okay for the children to have siblings so close, nor is it any of your co workers business....but are you being serious about your question? I can't imagine having so many children so close together. Talk to your OB about health risks to yourself.
(I am curious if you are a troll. This is your first question and you haven't asked any. If you are....find something better to do with your time. If you are not.....then you don't have any free time!)
L.

Oh my, I don't think it's good for you or the children. But that is my opinion. I know that I, physically, emotionally and financially would not be able to provide each child with their emotional and physical needs with that many children spaced that close together.

Drs. and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology advise to give your body at least 12 months before becoming pregnant again after having a baby, to allow your body to heal, to reduce the risk of preterm birth and other health issues, and to be able to nurture and bond with your current newborn before the other one arrives, and before pregnancy nausea and fatigue set in so you can care for your infant and give it the attention it deserves in that first crucial year. Also, your body needs to heal, hormone levels have to return to normal, softened ligaments have to tighten, and stretched muscles in your abdominal wall and pelvic floor need to regain their tone for another healthy pregnancy. You also have to regain lost nutrients. If you had a c-section, the recommended time for body healing before a second pregnancy is 12-18 months. You can read the findings and reasonings here:

http://www.pregnancyandbaby.com/baby/articles/930607/how-...

http://www.babyexpert.com/get-pregnant/naturally/how-long...

You have two toddlers, two infants and you will soon have three toddlers and two infants. All I can say is good luck and I hope you and your children have a good support system! I'm not being rude, but I wonder how you can crave a new baby, when you already have a 2 and 12 month old on top of two young toddlers, and how much quality one on one attention each of those children are receiving. I have 2 and one on the way and it can be very challenging to say the least. I am not against large families in the slightest, or even having them close together, my only concern with such close spacing and so many is that mom and children are physically and emotional bonded and taken care of, so as long as you are all thriving and happy, that is important. Everyone has a different capacity to do that. My sister and I are 18 months apart and my children are approx 23 months apart.

Have kids five years apart to an unhealthy person can have the same effect on your long term health.

What you are hearing is a stupid statement made by people who space out their kids differently to justify their spacing, nothing more.

Sure if you are not in optimal health when you conceive your next child you can do long term damage to your body but longer time between pregnancies does not by proxy create greater health at the time of conception, ya know?

As far as the spacing on the welfare of the children, again it is an individual equation. I can handle two kids, two years apart. It is just all the energy I have for little kids without it taking a mental toll on me on my kids. Stick in a nine year gap and I am able to handle another two kids, two years apart. That is me.

There are others that can pop them out like an assembly line and their kids are just as happy and healthy as mine are.

There are others that have two kids five years apart that are both completely ignored. These kids are damaged but it is not the spacing that damages them it is the parent's ability to parent, ya know.

So big middle finger to those that are giving you grief! I could not do it but that doesn't mean you can't! :)

that is close.. but you alrady have 4 so I am sure having 5 will not be that much different.

Hi JJR-

Congratulations!

My kiddos are close in age...and all are older now.

I had a BLAST with them when younger...and it truly is even MORE fun now that they are young adults.

I worked thru the birth of #3...and then was able to stay home as my (now ex) husband got a promotion.

I am a reasonably fit and healthy 52 year old.

PM me if you want...

And again, CONGRATULATIONS!

michele/cat

I didn't realize it was biologically possible to have chldren 9 or 10 months apart. I thought your body needed a couple of months to recoup before it was furtile. Anyway ...

I don't know how you can have 4 kids under the age of 3 and have time for a job. I'm barely about to work full-time, and my kids are 3 & 5 1/2 and the house is a mess.

Hey, different people can handle different things. Congratulations and best of luck!

Wow, so jealous that you are so fertile! :-) I don't know about the medical for you, but thought I might make you feel better about the kiddos.

My brother is 16 months older than me, and I have twin sisters 14 months younger. So we were SUPER close together. It was a blast (for us, my mom went crazy with so many young ones!). But we played together all the time and got along great. Even as adults we were close. It's more complicated now with in-laws, but that's another story. I loved being so close in age with my sibs, and they all agree. My mom said she used to have to practically force play dates with others because all we wanted to do was play with each other. So it may be luck of the draw with kids' personalities, but just to maybe ease your mind, we loved being close in age. Good luck.

All i can say is wow. You are brave! But if your doc is not concerned, then you shouldn't be! My siblings and I are all very close in age,and we LOVED it! (most of the time ;) ). My sister and I were 15 months apart maybe and we were best friends, still are. Its great for siblings to be close!

Oh my goodness! You must be very busy and tired. But you're blessed with babies. Good luck. Don't worry about what others say. Just do your best. Parenting is difficult if children are close or not. I have four young children and it has been so hard but I love my kids. I just make everyday about them. I have no other choice and not enough time to do anything but parent. That's ok with me because someday they will grow up and I'll have time for other things.

This is simply your decision as a family and with your doctor. Who cares what other people think. If your doctor is not telling you there is a problem, then you can decide how many and how far apart to have your children.

Congratulations!

I think someone else already said it....the baby is already on the way...time to relax, enjoy your time with your other little ones. Each baby is a miracle. You will manage and the kids will be fine. You will probably be tired - I am! And I only have two of my own that are 4yrs apart!

Stress is not good for you or the baby(ies). :0) Enjoy this time, take care of yourself and your little ones, use your support network now to get some alone time and couple time. Best of luck!