Getting pregnant after c-section

BootsOrHearts · February 2014

What have people's doctors told them about how long to wait before getting pregnant again after a c-section? And how seriously do I need to take this advice? I had one OB (the one that did my surgery) tell me to wait 18 months before getting pregnant again. The one who did my 6 month post partum visit said it's 18 months between c-sections so wait 9 months, but then she added that SHE wouldn't wait that long if it was her. Hmm.

I'm 40 so the idea of waiting 18 months isn't too appealing. I'm already DOR as it is. We have some frozen embryos but I want to wait until I've fully weaned Baby Boots before trying those because you really shouldn't keep BF on those meds (though people do). I swore off pumping (I'm an EPer) last week after his tongue tie/lip tie revision didn't help me get him to nurse like I hoped it would but here I am still pumping because I'm either really determined or really stupid or just set in my ways who knows.

In any case, we'd like to start trying on our own as soon as we can given the clock is seriously ticking. 2 of my 3 BFPs have been from just religiously charting. I don't even know if I'm ovulating or not and I won't know until I start charting again because I stopped having periods after my myomectomies last year.

I should add, I have an appt with my RE next month and plan to ask her what she thinks, but wanted to know what others have been told or have done.

KikiCohen · February 2014

My OB recommended waiting a year, but it was by no means a "you HAVE to". FWIW- At least one c/s momma from my BMB (July 13) is pregnant again.

JulyMomma2U2 · February 2014

mkc5869 is right! Going for 3U3 here and this will be another RCS

I had my first RCS 12 months after my first.. and, this time around, we're looking at 14 months. My OB cleared me at my 8w check up and said we could try for #3 as soon as we were ready.

In my OB's practice, the 18mo between deliveries is recommended if you are trying for VBAC.. my OB will not even attempt VBAC if there's less than 18 months in between, but from a medical stand point, I was told it's perfectly find to have babies back to back.

And, FWIW, my pregnancy and delivery with #2 wasn't any harder/worse because of them being so close together. I actually found my recovery to be easier.

If I were you.. I'd not worry about "waiting" for 18 months if you're not dead set on VBAC.. do what works for your family planning.. for us, with me currently working P/T.. having babies close makes the most sense.. it allows me the most amount of time at home with them while they are young.. becuae, in a few years, I won't have the ability to stay part time.

Best of luck to you!

martinimomma · February 2014

After CS #1, my OB suggested that we wait a year to permit my ute to heal...to which I replied "I am pretty sure we are done having kids anyway." LOL. You can see from my ticker how that worked out.

4legsRbest · February 2014

Time isn't on my side either. My DS is 13 months and we started IVF# 2 when he was 12 months. I wasn't ever told to wait a certain amount of time but 18 months seems a little on the high side if it was a routine c/s, but 18 between c/s seems realistic. When I went and saw my RE for IVF#2 when DS was 9 months he didn't even bat an eye. I told my OB I was KU and he was happy, no lecture.

GL!

MickeyM04 · February 2014

I'll weigh in with the useless legal standpoint. OBs are the most sued of the medical professionals. They are always, always, always going to give you the most cautious advice humanly possible. I'm not saying it's solely to protect themselves or anything but I'm just saying that they will always err on givign you the most cautious advice they can give you because then there is the least possible risk of something going wrong and if something did go wrong, their patients would not have much of a leg to stand on in terms of blaming the doctor for the bad outcome. I mean it's hard to imagine someone coming forward with a lawsuit against their OB saying, "She ONLY told me to wait 18 months, and I bet if I had waited 24 months this bad outcome never would have happened!" So take that for what it's worth of course, which is just that I tend to think that OBs are sometimes overly cautious (sometimes with good reason, sometimes with not as good of a reason).

CnAnA · February 2014

With one minor hiccup at 8w, my pregnancy was textbook. My c-section was textbook. My recovery was textbook. Basically, I was the ideal scenario for c/s and recovery. My doc said wait six months before I got pregnant. I usually say follow your OBs advice since they know your specific history. But given your age and such, I'd probably talk to the OB and get an absolute bottom line.

luvboston · February 2014

18 months between c sections so when LO turns 9 months we are good to start trying. I starting treatments the month she is 9 months. My OB said not to wait she didn't want me to be an OB patient when I was 35.

Adam2010 · February 2014

I had a c-section in feb 2010 and got pregnant in Nov 2011 but that ended in m/c. It took 18months to concieve our 2nd rainbow whom I just gave birth to one month ago. (Not saying the timing had anything to do with m/c....that is just my timeline of my history) I was told to wait one year to concieve so there would be at least 18-21months in between c-sections.
I think with your situation, waiting until you are done bf and at least the 9 months is a good plan. 18months seems too long to start trying. GL!

SciChick · February 2014

My doctor said 9-12 months before getting pregnant again to allow my body to heal. I'm going to hit 40 next month but we will be waiting. We are just not ready.

FmrAFBrat · February 2014

Lurking but @vinceandang I am so happy for you. I hope this pregnancy is a breeze for you.

daisy19782011 · February 2014

I was never told any time to wait. It was more like, "see you when you do this again!." GL!

damabo80 · February 2014

After my first c section, my OB told me to wait 6m before TTC. I got pg 7m after my c section and had my first picture perfect pregnancy, with a scheduled, normal, RCS. Even though it was a natural conception, I went back to my RE for betas, and he didn't mention the timeframe at all.

After my 2nd c section, my OB told me to wait 12m before TTC.

FYI, my OB said that after having had a c section, if I went into labor naturally, I could try for a vbac. But they wouldn't induce. Instead, it would just be a rcs. And it was.

FWIW, I BF all through my pg with kid #2, and tandem nursed after he was born (best.diet.ever.). My OB said that BFing wouldn't play any part in waiting or not. However, if I wanted to TTC with the RE (due to the drugs), I'd have to wean. Thankfully I got KU naturally, so I didn't have to wean.

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