To TTC 5 months after a C section?

[Vicsleighbob]

I had a baby 5 months ago by C section. It was originally planned as my baby was breech but ended up an emergency C section after I went into labour. I have recovered well with no post surgery complications.

This baby is my husband and I's first child together. We both have other children from a previous relationship. Our other children are older, with the smallest age gap being almost 9 years. We always said that we would love two children close together so that they could grow up close, as the others will probably have left home by early childhood.

Now the aibu. I'm 38 and my husband is 44. It took a year and two miscarriages to conceive this baby. We were even told at a fertility review that it might not happen at all without IVF as I have low ovarian reserve. We were very fortunate to have this much longer for baby. Would I be crazy to start ttc again now, knowing all of this and after only having a baby 5 months ago? I would love a sibling for this baby but I know everyone will think we're crazy. Wwyd?

Sorry for the long post!

I would talk to your doctor about the implications and risks, whether any issues arose with your section, etc.

I know how you feel.

I got pregnant 6 months after a c-section. Like you I had age concerns (I was 42) so didn't want to wait. I had a MMC which is another story but I think proves that my body was trying hard to hold onto the baby (which at my age was probably miscarried because of a chromosome defect) and capable of carrying it if it had been healthy. No need for sympathies BTW- I had the second child I wanted the next year.
I think the longer you leave between c-sections the better, but there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether it's x number of months between births or x number of months between a birth and getting pregnant again. I've heard 18 months between births is advised, which means you getting pregnant in 3 months time or any time after that. I don't believe an additional month or two would make that much difference if you healed well.
Some women are more fertile after having a baby, even if they struggled with the first, and I got pregnant fairly easily with a low AMH (plenty of women do- just look it up in the TTC forum), so don't assume it's going to be difficult. But I think TTC fairly soon is a good idea for you. Good luck!

The main risk is uterine rupture, and all studies I've seen agree that there's an increased risk with fewer than 6 months between pregnancies.

Beyond that point, the studies differ. One concluded that after 6 months there was no difference - another found there was a 4.8% risk of rupture with less than 9 months between pregnancies, decreasing to 1.9% for 9 to 15 months and to 1.3% beyond that. So it depends how comfortable you are with the risk.

After my first c-section I was told to wait 12 months before getting pregnant again. It was about an increased risk of uterine rupture.

One of my friends is an OB/GYN who told me she’s seen uterine rupture once in her career and it’s one of the worst things that can happen to a woman in labour. That convinced me to wait.

I would seek your doctor’s advice on this. They can advise you specifically based on your personal circumstances.

You have to weigh up the risks - increased risk of placenta accreta, increased risk of placental abruption, increased risk of haemorrhage or scar rupture, increased risks of miscarriage and still birth. The risks, overall remains small but increased from if you were to wait until 12 months post op. Weigh up those risks (the liklihood of which is based on your particular circumstances) with the risk of not conceiving again and then make your decision.

In your position I may well go for it.

I was 39 when I had my first via c section. I asked the doctor and she said physically it should be ok, but basically are you nuts? (In a nice way!). DS was pretty much a newborn. But I know where you're coming from. I was very aware I didn't have forever and knew I wanted another one.

I'm 42 now and 39 weeks pregnant. I did have 2 miscarriages last year - no idea whether the previous c section had a bearing on that as nothing was explained, but I'd be more inclined to attribute it to my age.

I would talk to the doc but ultimately it's your choice. Wish you all the best

Thank you all for replying. It's given me things to think about. I'm conscious that my clock is ticking but obviously don't want to put myself at risk. Especially when I already have a small baby and other children to think about. I'll have a chat with my gp when I get chance and go from there.