Pregnancy After C-section - Did You Wait Less than the "Prescribed" One Year?

I got pregnant when my daughter, who was delivered by c section, was 9 months old. I had a normal healthy pregnancy and was even allowed to attempt a VBAC, which I unfortunately failed at. Anyway, as long as I was "delivering" at 18 mos past my last c section I was allowed to attempt a vbac. I think concieving before a year would be just fine, and it might only comprimise how you deliver. Good luck! :)

Well, I unexpectedly got pregnant 9 months after having my son be C-section. I was 35 at the time and had a completely healthy, normal pregnancy. Having had a successful vaginal delivery with my first and needing the C-section only becuase my son was breech, my doctor okayed me to try for a VBAC with #3. My daughter was born healthy right on her due date and I had no complications. She and my son are almost exactly 18 months apart in age. Best of luck!

Wow. This is a tough one. The World Health Organization recommends three years between kids as the optimal birth spacing. Obviously, here in America, we have access to better nutrition and medical care than many places; still, there are risks to both mom and baby when pregnancies occur too close together that are purely biological. Besides the worry about the c-section scar, you also have to think about whether your body is up to growing another baby over 10 months. Too- closely spaced children is a big risk factor for miscarriage and pre-term birth-- something that you are already at increased risk of being near 40. Many women are still anemic a 6-12 months after child birth. And, obviously, the risks of having a child with Down's Syndrome goes from 1:139 to 1:109 between 39 and 40-- can you handle a special needs child when you have another so young at home? These are HUGE and difficult questions and I think you need to find a doctor you trust and have a very serious conversation with them about wether your body is ready to handle this vs. the risk of waiting.

(this is to say nothing about whether YOU and your husband are ready to handle it... that is a totally different question you guys will have to decide together.) In the end, get informed and make a decision you are comfortable with-- there are no guarantees in life whatever you do, only probabilities.

Hi J.,

Are you completely healed from inside out from your C-Section?

If you are, you can go ahead and start trying. If not, I'd wait until completely healed.

In the mean time, apply massage lotion to your abdomen at least once a day and massage the scar area well in the process to make it supple.

Hope this helps. Good luck. D.

I know lots of people (including myself) who got pregnant less than a year after having a c-section with no problems at all and I don't know anyone who has had a problem.

I know it is hard when you are an older mom because you are a high risk pregnancy. I was 38 when i had my son in july and turned 39 in december. I would say to let your body heal awhile. I would say that it takes six months to a year for your body to get back to normal. If you try too soon you may wind up having a miscarriage. I know at an older age it may take longer to get pregnant. I was lucky and it took five months after i had a miscarriage to get pregnant with my son. Give your self some time to enjoy your first child before you have another one. it is going to be hard to have to young ones at the same time. I know my two year old wears me out but I would not change a thing. Good luck and god bless.

If at all possible, you really do need to give yourself time to recover. If you don't wait, you could end up having hormonal imbalances and find yourself becoming outright exhausted and could find yourself having serious issues the next time around. IMHO--you need to allow a minimum of 18 months between children. Best of luck in whatever you decide!

I'm pregnant with my "surprise" third child. Both of my previous children were c-sections. I found out when my youngest was just 10 months old. After my first child, I was told to wait at least a year. After the second, they didn't actually say. I haven't had any problems with this pregnancy related to the c-section. My third c-section is scheduled for Nov. 9th. I will be 39 in December and have been treated as though I am very old-even though I just did this a little over a year ago! As long as you are fully healed, I'd try sooner rather than later.

Hi J.
How are you? My first son was born via emergency c-section in November of 2003. I was 28 then. By the time he was 7 months old I was pregnant with my 2nd son who was born VBAC in March and I was 29 years old. I was determined to have a VBAC while others suggested a 2nd C-section. I did not have any residula scar issues and I only experienced Braxton Hicks in my 7th month with both children.

