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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Pregnancy after a c-section, how long to wait?

17 replies

Gatorade · 02/06/2012 22:03

My DD is 3.5 months old and was born by emergency section. At my 6 week check the doctor explained that it is advisable to wait for 12 months before getting pregnant again, at the time I didn't ask too many questions as I was in the depths of newborn exhaustion!

My DH and I have recently been talking about when to start trying for DC2 and we have come to the conclusion that we would, if possible/safe maybe like to start trying to conceive when DD is 6 months old.

So, some questions: Is this safe? What are the risks and would extra monitoring be required given that it would only be 6 months since C-section (if we were lucky enough to conceive straight away).

I had pregnancy induced hyper-tension with DD, not sure if this has any bearing on anything.

Also, the first birth was rather horrendous (cord prolapse) and it was only down to the very fast acting and wonderful midwives/doctors that DD survived, as I had a c-section the first time, would I be able to request an elective this time?

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJubilee · 03/06/2012 11:01

Don't really know the answer to your main question but didn't want you to go unanswered.

As for the elective, I think most hospitals are happy to do electives if you've had a previous emergency section.

DialMforMummy · 03/06/2012 11:11

I was in your situation.
You are meant to wait a bit to give time to your uterus to scar properly. It could rupture in labour although the chances are quite low.
They are likely to suggest a VBAC (they have targets ) but if you want a elcs it should not be a problem.
I became pg with DS2 when DS1 was 9 mo ( did not think I was going to be pg again so soon!). I was under consultant care but apart from a couple of -pointless- extra appt, there was no difference.
It could be worthwhile waiting a wee bit longer to give the old uterus time to recover.

harrygracejessica · 03/06/2012 21:43

My 1st was 8 months when we decided to start trying for number 2, little did we know it would happen straight away so he was 8 months and it was twins this time so extra weight, the consultant wasnt worried in the slightest but I wish I had given my body slightly longer to get over the 1st pregnancy to be honest!

Smallwonder · 03/06/2012 21:51

Congratulations on your DD.
I had 3 children under the age of 3 which meant 3 c-sections. I was fine, I am having my fourth this week, also another elective and I did ask the consultant at DC3's birth how I was looking, she said, fine but wait a couple of years for another. I did, and hopefully all will be well.
DC1 was 5 months when i conceived DC2 and he was 18 months when DC3 arrived. Won't be doing anymore though!
Best of luck to you. :)

Meglet · 03/06/2012 21:56

(this was 5 years ago now BTW).

My first was an uncomplicated EMCS, I was 32 and very fit. At my 6 week check up I asked my GP what would happen if I accidentally got pregnant again, despite being on the pill, and he said it shouldn't be a disaster but it was more sensible to wait at least 6 months.

In the end I got pregnant with DD 13 months after my EMCS. No complications and a planned CS with a good recovery.

Lunarlyte · 04/06/2012 10:24

Reading this thread with interest, ladies - thanks OP for the post.

My DD2 was born by ELCS 6 weeks ago and should we decide in the future to have a DC3 (or have a happy accident!) I would have another ELCS. I much preferred it to DD1s VB.

You just hear so much contrasting advice, that it's useful to read real experiences :)

york67 · 04/06/2012 14:35

I had an emergency section with dd. I was never told we needed to wait. As we took a long time to conceive 1st we started trying at 6 months. I was pregnant when dd was 9 months but sadly we lost it. I did wonder whether we tried too soon but I was told no. Conceived again really quickly and have a 2 year gap between my 1st two.

AlpinePony · 04/06/2012 14:46

I was told to wait 6 months after my emcs. We actually started trying at 5 months because I am ancient/impatient and conceived at 10 months. I had my elcs this February and my consultant said my uterus was in perfectly good nick and good to go again. Alas, pregnancy is a cruel mistress to me and I shall not be doing it again.

HybridTheory · 05/06/2012 22:41

We started trying when #1 was 6 months (after ELCS) got pregnant straight away so have 15 months between them. Very straightforward pregnancies (both) and a second ELCS by choice with #2 - no problems and quick recovery.

bonzo77 · 05/06/2012 22:54

At my 6 week check I asked the same thing. The doctor said 12 months would be best but if it happened sooner it would probably be ok. I think the shorter the interval between pregnancies the greater the risk of uterine rupture with a vbac, so you are more likely to get an ELCS.

Daisybell1 · 06/06/2012 05:14

Oops, maybe I should have read this a few weeks ago.

dd is 8 months old, and I'm 6+3 weeks with number 2.

Oh dear...

roundtable · 06/06/2012 06:40

Yep, me too daisy, my ds is 8 months and I'm 11 weeks.

I was told 3 months. Just like every aspect of pregnancy it seems, so much conflicting advice.

AlpinePony · 06/06/2012 07:36

daisy Please try not to worry about it - as roundtable says, there's so much conflicting advice. If I were in your shoes I'd try and take a pragmatic approach and say that if your body feels that it is capable of sustaining a pregnancy then you will be able to get pregnant - as you are.

The thing you actually need to worry about is where to get your best earplugs because screaming in stereo is quite an experience!

Billy11 · 07/06/2012 02:16

i was told even with a vaginal birth to give my body time to heal...all my joints and uterus ...this time im having an elective c section ...minimum one year ive been told to wait...after my baby comes in august..
it has always taken us a year to coneive then i had a miscarriage so now there is 3 years between my daughter and baby ...i really dont want to wait longer than 6 months cuz i dont think i will conceive anyway for a year after ...

LaBoda · 18/02/2020 10:59

I was told two years - I had an emergency C - but I am not sure If that is to get preg or to give birth. So I need to make an app to ask the question. Keen to try around the 1 year old mark for baby #2 if I am able. Dont want to leave it too long.

BabyLlamaZem · 23/02/2020 20:25

I think the hard thing is if you want more children via cs the longer you wait between is better. WHO suggest waiting months between pregnancies anyway as the body needs to recover and if you wait less than a year apparently there is increased chance of miscarriage. Maybe book a gp appointment to discuss?

Kdm98 · 04/09/2020 18:09

Hi I had my little boy 11 months ago today through a emergency c section and I'm 16 weeks pregnant and dont no the best way to go about having bn2 i need some one who has been in the same situation to explain if it is safe to have a natural birth or is it better to have another c section just dont know which way to go

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