Timing Births

Supporting Information

Every year some 515,000 women die from problems linked to pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman who dies, approximately 30 more develop serious, disabling problems. Family planning could prevent many of these deaths and much of this disability.

Delaying a first pregnancy until a girl is at least 18 years of age will help ensure a safer pregnancy and delivery, and will reduce the risk of her baby being born underweight. This is especially important in countries where early marriage is the custom.

A girl is not physically ready to begin bearing children until she is about 18 years of age. Childbirth is more likely to be difficult and dangerous for an adolescent than for an adult. Babies born to very young mothers are much more likely to die in the first year of life. The younger the mother, the greater the risk to her and her baby.

Young women need special help to delay pregnancy. Young women and their families should be given information about the risks of early pregnancy and how to avoid them.

After the age of 35, the health risks of pregnancy and childbirth begin to increase again. If a woman is over the age of 35 and has had four or more pregnancies, another pregnancy is a serious risk to her own health and that of the foetus.