How Long Should I Wait Between Pregnancies? Learn what the uterus needs to heal and how to recovery between pregnancies.

Postpartum recovery takes time. Supporting uterine healing between pregnancies is essential—especially for closely spaced births.

By Jane Chevalier

One of the most common questions women ask after giving birth is:“How long should I wait before having another baby?”

It’s a deeply personal question—shaped by age, fertility, family goals, finances, and life circumstances. But from a medical and physiological standpoint, there is a widely accepted recommendation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), women are advised to wait at least 24 months before conceiving again, which translates to roughly three years between births.

This guidance exists for a reason. Pregnancy and birth place significant demands on the uterus and the entire body, and adequate recovery time plays a major role in long-term maternal health.

But, let's be honest...most of you reading this are likely millennials, and as millennials we are here to live our best lives as long as possible before becoming mamas...which means giving birth later and having back to back pregnancies.

How can be accomodate this lifestyle? Let's first read about why the body needs time to recover between pregnancies.

Why Does the Body Need Time Between Pregnancies?

When asking how long should I wait between pregnancies, it’s important to understand what actually happens inside the body after birth—especially in the uterus.

During pregnancy, the uterus undergoes major physical changes:

• It grows from roughly the size of a pear (about 60–70 grams) to holding a full-term baby. By the end of pregnancy, its capacity increases by more than 500 times.

• The supporting ligaments of the uterus stretch significantly. The round ligaments typically measure about 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) before pregnancy and may lengthen to 8–12 inches (20–30 cm) by late pregnancy. This means they can stretch an additional 2–6 inches to support the growing uterus.

• The uterus develops a placental attachment site that is approximately 7–9 inches in diameter. After birth, this area must heal fully, similar to a large internal wound.

• As the uterus grows, it shifts upward and forward within the pelvis. This movement changes posture, breathing patterns, and how the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor work together.

• During labor, the uterus contracts repeatedly and powerfully. Labor can last 12–24 hours or longer, and each contraction creates enough pressure to thin and open the cervix to 10 centimeters.

  
  

After birth, the uterus begins the process of shrinking back to its pre-pregnancy size. While this initial phase happens within weeks, deeper healing takes much longer. Ligaments, connective tissue, and pelvic support structures can take 12–24 months to remodel and regain strength, especially without targeted support.

This is why a 6-week postpartum clearance does not reflect full recovery. It also explains why adequate spacing between pregnancies—or intentional support when pregnancies are close together—is so important for long-term maternal health.

True uterine recovery also involves:

• Healing of uterine muscle fibers

• Restoration of ligament balance

• Improved circulation and lymphatic drainage

• Reintegration with the pelvic floor, abdominal wall, diaphragm, and sacrum

This level of healing takes far longer than the standard 6-week postpartum clearance many women receive.

How Long Should You Wait Before Having Another Baby—Ideally?

From a global health perspective, research shows that waiting at least 18–24 months before becoming pregnant again is associated with lower risks of:

• Maternal depletion

• Preterm birth

• Low birth weight

• Increased pregnancy discomfort

• Longer or more difficult postpartum recovery

That’s why the WHO recommends spacing pregnancies so there are about three years between births.

However, our modern and western lifestyle doesn’t always align with ideal timelines. But luckily we have easy access to strong health and wellness support!

The Reality: “Two Under Two” Is More Common Than Ever

For many millennials, waiting three years between children isn’t realistic—or even possible.

Common reasons include:

• Fertility considerations

• Maternal age

• Career and family planning

• Financial logistics

• Desire to complete childbearing sooner

As a result, many women find themselves pregnant again before their body has fully recovered from the previous births. But this is doesn’t mean something is wrong, it just means that the uterus and body need additional support.

What Happens When Pregnancies Are Closely Spaced?

When women don’t have enough time between pregnancies, they may experience:

• Increased uterine ligament pain

• Heavier pelvic pressure earlier in pregnancy

• More low back, sacral, or pubic discomfort

• Longer postpartum recovery

• A sense that their body “never fully reset”

These symptoms are predictable outcomes of closely spaced pregnancies without adequate restoration.

How Abdominal Therapy Can Help the Uterus Recover Between Pregnancies

If you can’t wait the full three years between births, belly-focused massage (abdominal therapy) can play an important role in supporting uterine recovery.

This type of therapy focuses directly on the uterus and surrounding structures to help:

• Encourage optimal uterine positioning

• Release tension in uterine ligaments while also increasing uterine tonicity

• Improve blood flow to reproductive tissues

• Reduce congestion and stagnation in the uterus

• Support pelvic and abdominal balance

• Prepare the body for a future pregnancy by regulating your cycle

For women asking how long do I wait before having another baby, abdominal therapy offers a way to support healing even when time is limited.

It doesn’t replace time—but it helps the body make better use of the time it has.

Abdominal Therapy as Preventative Care for Future Pregnancies

When the uterus is well supported between pregnancies, many women notice:

• Less discomfort in subsequent pregnancies

• Better pelvic balance and less back pain

• Improved labor and birth experiences

• Smoother postpartum recovery

Supporting uterine health between pregnancies is preventative care, not a luxury.

So, How Long Should I Wait Between Pregnancies?

Ideally, the body benefits from about three years between births.

But if that timeline isn’t realistic for you, the key takeaway is this:

Shorter spacing requires more intentional care.

Take care of yourself and your uterus by seeing your belly-focused massage therapist (Abdominal Therapist), doing self massage and practicing cycle-care rituals.