Advice on When It's Okay Conceive 2Nd Child After C-section

I had my first child 11 1/2 years ago via c-section, then got pregnant 7 months later and had a healthy v-bac birth; and 2 other v-bacs since. Things went great. good luck! K.

I had a baby in Septmeber and got pregnant the following August. I was fine and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

My 1st was born via c-section and when she was 10 months old i got pregnant with #2. They are 19 months apart. I had No problems (related to the previous c-section) My dr said that i couldn't try a v-bac with them being so close together, and that was fine with me. I recovered from my 2nd c-section about 100% faster than the first time (probably because i knew what to expect)

Hi,

I had a csection with my first and I just found out that I am pregnant, when we have the baby, they will be about 26 months apart. You may also want to look at your health insurance too. When my husband was laid off of work and we found an individual health plan it said that we would have to wait two years before they would cover a csection. My husband now has better insurance through his company and it didn't say anything about having to wait for that. I hope this helps, M.

I had a c-section with my son and conceived 7 months later. I did not have any problems the second time around. The recovery time for the second c-section was a little longer just becuase I had more sensitivity around the scar after the second one. Good Luck.

My last 2 children were close in age. My dd was 13 mos when I got pg with my other dd (NOT planned). Both were c-sections and there was no problem with them being close. They were 21 mos apart (dd was 4 weeks early).

Do you REALLY want 2 kids so close in age, though?? Enjoy the baby you have, take time to be mom to just her before adding a sibling. JMO :)
S.

I think it would be best to wait a bit longer. I have had 2 vaginal births and my last ended in an emergency c-section. I also got pregnant when both of my older two turned one with the next baby. Now after the c-section I am waiting until my Youngest(4-6-07) is 2 or almost 2 before we try again. I want a VBAC and am waiting to be sure everything has healed well and wont rupture. I would think about how the recovery would be when you have a one year old and a newborn to take care of after another c-section if that is the way you are going. If you want a VBAC you definately should wait longer. I know that my Mother inlaw took my oldest two for two weeks during the day when my husband was at work after my section and I wish she could have had them one more week. I'd wait the year. My kids are really close and all have been great friends so far and they are about 21 months apart.

My daughters are only 15 months apart in age and were both C-sections. The doctor never said anything to me about any risks or issues and everything turned out perfectly. We didn't plan to hav ours so close together, but they are best friends and everyday I am happy that it happened this way!

Doctors will usually advise waiting a year, but I delivered my first child via c-section on March 13, 2005, and my second on February 2, 2006, so just a little over 10 months later. I had a transverse incision with the first due to a fibroid so had to have a repeat C-section with the second. While every woman is unique, I did amazingly well, doing all the things I was not supposed to be doing, like lifting my 10-month-old son, just days after my surgery. My advice to you would be....when YOU are ready!

I had all 3 of my kids within 39 months. I conceived my second child one year to the day after my daughter was born, and that pregnancy was more difficult than the first, and I found out I was expecting my third when my 2nd was only 7 months old. The last pregnancy was extremely wearing, physically and emotionally. While I do love having them all so close together, it was very hard on my body to have them so close together. We are now trying to conceive our 4th, and my baby will be 2 in a few weeks. I am in the best shape of my life, literally, and I know part of it is because I took time to allow my body to heal this time. Only you can decide what is best for you and your family, but my advice is to wait at least a year before you conceive again.

My doctor recommends 18 months between pregnancies for the lowest possibility for complications. Most other sources say it takes your body as long to fully heal as it does for you to carry a full term pregnancy. I think it is great you are ready for more children but think of your first child, they need time to grow and be a baby before another one comes home. You are also putting your own health and the health of the next pregnancy at risk having them too close together.

I conceived my 2nd child 5 months after my first child was born by c-section. My children are 14 months apart. I didn't plan them to be that close it just happened that way. I tried natural child birth with both pregnancies and failed to progress and both ended in c-sections. I didn't have any problems during or after my pregnancy in regards to having them both so close. I will tell you that having them that close is a lot of work though. They both require so much time and attention and it was difficult at times to give them as much as I would have liked. It's as close to having twins as I ever came. That being said they are 9 (boy) and 10 (girl) years old now and it has gotten a lot easier and we've expanded our family with a 3 year old sister and they are the biggest helpers. Best of luck to you!

I did not have a c-section with any of my children, so I cannot speak about recovery time, but I would strongly recommend waiting at least a year before trying again.
You need more time to enjoy your 1st child and let your body recover from the first pregnancy. You do not want to wear yourself down physically and mentally.
Take a little time and enjoy being a mom. Your first child also deserves to have your full attention for awhile.

My son was a c section. My muscles and flesh (in general) hurt for a few months; could not imagine getting preg again right away.
I would heed the advise of your dr. Your body needs time to heal completely after a c section before stretching it out like that again.
A girlfriend of mine has two kids via c section that are about 18 months apart. It took her a long while to recover from the 2nd one because of the two surgeries were so close together.
Good luck and congrats!

as a mother of 5(last 2 were C-sections) i would take your doctors advice about waiting. i had to wait almost 2 years before i could concieve and i am glad i did. during your C-section they go through sooo many layers of muscle and etc... that for it to heal properly it takes that time. sure you feel great after a few months but that doesnt mean its all healed. when you get pregnant again you stretch your muscles same as before, you want to make sure they are ready to hold all the extra weight. even after 2 years i had to wear a belly belt to help assist my muscles, of corse i gained about 60lbs through the pregnancy, but even still. give yourself at least that year to heal, its your body and you know how you feel, but wouldnt you like to have an enjoyable pregnancy rather than run into physical problems that could harm you or the baby. Congrats on your first baby! how excititng and good luck to many more!

