Former child star Brandon 'Bug' Hall, 41, is defending a GoFundMe he launched less than a month before his wife, Jill Marie DeGroff, is due to give birth to their sixth child. One critic told him to stop having children if he cannot afford them.

Hall answered, 'I'm going to keep impregnating my wife.' He told another critic, 'Nah. I'm busy building a farm and feeding my family and community.' The exchange has brought a medical question into focus: how long should someone wait after giving birth before becoming pregnant again?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says one in three women become pregnant again sooner than recommended, which can be risky for both the mother and the foetus. An interval under six months carries the highest risk.

Spacing Guidelines Explained

Waiting at least 18 months gives the body time to recover and lowers the chances of gestational diabetes, preterm birth and low birth weight. Waits of five to 10 years, however, are linked to certain complications.

A World Health Organization (WHO) technical consultation recommended at least 24 months before attempting the next pregnancy after a live birth. The aim is to reduce adverse maternal, perinatal and infant outcomes.

Mayo Clinic says most people should wait 18 to 24 months, but less than five years, after a live birth. The best timing may differ for people older than 35 or those who have had a caesarean.

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Recovery Risks for Mother, Baby

A pregnancy within six months of a live birth raises the mother's risk of anaemia, the clinic says. It also notes that pregnancy and breastfeeding can lower stores of folate and iron.

Such a pregnancy also carries higher risks of premature birth and low birth weight for the baby. The clinic cautions that research has not made clear whether spacing is the cause.

The college adds that high blood pressure and gestational diabetes can linger after birth. Consistently high blood pressure or blood sugar could harm the next pregnancy, it says.

A caesarean birth creates a greater need to wait, the college says, because the uterine incision needs time to heal. Getting pregnant too soon after one carries a risk that the uterus can tear open during labour.

Hall's Family and the Fundraiser

No details have been shared on whether timing is a concern for Hall's family. His son was born in 2024, but nothing in the reports shows how his children's births were spaced.

The campaign began with a $2,000 (£1,490) goal and has raised more than $23,000 (£17,100). Hall wrote that he had fallen behind on a few bills, including his phone bill, propane for the camper and an unexpected electric hookup service fee.

The family is living in a camper in rural Arkansas while preparing a home site. Hall said he hoped to finish that work within two weeks so he could take jobs until the baby arrives.

In January, Hall said he had taken a 'vow of poverty' and wanted a life 'as free of any need for an income as possible.' He said he had donated his child-acting earnings to charity.

Weighing Personal Circumstances

The WHO consultation said individuals and couples should weigh health risks and benefits alongside age, access to healthcare services, child-rearing support and social and economic circumstances. It said personal preferences also matter.

The college notes that some families find it hard to care for children born close together, logistically and financially. Both the college and the clinic describe the timing of another baby as a personal decision.

The clinic adds that there is no perfect time to have another baby. The college says an ob-gyn can help families decide.

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