Pregnancy after a C Section

[Journey2022]

Hi all,

Hoping for some advice on a C Section - I'm considering pros and cons of an elective C Section and have spoken extensively to my consultant Midwife but wanted to hear real stories to the below Qs:

How soon after a c section did you concieve again/or was told you can concieve again?

Did you struggle to concieve after having a c section?

Did you have issues with pregnancies following a c section (scar tissue/placenta issues I understand are a risk).

Thank you!

I had a emergency section in 2015 with my daughter and was told I had to wait least 6 months to try for another baby if i wanted too. Regrading how long it takes to consieve everyone is different, age, weight etc all different factors. I'm now pregnant with my 2nd child and are having another c section. Only because my labour with my daughter before the emergency was traumatic id rather just have it all booked and done. C sections are a longer recovery time tho and can take a couple of weeks to feel up and running afterwards. X

Also regrading being at risk after a c section I was told I am only due to having an emergency section while fully dialated I have the risk of early labour with this pregnancy. So they wil be checking my cervix at my 20 week scan. But they can be resolved by a stitch but i belive a elective section there may not be this risk x

I had emergency cs & was pregnant a year later. No issues conceiving & I chose to have elective cs but they encouraged me to try vbac

@Jolayla @ny20005
Thank you both I've been told and read not to get pregnant between 6-18 months after which is quite a long time frame.
This is my first baby and we concieved with letrozole fertility drugs. So it is at the back of my mind that it may be harder to concieve if I have a c section. I am keen to try again after about 8/9 months for a second. If I had to wait 12 months it would not be the end of the world though.

From being given the 'risks' by my Midwife there were the risks that worried me the most and I felt unsure of/that it may not be the right decision to have a c section.

Definitely don't hold back trying again if that's what you want but least wait 6 months. There are risks even with natural birth I would say c sections are safe from having one and not to worry. You do what you feel is best for you all the best xx

I got pregnant again after almost a year - we started trying after eight months though. Both were sections.
My cousin got pregnant three months after her section! Went on to have two more sections.

Hi Op!

I conceived on my first round of Letrazole last year and had been told I’d never conceive naturally. I chose to have an electric section in January for DS. I had an appointment with the consultant midwife who told me all the same risks as above, although when I asked her to put figures on things, turns out a lot of the ‘increased risks’ were increasing by 2/3/5/10% so never huge numbers. I loved my section, healed fantastically and the whole experience was great, much better than all of my friends who had had natural births.

In April I realised I still hadn’t had my period and so decided I would try and get a doctors appointment but knew they’d tell me to test before they’d see me, took the test and was amazed to see it was positive! Turns out I was 5.5 weeks pregnant.

I have already seen the consultant who’s attitude was ‘these things happen’, not really bothered but told me he would strongly advise against a VBAC, no problem for me as I want another section.

the only real risk is me going into natural labour as there is an increased risk of uterine rupture (although 5-10% increased risk so not huge) so it’s likely they will section at 38 weeks to ensure no natural labour.

I’m 18 weeks now, pregnancy has been a million times better than the last one (hg sickness, hospital admissions etc), no issues seen in 12 or 16 week scan and so far no problems. I’m seeing the consultant again at 28 weeks and if all is looking well I won’t see them again until section.

I might have waited a little longer if we’d have gone again with the Letrazole but hey, things happen!

Elective, not electric section 🙄

I had DD 3.5 years after delivering DS via section, he was elective. No issues conceiving, one miscarriage between births. I tried to a VBAC but DDs absolutely massive head and me developing sepsis put paid to that and we had an emergency section. Pregnancy was as easy as pregnancy can be, no real issues. I felt very well looked after during labour and section by Leeds general. They saved our lives when push came to shove. Breast fed for a year, my choice to stop.
Good luck lovely.

I had terrible periods (huge clots) after my ELCS (breech baby) and I struggled to conceive- it took 2 years. I had a repeat section for that birth (thankfully because the scar would have ruptured if I'd laboured). The hospital did repair the scar and my periods then went back to being completely normal.

I never had any issues with scar tissue or the placenta though. In fact the surgeon noted there was no scar tissue build up anywhere.

Basically there's a risk but I think the stats swing in your favour.

