4 months PP EMCS and pregnant again

[jolls91]

Hi guys,

I am 4 months PP, I had an emergency C Section. My husband and I hadn't been actively trying for a baby - but it was a case of it happens it will happen.

Today I took a test and found I am pregnant. My mom said it's too soon due to c sec (she had two children naturally in the same year).

I was so overjoyed, but now I'm a little scared. Has anyone got any similar experience of this they can share?

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Don’t worry too much as a lot of women have children within a year or just over a year of having their first child.

I sadly have no experience but I would contact a gp and try make contact with a midwife quite quickly to discuss. I was told not to get pregnant within 6 months of my c section. I got pregnant 14 months after and my scar has been quite sensitive with the stretching being quite uncomfortable at times. At every appointment, the consultants and midwives have said ideally it takes 18 months for the body to recover from pregnancy.

@jolls91 you'll likely not be allowed to go full term and size of baby will be monitored. It's very soon after a c sec to be pregnant again. I have seen an amazing private woman's health physio and she said the body takes 2 years to really recover from a c-sec (even if you feel fine, so much is going on inside), but she said wait until your baby is 10 months to even think about trying, ideally longer. Best of luck - it won't be the first time so I'm sure the hospital and doctors will be able to have a plan in place for you!

That’s a lot for your body. Didn’t they tell you about being fertile after birth and contraception?!

I'm nearly 14m after having an emergency c section myself and planning to have another baby soon. Ideally this will be the last! Number 7!
All ny other children were vaginal birth. And boy, is that easier.
After I had my last baby, at the start of Jan last year, the midwives told me not to get pregannt for a minimum of 12 months after having a c-section due to uterine rupture etc. That really freaked me out. But we weren't on any contraceptive at all because I literally can't get pregnant whilst breastfeeding. I never get periods until a year to a year and a half and then boom , I have one period and fall pregnant , haha. But I was just telling my husband that we are passed one year, my body has been healing nicely, we could have another..... But I am petrified of having another c-section. I would hate that, really....
I preferred my natural births. Even the worst ones. I hated the csection and the recovery is awful.

I think you're so soon after having a csection (i mean you're just 4 months on) and I don't know if any of the midwives discussed with you uterine rupture. But I would still proceed with talking to midwife or gp to see whats best going forward. I wish you all the best.

It’s important you go into this fully aware of the increased risk of serious complications.

I personally would not continue with a second pregnancy so soon after a cs, and with a baby reliant on me.
You’ve had major surgery- I’d advise thinking very carefully about the risks vs benefits.

Your mum’s concerns are valid. X

You should have been advised to avoid a second pregnancy for 12 months as part of your post operative after care.

Not your fault but Its unfortunate that you weren’t made aware of the risks.

However, you are where you are. I’d advise seeking medical opinion and making an informed choice based on that information.
Be realistic about the additional care/ monitoring required in a high risk pregnancy and the support from your partner and family you will need should you face complications (such as premature delivery, longer spells spent in hospital) and how that might impact you and your family.

No judgement from me whatever you decide.

Some of these replies are completely doom mongering and factually wrong.
Your scar internally should be fine. You will be asked to keep an eye on your scar, and may be offered a c/s before 40 weeks. Unless there's anymore complications, that's it.
Speak to someone medically qualified.
And congratulations!

It’s not my intention to frighten the op but I don’t think it’s “doom mongering” to point out the risk of complications..

The link below may be useful

I was advised to wait 12 months. However, at my 6 weeks check my doctor advised that there's no need to wait.

My LO is definitely my priority so I'm going to contact my doctor today to try and measure the risks.

Thanks for the response x

My EMCS was horrific. I had gone into pregnancy thinking I would breeze childbirth.l

We had decided to the the delivery we wasn't going to have anymore (my husband has 3 from a previous relationship) but I come from a big family and wanted to my son to experience having siblings (living in the same house).

I'm sure you will be fine 🙂 x

Yes they did.
But I spoke with my GP at my 6 week who said it would be fine to have a baby.

Hello!

I fell pregnant 8 months after ECMS with my first. No one has said anything to me about it, though I was encouraged to have another ECMS again for my second (who is currently asleep in my arms!).

I wish you all the best!

Forgot to say. I was marked as a low risk pregnancy for my second.

I had a planned c section. When my DS was 6 m old I had frozen embryos transferred and my DD was born 15 months after her brother. I was nearly 41. No one raised any concerns about the time between them. Enjoy you pregnancy and family

Based on stats, in all probability you will have an uncomplicated pregnancy. You’re not the first woman to conceive during the post natal stage, and after surgery.

Ideally you should be more closely .monitored for possible issues. This is the NHS however so it’s important to be informed of your risks and the additional monitoring you should receive.

However, unless something was misinterpreted, your doctor completely ignored NICE guidelines in encouraging you to TTC six weeks after a CS birth.

Thats poor medical practice.

Hi this was me 30 years ago, 1992 was an ectopic pregnancy which needed surgery to remove a fallopian tube, 93 and 94 were emergency c sections.
I had the same worries your DM has. It's been fine. I was told there was a risk of the old scar rupturing and so would have to have baby at the hospital just in case anything went wrong. It didn't. The second C-section was for failure to progress same as the first. (Cervix didnt dilate enough both times).
It's been fine, we had 2 DD, they've always been very close. The first year was a particularly hard slog with two babies with vastly differing needs but we got through!
No problems with the scar site. My DH first wife went on to have 4 more children all by C section, all quite close together as she was late 30's by then and they had waited until the oldest 2 were 16 and 18. I'm pretty certain she's physically fine too.

Sorry OP I’ve had 2 sections and also been told both times to not try again for 12 months minimum. My midwife asked me about using contraception several times.

I don’t think the advice from your GP is correct. I would recommend you speak to a different one for advice about risk. At my 6 week check, I was told I could start doing ‘gentle exercise’, not conceive again.

As others have said, I believe the risk is mainly uterine rupture.

Why the rush for another baby?! I don’t get it.

Me! I have 13 months between mine and my first was EMCS-delivery too.

I had to go to VBAC clinic to discuss my preferred method of birth and received no arguments in response to ELCS.

The first 12-18 months post-birth are a blur though. Manic is the word!

My husband is almost 40 and I 32. I started my periods at 8, so assuming our chances in the future to conveice would be reduced.
My husband and I had discussed him having a vasectomy after the trauma of a CS. Booked him in for his consultation, and if he doesn't go ahead with it, he will never be able to have the procedure.
At my 6 weeks check the doctor and junior both said it was too soon for us to be making a decision like that as the probability we'd want another.
We had a change of heart when we knew the date was getting close.

Impending chaos. Im glad it's all gone well for you :)

This is reassuring

I spoke to my midwife today, who said it's mainly guidance. However, it doesn't mean we can't have a healthy pregnancy x

I got pregnant when my first was 5.5m after an emc I aimed for a vbac but it ended in a emc again

I’ll get slated for this but I think you’ve been really stupid and selfish actually. Trying for a baby when you’ve been told the risks. Even waiting just 2 more months would have been much safer.

@jolls91 that doctors needs to reread his study notes clearly. If you're in the UK which I presume you are, it is absolutely drilled into you that you should wait 12 months post c sec... plenty of people go 8/9 and have 2 c sections under 18 months but the second will be booked early. It isn't doom mongering to be armed with knowledge and understand the risks going forward. It is major abdominal surgery, cutting through 7 different layers that all need to knit back together smoothly.