I don't get it...

Happily Overwhelmed · February 2012

I had my 6 week check up yesterday. My doctor went on and on about how well my c-section went and how I've recovered (I left the hospital less than 30 hours after the section).

Anyways...I asked when we could start trying again. DH and I struggle with TTC (our first too 23 months to get pregnant with). Ideally I'd like to start in 6 months again (with the thought maybe it will be a long process again). I'm 25 but we'd like our children somewhat close together.

My doctor said to be sure and wait at least a year to try again. I could understand this if I had a hard recovery, if my body wasn't cooperating, etc. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

What I don't get is I see several cases like mine with women in their mid 30's to even early 40's where they are told they don't have to wait (I've read several today alone on the bump). Why is it my younger body can't handle back to back c-sections but these women are encouraged to do so? There are still the risks...if not more???? Right?

biblionerd · February 2012

You can find a different OB if you want. My OB ok'ed me at the 6 week checkup. They all have different opinions based on what they've learned/heard/researched/etc. Mine's head of OB at the hospital (not that that's the end all be all or something, just that I trust that she has some cred and knowledge to get there). SHE personally said that there is not significant evidence to prove that waiting any longer than one year between c/s is less dangerous. It took us 3 years to conceive the first time and she knew we did not want to wait any longer than necessary to TTC in case it took that long again (ha ha...).

kjennnn · February 2012

I wasn't interested in having them close, LOL, but my boss' wife had hers almost a year apart and there were no issues. GL!

soveryexcited · February 2012

I had my daughter at 23, and was pregnant again by the time she was six months old. The two were fifteen months apart. The only negative I can think is that you will probably have to have a RCS (my OB has a policy that they will not allow VBAC tries unless it is longer than 22 months between) but that is weird that your OB isn't okaying you until a year. I would get a second opinion... And my second c-section was fine; not a ton of scar tissue, no complications.

nosoup4u · February 2012

I think it's generally recognized that you should wait about a year between pregnancies for your body to fully recover from being pregnant (whether it's a c-section or vaginal birth). But like the PP said, it can also vary by doctor.

jjhp2018 · February 2012

We went though 5 years of IF to get our 2nd. With the medical issues IVF/ICSI was our medical option from here on out so my OB didn't even discuss getting pregnant again at my pp check up lol.

We did tell her that we were going to attempt to use our frozen embryo about 10 months pp and she didn't oppose. Turns out we surprisingly got pregnant at 4 months pp! My OB said things will be completely fine and there was nothing to worry about.

I think there are alot of docs who will tell you to give your body 12-18 months to recover but they know plenty of people will be getting pregnant before then and things will go smoothly. They just have that 'standard' they follow.

jb2rn · February 2012

I am guessing "older" women are encouraged to TTC sooner because time is not on our side. However, it sounds like you have fertility issues so it may be wise for you yo TTC sooner than later. I am 35 and have fertility problems but I still am waiting at least a year, we arent sure we want more, and I really am too sleep deprived to even consider another right now!!!

Daisy22 · February 2012

My doctor only said 12 months if I wanted to have a vbac. We weren't planning to have another when dS1 was 6 months but it happened. My OB wasn't worried at all and said I was no more high risk then anyone else at that point. I'm not pg with #3 and got pg when DS2 was 11 1/2 months old. My OB again didn't think twice about it.

madamsmurfette · February 2012

Most OB's will tell any woman to wait a year between pregnancies, whether a CS or vaginal delivery, in order for your body to bounce back. The reason for a longer wait for CS mamas is so that your uterus can bounce back. Obviously, it was cut open during your CS. It needs time to completely heal before growing another baby. Yes, everything may be perfect if you can pregnant earlier than your OB reccommends, but the longer wait gives a better comfort level that your uterus won't rupture.

magdalina.h · February 2012

It has nothing to do with your age. It's just your OB's standard practice. Mine said to wait at least 6 months, but called me after 4 months to check on me and to say we could start if we wanted to. My c/s were a year and 20 days apart and besides extremely emotional, my 2nd pregnancy was pretty easy. This time she said to wait at lest 6 months and not any sooner, but if we had a surprise it would be fine. You could always try to find a new OB. Just remember that it's your body and if you decide to start trying after 6 months, that's your choice.

RaeAnt · February 2012

I don't think it's necessarily about you having had a c/s, but having been pregnant in general. You body goes through a lot and many resources have been diminished while carrying your LO. I know many woman who have accidentally gotten pregnant within weeks of giving birth. Just because your body can get pregnant again doesn't mean it's the safest or best thing for you or your baby.

While this is obviously directed at less fortunate, the same issue still apply to us even with medical intervention. The female body isn't any different in any other country,

https://www.esdproj.org/site/DocServer/ESD_PG_spreads.pdf?docID=141

cottonlily84 · February 2012

The issue isn't just back to back c/s, it's back to back pregnancies. All pp women need time to recover. That's not to say you can't have a sudden, healthy second pregnancy but most drs would recommend waiting a year to try again for any new mother, c/s or not. At a pp appointment a nurse told me there's some standard (set by whom I don't remember because I wasn't paying it much attention) that says a second pregnancy would be best after 16 months of recovery and that had nothing to do with how I delivered.