Pregnant with DS 5 months after having an emergency CS with daughter. Tried for a VBAC but ended up with another emergency CS (he was transverse). I don't regret a thing and his pregnancy was no more complicated than the first

I got told minimum 18 months before getting pregnant again after emergency C (so just over 2 year gap between births minimum).

it actually took much longer to conceive than first time (1st month first time, 8 months next time) can never prove exactly why but I was starting to worry about c section scaring.

anyway, we now have a 3 year gap once baby arrives

First DC August 2019 emergency c section. Second DC May 2023 elective c section. Took a year to conceive second time. No issues really. I have fertility issues and conceived first DC after a laparoscopy and tube flush.

I had EMCS in 2020 and conceived on 2nd cycle 2 years later. I was always going to follow the advice of the 18 month gap, but tbh I had a slow recovery initially, not actually being pain free for 7 months. I will be having an ELCS this time, no way in hell would I attempt a VBAC.

Hey OP,

Vaginal birth for DS1, EMCS for DS2 and then DS3.

I'm actually hoping for a VBAC this time around and have been doing a lot of research on Google Scholar (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7233729/ - really simple article that explains it well) and listening to The VBAC Link podcast.

For me, the risk of uterine rupture is about 0.5% and my Consultant is happy for me to give VBAC ago.

I'm sharing about my wish to have a VBAC so you know there's always a chance to have a VBAC after a CS.

I conceived DS3, 3 months after DS2's birth. No one was remotely annoyed I had not waited the 6 months my Consultant recommended me (MW actually said 12 months). And I was due to have a VBAC but DS3's water's went early and then needed EMCS as he was in distress from infection (totally unrelated to previous CS).

It's worth researching the risks for both CS and vaginal birth. Everyone can tell you horror stories for either but only you can decide what risks you can take.

Hi all thank you!

This does give me some hope a c section may not be a bad idea - particularly for my fertility. It feels like the best decision for my birth now though but I am torn on the decision and it mainly falls down to these worries! However my fear on a natural childbirth does seem to outweighs my fears of c section 😬

I had an emergency c section with my first. My second pregnancy was then twins. At 33 weeks my previous c section scar ruptured causisng a uterine rupture. The uterus has 3 layers 2 of the 3 layers of my uterus ruptured. This caused my twins to be born by emergency c section. Obviously being a twin pregnancy would of contributed to this rupture. As twins were just under 5lb each at birth. In the end all was fine. But a very traumatic birth with my twins spending 3 weeks in special care and I needed a blood transfusion and then serious blood clots and an uterine infection a week post birth. I don't want anymore children but any further pregnancy would not be advised for me now.

The thing is @Journey2022 , if you can't control your fear for a vaginal birth then there's a greater chance of intervention being required.

If you did want to consider a vaginal birth, you'd need to work through that fear first.

My first DS was born June 2021 via emergency C-Section. I'm due another DS end of October, currently 24 weeks. I was advised to wait 2 years before having another baby. No problems conceiving this time round.
I am consultant led this time, due to having a C Section last time, and a couple of other minor issues (not c section related). I now am trying to make the decision between a planned C Section or try for a VBAC. I was induced with my first which led to an emergency c section, I have said I'm not being induced again, but I am not against another C-Section. Hoping if I choose another one, it may be a bit more calm.
At my local hospital there is a 40% C section rate, although it is one of the highest in the country. I feel that the sections are not discussed enough, especially as they are so common. I did NCT which is very anti C sections. My thoughts were as long as me and the baby are healthy then I don't care how he came out. Definitely pros and cons/ risks to both.

I had a c-section in Oct 2021. I just got pregnant on my first try - still can't actually believe it. We DTD once when I guessed I was ovulating based on edd white discharge and boom.

I am a little worried myself about my uterus/scarring but probably unfounded. However, to answer your question, I actually got pregnant more quickly post c-section.

I'm pregnant again 9 months after a c section - you're classed as more high risk but definitely can happen fast!

Is everything all okay with this pregnancy?
Hoping to try for another baby around 6months pp but worried about complications

Yep all good so far! I had 9 months between pregnancies and would definitely say my scar is irritated but I think this is common after c section.

Just looking for some advice or experience. I had a C-section in Nov 23. My periods started again in February and very heavy. I use to be able to get away with no pads etc but now it's so heavy. Anyone had experience of this? Also worried it means deceased chance of getting pregnant again?