Social Media Debate Over the Timing of Shohei Ohtani’s Second Pregnancy… “Should You Avoid Getting Pregnant Within a Year of Giving Birth?” A Gynecologist’s Perspective

Shohei Ohtani (31) has been added to the “father list” for the birth of Mrs. Mamiko’s second child and will temporarily leave the team. While congratulations have poured in from around the world, some voices on social media have raised concerns about “the strain on the mother’s body” in light of the pregnancy occurring so soon after childbirth—a situation known as having children one year apart.

What are the risks when the interval between childbirth and the next pregnancy is short? How can a safe pregnancy and delivery of a second child be ensured? We asked Dr. Kenichiro Sakaguchi, Chairman of the Sangenjaya Art Clinic (quotes below are from Dr. Sakaguchi).

Did She Return to Work Too Soon!?

“It has been reported that when the interval between childbirth and the next pregnancy is short, the risks of preterm birth, low birth weight, fetal growth restriction, and maternal anemia increase. However, this is merely a statistical trend observed in the general population.The actual risk varies greatly depending on the mother’s age, health status, the course of her previous pregnancy and delivery, breastfeeding status, nutritional status, sleep patterns, and childcare environment.”

Pregnancy and childbirth cause significant changes in the mother’s body. After giving birth, it is important not only to recover physical strength but also to improve nutritional status by ensuring adequate intake of iron, folic acid, and other nutrients. In the case of children born one year apart, the physical strain is by no means small, as it is compounded by sleep deprivation caused by breastfeeding the first child and nighttime childcare.

The World Health Organization (WHO), with a view to reducing risks to both the mother and the newborn, recommends allowing a certain interval between childbirth and the next pregnancy; generally, it is considered desirable to wait approximately 24 months—or two years—between childbirth and the next pregnancy.

Organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) also recommend avoiding pregnancy intervals of less than six months and consulting a doctor to weigh the risks and benefits in cases where the interval is less than 18 months.

“While this is an important guideline, there are women who can safely conceive and give birth even with a short interval between pregnancies, provided their previous pregnancy went smoothly and they have recovered well. The key is to comprehensively evaluate each individual’s circumstances.”

On social media , some people are asking, “Is it even possible to get pregnant right after giving birth?” Dr. Sakaguchi explains:

“Generally speaking, once postpartum bleeding has subsided and a one-month checkup confirms that the mother’s recovery is proceeding without issues, you can consider resuming sexual activity. However, the appropriate timing for resuming sexual activity varies from person to person, depending on factors such as the condition of episiotomy or C-section scars, bleeding, pain, and physical condition due to breastfeeding or sleep deprivation.”

However, there is a common misconception.

“Menstruation may not resume immediately after childbirth, but the absence of a period does not mean you cannot get pregnant. Ovulation can occur even while breastfeeding, and the first postpartum ovulation typically occurs before menstruation resumes. Therefore, it is possible to become pregnant before your period returns. If you do not wish to become pregnant, you need to consider contraception when resuming sexual activity.”

In some cases, particularly careful management is required.

“If your previous delivery was by cesarean section, if you are an older pregnant woman, if you experienced preterm birth or fetal growth restriction in a previous pregnancy, or if you had complications such as preeclampsia or diabetes, it is important to discuss your next pregnancy thoroughly with your doctor.”

In particular, obstetricians and gynecologists often take a cautious approach to pregnancies following a cesarean section.

“With a cesarean section, a surgical scar remains on the uterus. While the visible scar heals relatively quickly, it takes time for the uterine muscle layer to fully recover. For this reason, many obstetricians and gynecologists recommend waiting about one year before the next pregnancy.”

Dr. Sakaguchi continued:

“If a woman becomes pregnant without allowing sufficient time after a cesarean section, the enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy or strong contractions during labor can increase the risk of uterine rupture, although this is rare. Of course, this does not happen to everyone, but careful monitoring is necessary if a pregnancy occurs.”

Pregnancy with Children Close in Age Isn’t Necessarily a Bad Thing

There are also benefits to having children close in age: you can start raising your next child while your memories of parenting the first are still fresh, you can reuse baby items, and the children are close in age and make good playmates for each other.

Even so, you’ll still need to care for your older child during the period of morning sickness, and they’ll still need to be held even while you’re pregnant. Nighttime crying and breastfeeding also overlap. There’s no doubt that having children close in age places a significant physical and mental strain on you.

“Support from a husband and family is essential for pregnancy, childbirth, and raising children born one year apart. While pregnancy and childbirth occur within a woman’s body, raising children is a responsibility supported by the entire family. Creating an environment where the mother doesn’t have to push herself too hard leads to a safe pregnancy and childbirth.”

How should we view the case of Mr. Otani and his wife, Mamiko? Dr. Sakaguchi explains:

“Since I don’t have access to their specific medical information, I cannot judge from the outside whether there were any risks. We should not jump to conclusions—such as assuming there were maternal complications or that the risks were high—based solely on information reported in the media.”

He also expressed concern about the heated debate on social media.

“Pregnancy and childbirth are highly individual matters. While there are certainly precautions to take with pregnancies occurring within a year of giving birth, that alone is not enough to judge whether it’s good or bad. It’s not as simple as saying it’s dangerous because the children are close in age, or that it’s irresponsible because the pregnancy occurred so soon after childbirth.”

Some parents of children born one year apart may have felt uncomfortable seeing the debate surrounding the birth of Ohtani’s second child. There are countless children born one year apart across the country, and each family is facing the challenges of raising them while dealing with their own concerns.

It’s important to have an accurate understanding of the medical risks. However, we must not forget that speculation and criticism based on ignorance can hurt those directly involved and others in similar situations. Rather than making blanket judgments about right and wrong, shouldn’t we strive to deepen our understanding based on accurate knowledge and adopt an attitude that respects each family’s choices?