Effect of the Interval between Pregnancies on Perinatal Outcomes

A short interval between pregnancies has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, 1 – 7 but whether it is an independent risk factor or whether the association is due merely to confounding by other factors (such as maternal age, socioeconomic status, and reproductive history) is unclear. Likewise, little is known about whether a long interpregnancy interval is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. In the few studies that have been conducted of the relation between short and long interpregnancy intervals and adverse perinatal outcomes, no definitive conclusions could be drawn because of methodologic constraints or because the number of women studied was small. . . .