Getting pregnant after a long gap is an entirely different experience.
Take it from Danica Sotto, who's carrying her and her husband Marc Pingris's third child. Their eldest Mic is 14, and their second child Caela turns 11 in a few days this September 2022.
Danica shared a pregnancy update in a recent Instagram post and said she's having "no more headaches and dizzy spells."
She added, "Thank you Lord! I have more energy and can eat almost anything. Tagal na since my last pregnancy so I’m really feeling every symptom." (Read here the most common pregnancy symptoms.)
The 40-year-old showbiz personality and cooking mama went on admitting how she feels: "Mixed emotions na may kaba and excitement. Whenever I have anxious thoughts, I renew my mind because I know I’m not alone and that we have God as our guide and our source of strength."
She also shared a Bible verse that she hopes will also give encouragement to those reading her post.
It's from Deuteronomy 31:6: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Last June 19, Father's Day, Danica made the pregnancy announcement by saying that it was "an answered prayer" for their family.
Why birth spacing is important
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends women trying to conceive to wait for two years after giving birth.
This is because pregnancies less than 18 months apart have been associated with the same risks for the baby. Meanwhile, pregnancies spaced six months apart or shorter ups the risk of maternal death.
The length of waiting is not just for the mom's health and safety but for the unborn baby's, too.
In a study published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA), women over 35 had the highest risks for health complications when they get pregnant again three, six or nine months later.
The health risks for infants increased steadily in all closely timed pregnancies regardless of the mom's age. These risks include stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight and even death within the first year of life.
Read also: Fear of Moms in Their 40s: 'We May Not Live to See Our Grandkids'
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