My sister's kids are 13 months apart. She had a C-section with both. She had no complications.

I had my children c-section. The first went very well. I was up and about in no time. My second was born 17 months later and it was really hard. I ended up needing blood and the pain was a lot worse. I don't know if it was because they were close together or if it was a different kind of trouble (they told me they had a problem with scar tissue). I had trouble conceving my third because of birth control pills, so he is 4 years younger then my second. I never had any trouble with that c section, it was a lot like the first.

My advice is follow the doctors orders. I am sure he has more knowledge of the studies available. You could always google repeat c sections and see if it says anything about when you could try again.

I am a Mom of 3 all c-sections and my first 2 children are 15mo. apart. The only problem I had was being single at the time and having a 1yr. that still wanted to be help expecially with a new baby in the house. Had stitches brake open once but no infection and healed right up afterward.

I have had two c-sections....just shy of 2 1/2 years apart. From my experience I would listen to the doctor. Right now I have a hernia because my inside incision tore and my intestines are popping out. At some point I will have to have it fixed and it is a more major surgery than my c-section. The reason it happened....I could not and did not give my body the time it needed to recover since on top of the newborn I had toddler to care for.

At least my toddler walked on her own and could climb into things sch as carseats. There is a good chance your baby might not be walking in a year. (I had a good friend who had two..13 months apart. Her oldest did not walk until he was 15 months. It was very difficult for her.) So you would have a lot of lifting and carrying to do of a heavy toddler, who would probably exceed the weight limits that you are allowed to carry.

My brother had his first baby a year ago and he and his wife were anxious to start again right away. What I told them that early on it is pretty easy. The babies are sweet, do not move much, are cute, and basically pretty easy...that all changes quickly. At one, they are still sweet and cute, but they are mobile and LOTS OF WORK. They demand all of your attention and adding a newborn would be difficult. They are only babies once, take the time to enjoy them. Now that there little one is one and moving--they are so grateful that they waited.

Best of luck with your decision.

My first was born with C-section (no complications, regular healing), and the doctor told us to not even think about getting pregnant for at least 18 months because it takes that long for the uterus to heal completely. You may look and feel healed on the outside, but it takes longer internally for all the layers to come together. When my son was almost exactly 18 months, we conceived our second, so the two kids will be about 26 months apart.

I do believe, though, that if your body is ready and able to have another, it'll let you know by allowing you to conceive again. I just personally wouldn't tempt fate, but I'm more cautious by nature!

Good luck!

Hi C.,
I had a c-section and conceived my second child 7 months later so the c-sections were 18 months apart. I didn't have any issues and my doctor never said anything about it. I did have an option to try vbac, but opted for a second c-section partly because they were close together and I didn't want to chance a major problem during birth.

K.

I too had a c-section and I'd follow the advise of the doctors. You want to make sure your uterus can stretch with another pregnancy without rupture. That would be a horrible thing to have happen. I had a c-section and tried to conceive our second when our first was 9 months. Not exactly a year but close to it. It took several months to conceive and the kids are exactly 25 months apart thanks to having another c-section. I wanted them 18 months apart but that just didn't happen but 25 months is perfect!

I, too, have had both of my children c-section. I was not lucky enough to have them so close together but friends and family have had the same question as you. I know of one mother that was told to wait one year before conception, her son just turned a year and they are now trying for their next child. A family member has been a surrogate three times, twice with sucessful pregnancies. She tried to get pregnant for a family within 6 months after the birth of twins (via c-section). That pregnancy did not end in success. She ended up with a tubal pregnancy of twins and lost a fallopian tube over it. She said it was just like having another c-section. She got pregnant with the 3rd pregnancy two months later and had twins several weeks early, one not making it. So based on her experience, I would NOT try any earlier than what your doc recommended. If not for the sake of your body, but at least for the sake of not getting your heart broken in case of extreme circumstances happening. It was devistating to her and our whole family as we felt so badly for her, and to the intended parents. Nodbody wants to have that happen. Good luck, and I would listen to your doc's advice.

I think you should probably listen to your doctor. I conceived my second about 13 months after my first c-section and everything went okay. However, I think you can increase your chance at uterine rupture if you try too soon. Maybe you can check with a couple of other doctors, though.

I have 2 children both were c-sections. Mine are 2 1/2 years apart... and I actually am glad we waited for our second one. By the time my youngest was born, we were trying to potty train the oldest... only had to deal with one in diapers at a time! :)

It may not be what you want to hear, but it is best to listen to your doctors advise. Waiting will allow your "scar" to heal completely, and will best all around - if you conceive to soon after a c-section the scar could tear and cause problems... and I know that's nothing any mother wants to deal with!

In the end, the decision is 100% up to you and your husband. Good luck!

It's recommended that all women wait at LEAST a year before conceiving. I've seen research that states 2 years is best. It takes that long for your body to fully recover from the pregnacy and perhaps longer for a c-section.

Sorry this probably wasn't what you wanted to hear.

I would follow the doctors advice and wait a year. It's a major surgery and you'll want to make sure everything is strong enough to carry to term.

My friend had a c-section with her first and was told to wait at least a year before conceiving again. Unfortunately she accidentally got pregnant when her first was only 8 months old. She was considered high risk due to the possibility of uterine rupture. Everything ended up fine but she was terrified her whole pregnancy! I would follow your doctor's advice. They know best, and you certainly don't want anything bad to go wrong!