Short Interpregnancy Interval and Risk of Adverse Maternal and Fetal Outcome

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the impact of short interpregnancy interval on the adverse maternal and fetal outcome. Correlational design was adopted for this study. Patients and Methods: A total of 100 women admitted to labor and delivery department at El-Manial University hospital were recruited in this study, two groups were constituted, a group of 50 women with short inter pregnancy interval (study group) and a group of 50 mothers with long pregnancy interval (control group). All the mothers were followed up during the course of labor to note the progress and the complications that may arise for mother or Fetal/newborn babies. All mothers and newborn were followed up during the first 24 hrs after delivery to detect any potential problem that may arise. Result: Mothers who conceived within 6 months or less after previous pregnancy had maternal complications more than mothers who conceived after one year or more (68% of study group vs 42% of control group) such as ante and postpartum bleeding and preterm labor. Also short interpregnancy intervals were positively associated with occurance of fetal complications such as low birth weight, premature baby and still birth. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in relation and newborn to fetal complications (x^2 - 7.340 - p = .005). Conclusions: Women who conceive before 6 months or less of previous pregnancy had a big chance to have maternal and fetal complications more than women with longer, interval (one year or more).