The relationship between interpregnancy interval (IPI) and mother’s preceding pregnancies (PP)

Abstract

IntroductionFollowing the investigation of the mothers preceding pregnancies on fetal development and postnatal survival of the neonate, we turned our attention to an earlier period, that is the interval separating the onset of the current pregnancy from the end of the preceding one. The objectives of this study is to investigate the variations of interpregnancy interval length associated to the mothers preceding pregnancies.\n\nMethodsA population of 7773 neonates, alive at the time of hospital discharge, were divided into cohorts according to the current neonates sex and number and sex of the mothers preceding pregnancies. Interpregnancy interval average of each cohort of same neonates sex and mothers parity, but different configuration of preceding pregnancies, were measured and compared.\n\nResultsA positive association was found between mothers preceding pregnancies and length of interpregnancy interval when current pregnancy and preceding pregnancy were of the same sex, and a negative association when they were of opposite sex.\n\nDiscussionInterpregnancy interval length follows a pattern regarding the gravidas preceding pregnancy similar to the other early life indicators pattern, birth weight, placenta weight, gestation length and neonatal survival. Our results confirm and complete an immunological explanation of the indicators variations associated to the gravidas preceding pregnancy.