Quick succession babies shorten mother 's life

New research based on data from the UK and US shows that women who have less than an 18 month interval between babies have a higher mortality rate.

Mothers who have babies in rapid succession could be putting their physical and emotional health at risk, experts said.

The study also provided further evidence of the link between teenage motherhood and poorer health in later life.

This may be why, in part, Maori women have a shorter life expectancy.