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Pregnancy Complications Make Second Children Less Likely

November 25, 2024

What: A study in JAMA found that first-time mothers who suffered serious complications during their pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum period were 12 percent less likely to have a second baby. The study looked at over one million women in Sweden from 1999 to 2021.

Key line: “’The reasons are hard to speculate on and may result from multiple factors, such as decreased desire for more children, trauma, infertility related to psychiatric medications, or lack of health counselling,’ says [first author Eleni] Tsamantioti. ‘Proper support and monitoring by antenatal care staff is therefore essential for women who have suffered serious health problems during pregnancy or delivery.’”

Source: JAMA // https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1065748

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