‘Why fifth pregnancy carries too many complications’

Prof. Oladipo Ladipo, a well-known obstetrician and gynecologist with over 40 years of experience in healthcare delivery and development work, has advised women to have three or four children in order to lower Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate. He cautions that fifth and sixth pregnancies are linked to a high risk of complications and death.

According to Ladipo, co-founder of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health, one of Nigeria's top non-profit organizations for sexual and reproductive health and rights, 25% of pregnant Nigerian women are at high risk of difficulties because they are carrying too many children.

According to the fertility expert who spoke, having more than four children, or too many pregnancies, is linked to a higher chance of mortality.

It is not ideal to have too many pregnancies that are too close together.

Three or two and a half years should pass between pregnancies.

"Pregnancies before the age of 18 and those after the age of 35 are linked to serious problems, particularly hypertension," he stated.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a preexisting medical problem might occasionally lead to a high-risk pregnancy.

In other situations, a pregnancy becomes high risk if a medical problem affects you or your unborn child throughout pregnancy.

You or your unborn child may be more susceptible to health issues prior to, during, or following birth if your pregnancy is high-risk.

Usually, extra care or observation is required throughout pregnancy. Recognize the danger signs of a high-risk pregnancy, and what you can do to take care of yourself and your baby”, Mayo Clinic said.

The Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria in 2022 raised the alarm over the high rate of maternal death in the country, lamenting that Nigeria is far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births.

With an estimated 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, Nigeria's maternal mortality rate is still among the highest in the world, according to SOGON, which used data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey.

In order to prevent females from beginning to procreate before the age of 18, Ladipo advocated for the elimination of child marriage and urged them to attend education.

Regardless of gender or sex, the gynecologist recommended that men and women be happy with having three or no more than four children.

However, he disapproved of Nigeria's prejudice against male and female children.

Every child is a gift from God, and if given the chance, they may all contribute to the country's general development. As such, every child should be a wanted child.

"If a mother has four children of the same sex, why would she be seeking a male or female child?

Ladipo said, "She should be happy with four girls or sons since the next pregnancy might be the only one she has; she might die of the fifth or sixth pregnancy."