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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

How long did you leave between pregnancies after a c section?

29 replies

Chocoholic26 · 13/06/2015 12:51

Hi there I had an emcs 7 weeks ago and am recovering well. Now I'm not planning on being pregnant in the immediate future but just wondering how long people waited before becoming pregnant again? This is our first dc and are hoping to have our family quite close together. Also if you had an emcs with dc1 did you elect to have one with dc2 or did you give birth naturally or another emcs? Thanks

OP posts:
VeryPunny · 13/06/2015 12:54

Had EMCS with DD, was pregnant again when she was a year old, so 19m gap. Had VBAC wth DS.

WinterBabyof89 · 13/06/2015 13:02

I got pregnant with DC3 6 months after an EMCS (following neonatal death of DC2) - this one will be another section due to previous complication.

Mulligrubs · 13/06/2015 13:03

i got pregnant again when my son was 15 months so there will be almost an exact 2 year gap. I am 18 weeks pregnant with DC2 now. I will be going for an elective over a VBAC

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 13/06/2015 13:17

I'll be having a 13 month age gap, currently pregnant with DC2 after emcs with DS. No one said anything to me about leaving a gap at a time, but I hear it all the time now. So I'm worried, but hopefully it'll be fine - bit late now anyway!

DurhamDurham · 13/06/2015 13:26

There's just under four years between my two girls. I had an emergency cs after a long labour with my first one.

I do t think the four year gap had much to do with me having had a cs more to do with the fact that we thought that was a good gap and it worked for us.

My second baby was born naturally after a 12 hour labour so completely different from my first one. I needed blood transfusions after both births but apart from that bounced back to health.

YoginiBump · 13/06/2015 13:43

I'm 14 weeks pregnant again and have a 14 month old son born with an ELCS (for medical reasons). My hospital/midwife seem fine about the 19 month gap however the sonographer on an early scan at 11 weeks pointed out that the baby was high up in the uterus which was good. She pointed out my C-Sec scar on the ultrasound and said the risk/concern with a 2nd pregnancy conceived under a year after first C-Sec (or more than 2 C-Sec in quick succession as there can be scar tissue build-up) is that the uterus implants into the scar tissue itself, making the pregnancy unviable and a managed miscarriage the recommended option. Very sad, as I had no idea this could even happen before I conceived a second time, but worth knowing in advance however small the risk if you are planning a second.

YoginiBump · 13/06/2015 13:45

foetus not uterus implants, that would be unique! ;-)

FoodPorn · 13/06/2015 13:46

Just over a year for me; a 22 month gap. I'm having another ELCS.

ashtrayheart · 13/06/2015 13:48

I've had 4 sections, 2 years between 1 and 2 then a large gap (different father!) 3 and 4 were 16 months apart Smile

FoodPorn · 13/06/2015 13:49

I forgot to say that my surgeon from the first ELCS recommended leaving 9 months + before getting pregnant again.

ElphabaTheGreen · 13/06/2015 13:52

I was told by a few midwives to wait at least a year after my EMCS to start TTC. I'm really surprised that this advice isn't given out routinely as it makes sense. Apart from the miscarriage issue stated above, you risk rupture along the scar as the uterus stretches, not to mention during labour if you go for VBAC, and things like placental abruption. DS1 was 18 months old when I fell pregnant with DS2. As he was born by ELCS (he was even bigger than DS1 so it would have just gone to EMCS if I'd tried a VBAC with him), I was told to wait at least 18 months this time, due to now having two scar lines.

MammaTJ · 13/06/2015 13:57

Nearly 10 years between DD1 and DD2, then DS was born when DD2 was 54 weeks old.

I did have an EMCS with DD2, but was not given any advice about when to get pregnant again.

eurochick · 13/06/2015 15:29

At my six week check my consultant said to wait for the six month mark then it was fine. I haven't tested it though!

lunalovegood84 · 13/06/2015 17:38

We are planning to TTC when DS is around 2 (he's about to turn 1), although an accidental pregnancy before then wouldn't bother us at all. Hoping for a vbac as we'd probably like a few more children.

Original poster
Chocoholic26 · 14/06/2015 10:53

Thanks ladies, some good advice ?xx

OP posts:
meglet · 14/06/2015 11:01

I asked the gp about this ager my EMCS. He said it wouldn't be a disaster if they were close between but it would be best to wait at least 6 months before becoming pregnancy again. In the end I had 22 months between my EMCS and planned cs. no problems with either.

Number3cometome · 14/06/2015 12:12

I had a EMCS with DS1, then 4 years later a ELCS DD.
Currently expecting DS2 (8 years later) and having an ELCS.
Been told in no uncertain terms not to get pregnant for 'several years' due to risk of complications.

TheEagle · 14/06/2015 12:20

I had an EMCS with DS1 and was given no advice about deferring any future pregnancy.

Got pregnant with the DTs when DS1 was 10.5 months old.

The plan was for an ELCS because the first twin was breech but they had other ideas, arriving by EMCS.

My recovery this time was vastly quicker than the first time, probably because my labour was much shorter - 2 hours from waters breaking to babies being born as opposed to 22 hours and an anaesthetic the first time.

cherryade8 · 14/06/2015 14:35

The obstetrician recommended waiting at least a year before ttc after a section, this is to give the uterus the best chance to heal.

namechangeobvs · 14/06/2015 16:14

I got pregnant 1 month after emcs with ds1, due to pre-eclampsia. Currently 13 weeks pregnant. Have had booking in appt and 12 week scan and haven't had a single negative comment from any hc professional.

Will be opting for an elcs this time; so scared of something terrible happening with a vbac. Also, absolutely terrified of being in labour, as I didn't even have a single contraction first time around.

Shootingstar2289 · 14/06/2015 16:58

I know a lady who had two within a year. Not sure if it is recommended but she fell pregnant shortly after having her first!

marshmallowpies · 14/06/2015 17:02

My second pregnancy would have been due 18 months after DD1 was born, but after a miscarriage I got pregnant again very fast and in the end I have a 2 year 10 month gap between DCs (both ELCS)

SlicedPan · 14/06/2015 17:06

I had 2 years between dc1 and dc2, and 2 years 4 mo between dc2 and dc3. No problems.

IBelieveInPink · 14/06/2015 17:08

I got pregnant when my dd (emcs) was 11 months old. I'm having an elcs in 2.5 weeks, she'll be 19 months then.

silverfingersandtoes · 14/06/2015 17:15

Wasn't given any advice after EMCS of DC1 - had a 13 month gap before giving birth to 9lb4 DC2. Naturally. Shock
All of us fit and healthy.