Pregnancy after a C Section?

[slippeddisc]

Can anyone give me any advice as to when it's safe to get pregnant again after having a CS. My Health visitor said wait at least 6 months for the scar tissue to heal in case the uterus tears due to stretching in pregnancy...is that correct, (she seemed a bit vague to be honest)

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

Did you have a decent stitcher to sew up your scar? Have you had any problems with it since?

[biglips]

6 months!!!

did u have a elective c-section?

[LittleMissNorty]

I was told 12 months by my midwife

[lulumama]

the uterus is more likely to come apart during labour, if at all, and the risk is very, very small. however , c.section is major surgery and advice varies between 6 months to 18 months.

[TheMadHouse]

I do not know what the advice is, but I have 15 months between my boys, therefore, I was about 5 months when I fell and the scar was fine, no pain at all.

But I would check with your GP or midwife.

I ended up with another section, but they did agree to a trial by VBAC, which I would have had if they had not been complications

[midnightexpress]

Like madhouse, I've got 14.5 months between my two and the scar was fine, though I was told by the doctors that I should leave it a bit longer next time if I'm thinking of having more. They suggested at least a year, but i've heard longer.

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

I had 2 yrs 4 months from my scar to my next baby and the scar was fine. I then had another baby 22 months after that and it nearly ruptured.

[slippeddisc]

Thanks for that everyone! Yes decent stitcher, and yes again it was an elective due to health problems.

Main reason for asking, is that I'm 41 now and had my DD 6 weeks ago (first child) so time not exactly on my side

[whomovedmychocolate]

Okay, there's a couple of things - scar rupture is much lower with lower uterine horizontal incisions. Do you have a smile scar in your pubic hair area? If so, hopefully it will be double layer stitched, this is standard practice in the UK these days. These are all good points in favour of not having a scar rupture.

If you have a classical incision the risks are doubled but again, still low.

Pregnancy in itself doesn't usually cause scar rupture but labour obviously can. In cases where the gap is less than a year consultants often recommend a repeated caesarian. If you are fine with this - go forth and multiply!

FYI I was born nine and a half months after my brother, he was a section, I was a VBAC!

[slippeddisc]

Thanks wmmchoc...yes smile scar, had disolvable stitches rather than staples (if that makes a difference) Healing very well...was popping Arnica like crazy after birth and convinced that helped!

[Megglevache]

Message withdrawn

[whomovedmychocolate]

Slippeddisc - it may take you a while to conceive so why don't you just try and see what happens. If you do get pregnant this month, you'll have another nine months scar knitting before it becomes an issue.

[slippeddisc]

Good advice Many thanks!

[NAB3wishesfor2008]

It will still be stretching though as your bump grows. I would seek professional advice and get them to check it.

[hattyyellow]

I was told by the consultant at the hospital to wait a year...he said your body needs a year to recover from a pregnancy...