How big a gap between c-sections? Help Please xx

[AlwaysTheMummy]

My son was born June 2003 by emergency section, my daughter was born December 2007 by elective section.

I really really want another baby but am worried about another pregnancy so soon after having a section, I don't want to put me or the baby at risk.

How big are the gaps between your sections please?

Thanks in advance xx

[PotPourri]

I don't know, but my friend said her doctor said 2 years. Someone in the know might come along soon.....

[needmorecoffee]

I had a 14 month gap between the first two (was preg by when number 1 was 6 months old) and then a 20 month gap between numbers 2 and 3. Ended up with 3 kids under 3
Had number 4 8 years later by vaginal birth.
If you become pregnant, no-one would suggest a termination just cos of the gap.
Good luck and just you have the energy for you know what!!!!

[cushioncover]

I haven't had a section so cannot advise on that but I'm sure you're advised to wait 1 year between any pregnancies to allow your body to recover sufficiently. Don't forget you've had surgery.

I'm not trying to sound dismissive but are you sure you really want another baby so soon? Are you sure it's not just your hormones playing tricks on you. I ask because each time mine got to around 3mths I became mad broody woman. It gradually wore off after about 6mths though.

If you're sure it's what you want, ask your GP for the current medical advice.
I'm sure those on here who know more will be along soon. Good Luck.

[napa]

advised to wait a year before becoming pregnant to regain iron stores and ensure body is healed from cs (uterus scar esp)

[PotPourri]

Erm, jsut realised the 2 years I quoted before was for VBAC. SoI guess that means in theory you could have one sooner. would agree that it takes ALOT out of me getting pregnant within a year, and the pregnancy was harder (more heartburn, sore ligaments/pelvis etc)

[Megglevache]

Message withdrawn

[moodlumthehoodlum]

15 months between my emergency section and my planned section. I was fine, my scar was fine, I think the only danger is that the less the gap, the harder it is to manage, and therefore you're more likely to overdo it, but as you've been through it all before you'll know what to do!

[AlwaysTheMummy]

Thanks for the advice and taking time out to reply.

needmorecoffee - I don't have the energy, lol,

Cushioncover - I think it def is the hormones making me broody

napa - I was thinking it was a year, I wouldn't want to risk scar rupturing,

[AlwaysTheMummy]

Megglevache - not rambly at all nobody has said to me how long to leave it either, the only thing the midwife said when she was pulling out my staples - ouch - was if I was gonna do the business to use condoms as I could still get pregnant and I wouldn't want another baby in 9 months time no mention about the section, all I thought was, you've just pulled out 13 staples, I'm still walking like quasimodo, do you really think I want to do anything other than sleep, lol.

Moodlum - 15 months, thats good to know, did you handle the first few weeks ok with having a toddler and a baby?

[moodlumthehoodlum]

Always - I have to be honest, I did struggle with the two, but the advantage is that, because I couldn't physically do much because of the surgery, everyone rallied round and helped me out, because I had to have the help. Maybe if I'd not had the section, family and dh would have been a little bit more relaxed (and thus me more stressed!) (IYKWIM!). I also had a very bad hernia afterwards which had happened in my 1st pg and got worse in 2nd pg, so I was pretty useless.

You cope though, instinct kicks in, and, as long as you get help with the buggy (ie lifting in and out of the car) its OK.

[cazzybabs]

I was advised to wait a year before TTC folling my emergency Cs.

[Denny185]

4 years between DD (elective) and DS (emergency) but pregnant again this time when DS only 8 months old. No trial of scar for VBAC this time, advised (and quite happy with) to go straight for section as scar still rel new. Not been a problem through prgnancy though - hope i havnt just junxed myself for the last 5 weeks.

[mumofdjandp]

needmorecoffee so you had 3 sections and a vaginal birth wow I didnt think they would let you do that!!!

[hippocampus]

I had 3 sections in just over 3 years, and no problems (apart from the 3 children that is)

MW did tell me I should think about a break if I was planning a fourth though

[needmorecoffee]

not a question of being allowed. Its a right to have a vabc if you want one. They did make a monumental fuss though and I had to get AIMS to tell the head of midwifery to quit phoning me with tales of dead babies.
I researched scar rupture and discovered the chances of things going wrong was much much higher than a rupture. And was proved right.
My scar didn't rupture, the labour was totally normal and quick but something else went wrong instead which could have happnened to anyone.
But thats birth, always a small chance of a problem.
Having said all that, least wtih a section you ain't sitting on the stitches. Ouch.

[eidsvold]

i had three sections: 2 yrs 4 months between each.

Dd1 aug 02
dd2 nov 04
dd3 mar 07.

[minster]

I have almost exactly 6 years between my two sections. My OB said to wait 6 months before ttc a third - she said the scar will be as strong as it will ever be by then.

[mumofdjandp]

wow can I ask after 3 sections needmorecoffee what was a normal birth like? I have always wondered....

[needmorecoffee]

its like pushing a watermelon out of your bottom.

[stuffitllama]

17 months, no problems with vbac

[stuffitllama]

oh just completely ignore me i thought you were talking about how long to give birth after a c-section sorry sorry sorry