While it might sound fun to grow up with a sibling close in age, having children too close together can lead to serious health problems for mother and baby, health experts warn.
Inadequate birth spacing, which means having a baby within 18 months of a prior live birth, increases the chance of low birth weight, bleeding and premature rupture of the amniotic fluid sac as well as increased risk of death for mother or child. But thanks to a grant, the Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department can better help Allen County women avoid an unplanned pregnancy.
We want to give women options to space their pregnancies out and decide when they want to deliver again, Chardel Hastings, administrator, said.
The health department received a $10,000 grant from the Tiller Foundation of Wichita to help women obtain long-term, reversible contraception with an intrauterine device (IUD). Thrive Allen County applied for the grant on the departments behalf.
Allen County was awarded the grant because it has a high rate of unplanned pregnancies, at 11.2 percent, according to the grant application. The rate of inadequate birth spacing in Kansas is 10.2 percent. Researchers agree that 2 ½ years to 3 years between births is usually best for the wellbeing of the mother and her children, according to Kansas Health Matters.
Not only is inadequate birth spacing dangerous, having multiple young children also can cause financial or other problems for a family. Often, lower-income or uninsured families cannot afford effective birth control.
It takes a toll on a family to have two small children or an infant and another on the way, Hastings said. Some of these are going to be single-parent homes.
The grant money will help pay for the cost of an IUD for local women, particularly those who recently had a baby. Private insurance and Medicaid typically covers an IUD, but the grant will pay costs that may be associated with insurance deductibles or for women without insurance. For those with no insurance, an IUD can cost up to $2,000.
Hastings expects to be able to help about 40 women get an IUD this year, perhaps more if the program proves successful. The grant is targeted to women in Allen County, but also could benefit those in neighboring counties.
The health department uses a hormonal IUD, which means a woman could have light or nonexistent periods. The T-shaped device is inserted into the uterus by a physician and is effective for three years. If a woman decides to get pregnant ort doesnt want the device anymore, it can be easily removed. Pregnancy could occur right after the device is removed.
Its easiest to insert the device soon after giving birth, Hastings said. She recommends postpartum women get the IUD at their six-week checkup.
Patients are taught how to check each month to make sure the device is still in place. Otherwise, most women dont notice it. Thats one of the main reasons IUDs are so desirable, Hastings said. Women remain protected from pregnancy for years and dont have to remember to take a pill or use other types of birth control. The device doesnt protect against sexually transmitted diseases, though, so that type of protection is recommended.
The health department recently began offering IUDs and the grant should help them serve more women in Allen County. The department has received an increasing number of requests for the service, Hastings said.
We do see closely spaced siblings here. Sometimes thats a choice. Many times its not the first choice, she said. Many women feel like they cant afford contraception or maybe they arent aware that it is available in this community.
For more information, stop by the health department at 411 N. Washington Ave. or call 620-365-2191.