I can understand your concerns, but my ex-husband's mother had him at the young age of 42 and he was her 6th child!. Just pray about it, and I'm sure if it's meant to be it will happen.
Take care

I was told that it was best to wait a year from c-section to getting pregnant. That being said, I think they are saying that it is ideal to wait that long. Obviously many people get pregnant sooner than that and do just fine. I think it's just a general recommendation. I had a c-section for my 1st and waited about 17 months after that to get pregnant. The only thing I notice is that my c-section site can be a little sore from time to time, although it's nothing big. I would do what you think is best for you & if you want to get pregnant sooner rather than later, given your age, I say go for it!

My first son was an emergency C section and after 2 weeks delivering my first son I was back in the hospital with a major infection and they had to open me up (same place as my C section)again to "clean out" the infection. Because I had surgery 2x in 2 weeks and they used the same incision spot, they HIGHLY recommended I wait a year before getting pregnant. WELL, I was SHOCKED to learn 6 months later I was pregnant with my 2nd son!!! I didn't have any complications, thank goodness, but I was concerned about it because truly your body needs time to heal, especially in my circumstance. My 3rd son was born 2 years after my 2nd and I was high risk because of my previous C sections and I was then considered "advance maternal age"! I really hated to hear that since the magic age is 35 for being "advance maternal age". Now, 4 years later, I'm pregnant with my fourth son due in October. I'm def high risk this time with prev c sections and now I'm 39. The docs warned me that there is potential for my scar to split because I've been opened up the same place 4 times already. I just try to take everything in stride and be knowledgeable about all the risks and try to make the best decisions with the knowledge I have. The biggest thing I'm worried about this pregnancy, believe it or not, is the swine flu issue!!! So good luck and make the best decision you can based on the knowledge you have!!

Hi J.. I have had 3 C-sections and each time I did wait a year before trying to get pregnant. I have a friend (she is the mother of 12) who has also had several c-sections and did not wait. Personally I feel that you should listen to your doctor. C-sections are major surjury and should not be taken lightly it is important that you are completely healed before starting again, but then your age is an issue as well. Instead of talking to a bunch of people (and doctors) you should talk to your ob/gyn and your hubby and let common sense be your guide. Best wishes

I had 2 c-sections 14 months apart. The first was an emergency the second was planned. I don't remember the doctor telling me to wait any amount of time before becoming pregnant after the first c-section, nor did she admonish me for getting preganant so soon after the first. If I had known that I would have waited. I was 34 when I had my first child and 2 weeks shy of 36 when I had my second child. I didn't have any problems during either pregnancy, though I did have an episode of super ventricular tacachardia (not sure if I spelled that right)at about 30 weeks of my second pregnancy. I was told by the ER doc at Magee Women's Hospital that it is harmless and most likely due to changes in hormone levels. I didn't have any significant amount of pain or issues healing with either c-section. As long as I followed the doctor's restrictions for lifting, taking stairs, stretching, etc I was fine. Good luck with your decision.

I too had my kids 14 months apart. Just had my little girl 2weeks ago. Both c-sections. My doctor never told me I had to wait any amount of time and I didn't have any complications, In fact, he said there was little scar tissue and I could easily have more kids! I feel great too. The second c-section was a lot easier!

Erica M is right. The wait period isn't just for your physical recovery, but your mental recovery as well. Also, if you're breastfeeding, you really should wait until you've weened your baby off of the breast as breastfeeding alone takes a toll on your body & you already know how you felt with the 1st pregnancy. Remember, even though you know what to expect, every day we age and so every day we need more time to "bounce back" to our former self. I have 2 children now (both C-Sections) and conceived at 12 months of age of my 1st, but was also under the care of a fertility specialist and so we were actually trying for 3 months prior to that.

I have had 3 c-sections, I have let my body heal for at least a year if no longer. There is no hurry and no reason to put u both at risk. The surgery is hard enough to heal from. U don;t want to be doing while caring for a little one and trying to carry another.

I have three beautiful boys...all with a c-section. My oldest just turned three if that gives you any indication of how long we waited...(about 6 months for each). Everything was fine...only thing is that I think it takes a toll on your body. I am no where near the weight I was when we first got preg...and I have never given myself the time to lose it before the next one. Add that to b-feeding each of them for a couple of months. Needless to say I am glad we are done and I can start to focus on myself and slowly try to get back to a normal weight! I wouldn't have had them any other way...but I think it does do some wear to the body!!!