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Childbirth

Gap after c/s?

8 replies

Katsma · 15/12/2006 15:43

Have just had my first DD, (10 weeks) by emergency c/s. Am wanting to have another asap (cos I'm no spring chicken!) Is there a minimum length of time I should leave before ttc to allow the c/s wound to heal? Are there any risks involved for the next pregnancy?

I asked my HV, and she said "we're not allowed to say, but personally I would leave two years". Felt like saying "Yeah, but you're only 20"!

Is she right, or being over cautious?
Sorry, there must surely have been a thread on this before, but I can't find one.

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lulumama · 15/12/2006 15:52

have a look at this i will search to see if there are any more similar threads, this is the most recent.

12 - 18 months is recommended, but lots of people seem to manage with smaller gaps between pregnancies, the body does need time to recover, and heal ,you have had major surgery remember !

a lot depends on if you want to go for a vaginal delivery next time too !

if you do , try looking here :
yahoo VBAC group

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Katsma · 15/12/2006 16:15

Thanks lulu. Wow - uterine rupture

Not sure a VBAC will be feasible - I had an abrupted placenta during labour, and I think this increases the chances of it happening again.

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luciemule · 15/12/2006 16:17

I was told to wait for at least 12 months. Then 3 years later, when I had my son, I did have a vbac birth and it was ok. However, there are risks that you have to weigh up regarding the scar. They continually check throughout labour and only let me push for 1 hour. If he hadn't have been born by then, they'd have whisked me in for a c/s. As it was, I persuaded the midwives to let me push for an extra 1/2 hour but he still had to be born by ventouse.
Not sure about the risks of scar rupturing during pregnancy though if it hasn't healed properly. I found the NCT site good and there is a specfic website for VBAC births if you google vbac.

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lulumama · 15/12/2006 16:24

odds of rupture are, in reality , very low....Daisymoo has good stats on this...she will probably see this and post them !
it will be mentioned to you whenever you do get pregnant,

i would check though , how many weeks/ months until all the layers of your abdomen are healed......i think by 6 weeks, things are certainly knitting and healing .....

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kslatts · 15/12/2006 16:27

my friend fell pregnant 6 months after a cs, it took her 2 years to fall with dc1 and she thought it mind take as long the second time, but she fell as soon as they started trying. her second was also by cs, but she didn't have any problems.

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Katsma · 15/12/2006 16:45

Got pregnant this time very soon after trying, so hoping the same will happen next time around (fingers crossed).

Scar is still very angry red looking - how long before it fades to white? Does the internal bit heal more quickly or slowly I wonder?

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Daisymisletoe · 15/12/2006 19:57

Hi Katsma, I'll do my best with the statistics

The rate of uterine rupture during labour after 1 previous cesarean is usually quoted as being around 0.5% ie 1 in 200. As far as I know there hasn't been a huge amount of research about the relative risks associated with differing pregnancy intervals, but there may be a slightly elevated risk of uterine rupture with a gap of less than 6 months between pregnancies.

I don't really think your HV should have offered an opinion. Because that's all it was - opinion - not evidence based at all.

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Katsma · 15/12/2006 21:37

Thanks Daisy, those stats are quite reassuring. On reflection, I've never heard of it happening to anyone I know.