Having said all that I'm the one carrying the baby, delivering the baby, raising the baby. I'll be the one to decide when I want to get pregnant again. A dr's advice is just that - advice. You can use as much or as little of it you want.

kcisthebombdotcom · February 2012

quinncat:
Happily Overwhelmed:

What I don't get is I see several cases like mine with women in their mid 30's to even early 40's where they are told they don't have to wait (I've read several today alone on the bump). Why is it my younger body can't handle back to back c-sections but these women are encouraged to do so? There are still the risks...if not more???? Right?

I'm kind of offended by this statement. I am 37 and just had my first baby. It doesn't have anything to do with why a "younger body" can't handle it. I was not encouraged to start tcc right away and I want another baby. My doctor thinks waiting a year is smart. If women in the 30-40's are being encouraged to tcc right away it is for other reasons. The statement "there are still risks...if not more"... is ridiculous. The risks involved with being an older mother have nothing do to with how far apart your c section is. The risks have nothing to do with c sections at all.

They actually do. The risks in giving birth too close together are slightly higher risk of premature birth and low birth weight. In a mom of advanced maternal age you're already at heightened risk for those complications so closely spaced births on top of that further increases the risk. However, I'm sure older moms are given the green light given the risks because fertility is so quickly decreasing by that point in life so the risks are worth the rewards.

My dr was fine with me getting pregnant when I felt ready at my 6 week checkup. He did say there were a higher risk of low birth weight/premature birth, but that the overall risk of those complications was very, very low and wouldnt be as great a risk to someone like me who was in her 20s, had an uneventful first pregnancy/delivery and gave birth to a 10lb baby the first time around.

kcisthebombdotcom · February 2012

RaeAnt:

I don't think it's necessarily about you having had a c/s, but having been pregnant in general. You body goes through a lot and many resources have been diminished while carrying your LO. I know many woman who have accidentally gotten pregnant within weeks of giving birth. Just because your body can get pregnant again doesn't mean it's the safest or best thing for you or your baby.

While this is obviously directed at less fortunate, the same issue still apply to us even with medical intervention. The female body isn't any different in any other country,

https://www.esdproj.org/site/DocServer/ESD_PG_spreads.pdf?docID=141

There's a HUGE difference between moms in 3rd world countries and the US.

After giving birth, your body is depleted of nutrients needed to help mom/baby. How quickly you bounce back depends on your overall health. For those who live in poor areas they dont have access to healthy foods like we do. For those of us who have access to good medical care, the kind of issues are easily resolved. I had a simple blood test in 1st tri to make sure I wasnt vitamin deficient and if I was, I could have been given supplements. That's not an easy an option in poorer countries.

neya28 · February 2012

quinncat:
Happily Overwhelmed:
What I don't get is I see several cases like mine with women in their mid 30's to even early 40's where they are told they don't have to wait (I've read several today alone on the bump). Why is it my younger body can't handle back to back c-sections but these women are encouraged to do so? There are still the risks...if not more???? Right?

I'm kind of offended by this statement. I am 37 and just had my first baby. It doesn't have anything to do with why a "younger body" can't handle it. I was not encouraged to start tcc right away and I want another baby. My doctor thinks waiting a year is smart. If women in the 30-40's are being encouraged to tcc right away it is for other reasons. The statement "there are still risks...if not more"... is ridiculous. The risks involved with being an older mother have nothing do to with how far apart your c section is. The risks have nothing to do with c sections at all.

Yea I was gonna say same thing. You're not guaranteed to be healthier in your 20s then another woman may be in her 30s. Like pp said, your body needs to recover from one pregnancy before starting another.

kthappy76 · February 2012

KC_13:
RaeAnt:

I don't think it's necessarily about you having had a c/s, but having been pregnant in general. You body goes through a lot and many resources have been diminished while carrying your LO. I know many woman who have accidentally gotten pregnant within weeks of giving birth. Just because your body can get pregnant again doesn't mean it's the safest or best thing for you or your baby.
While this is obviously directed at less fortunate, the same issue still apply to us even with medical intervention. The female body isn't any different in any other country,
https://www.esdproj.org/site/DocServer/ESD_PG_spreads.pdf?docID=141
There's a HUGE difference between moms in 3rd world countries and the US. After giving birth, your body is depleted of nutrients needed to help mom/baby. How quickly you bounce back depends on your overall health. For those who live in poor areas they dont have access to healthy foods like we do. For those of us who have access to good medical care, the kind of issues are easily resolved. I had a simple blood test in 1st tri to make sure I wasnt vitamin deficient and if I was, I could have been given supplements. That's not an easy an option in poorer countries.

Except that the research (cited herein) that leads to birth spacing recommendations is not based on third world conditions. There is greater focus on targeting third world women though due to the fact they do have even worse outcomes, less prenatal care, are less likely to have a regular OB to educate them on the inherent risks or have easy access to birth control, like in first world countries.

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