Massive study concludes the optimum time between pregnancies is...

Women wondering what the best time to leave between pregnancies now have the answer, thanks to a massive survey carried out by Columbian researchers. The Santa Fe de Bogotá Foundation brought together the results of 67 previous surveys - covering more than 11 million pregnancies - and found that it's best to leave 18-23 months between pregnancies.

The survey found that having babies too close together - or too far apart - could lead to an increase in several medical conditions including premature birth and low birth weight.

Doctors 'should counsel all women to space pregnancies at least 12 months apart, if at all possible," commented Rachel Royce, a medical researcher from North Carolina.

The researchers couldn't say for sure exactly why this sort of timing is better, but it's thought that conceiving too soon after giving birth could mean a mother has less essential vitamins to help support a foetus.

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