Any year we’re gifted with a Met Gala look from Rihanna is a big deal, but this year, she walked the red carpet with a special accessory: a baby bump.
The Fenty Beauty CEO arrived at the New York event wearing a Marc Jacobs skirt-suit (in line with the Superfine: Tailoring Black Style theme) proudly showing off her pregnant stomach.
Her partner, rapper A$AP Rocky, later confirmed the happy news to reporters: ‘It’s time that we show the people what we was cooking up,’ he shared.
The news marks the couple’s third baby in three years. In May 2022 their first son RZA, was born, and a second boy, Riot, arrived in August 2023.
NHS guidance actually advises would-be parents to wait 18 to 24 months after one baby, before attempting your next pregnancy.
But Rihanna isn’t alone in having children so close together – a US study found that 27% of pregnancies are conceived within 18 months of a previous birth.
So, what does having babies in quick succession do to your body? From the wince-worthy to the oh-so-impressive, Metro asked the experts.
Your pelvic floor is affected
As Tiffany Sequeira, specialist pelvic health physiotherapist tells Metro, ‘pregnancy places significant stress on the pelvic floor muscles’, which need time to heal and recover.
These muscles should be thought of like a ‘supportive hammock’ that holds up not only the uterus, but the bladder and bowel, too.
She explains: ‘When pregnancies are closely spaced, the pelvic floor may not have adequate time to regain strength and function, increasing the risk of issues such as pelvic organ prolapse.’
Pelvic organ prolapse is where one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and ‘bulge into the vagina’. This can be the womb (uterus), bowel, bladder, or top of the vagina, according to the NHS. It isn’t life threatening, but can cause pain and discomfort.
The impact on the pelvic floor will be felt whether you deliver naturally or via Caesarean.
‘When someone has babies close together, they’re not only recovering from carrying one baby but are also physically lifting and caring for their newborn and potentially another young child,’ Tiffany adds.
‘This increases the daily load on the pelvic floor without enough time for proper rehabilitation, making issues like incontinence, prolapse, or pelvic pain more likely.’
Ab muscles separate
The human body is capable of amazing things – and diastasis recti has got to be up there. This is when the abs separate during pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby.
However, back-to-back babies can cause issues with how your abs recover.
‘Normally, these muscles gradually come back together postpartum, but with back-to-back pregnancies, the healing process may be disrupted,’ says Tiffany.
‘This can lead to decreased core strength, lower back pain, and pelvic girdle pain.
Without what she calls ‘targeted rehabilitation,’ Tiffany says these symptoms can persist or even worsen.
Disrupted hormones
Any new mum will tell you the hormonal roller-coaster after birth is a wild ride.
Thankfully, your hormone levels typically normalise within three to six months, but as Tiffany explains, breastfeeding can ‘extend this timeline due to elevated prolactin, which suppresses ovulation’.
It means you can still be in a ‘hormonal state’ when you conceive again.
‘This can lead to emotional and physical fluctuations, making it a particularly complex time for your body to navigate,’ says Tiffany.
This can also affect milk production, according to Shazia Malik, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at The Portland Hospital.
Elsewhere, closely spaced pregnancies can also impact your body’s nutrients, as it may not have fully replenished vital stores of things like iron, calcium and folate before the next pregnancy begins.
‘This can increase the risk of maternal anaemia and bone density issues, as pregnancies and breastfeeding can have an effect on bone thinning due to hormonal changes and calcium metabolism changes – even affecting teeth,’ Shazia adds.
Boobs change shape
Your boobs go through a pretty amazing transformation when your little one arrives. First they produce colostrum (a bright yellow substance nicknamed ‘liquid gold’ that’s full of goodness for babies). Then your milk comes in (although the timeline of this varies from woman to woman).
One big downside though is engorgement – when your boobs become swollen and painful as your body works out how much milk it needs to produce (or not) for your individual baby.
When things settle down, you can potentially be left with increased ptosis (sagging). And, surprise surprise, recovery time is once again impacted by having babies close together.
‘The tissues repeatedly expand and contract without adequate recovery time,’ Shazia explains.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Not only will you have multiple joyous babies who are close in age, but Shazia shares that some people develop an ‘increased intuitive awareness’ of their bodies post-pregnancy.
This includes ‘being able to sense subtle changes in their hormonal cycles with remarkable accuracy’ – and some parents have reported almost developing a ‘sixth sense’ regarding their ‘children’s needs before obvious signs appear.’
‘Physically speaking, many women discover newfound strength,’ Shazia concludes.
‘Both literally in terms of what their bodies can endure, and figuratively in navigating the challenges of motherhood.’
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