When would having a second child be acceptable after a C-Section?

Question

My husband and I have been talking about having a second child. My son is currently three months old, going on four months. I wanted to wait at least a year before we started trying for a second. My husband wants to start right away...lol. My Mom had a section with my little sister and me...we're 15 months a part and best friends. I was thinking of doing the same. Waiting until my son is eight or nine months old and start trying to have another baby. My concern is...will I be recovered enough (if I conceive right away)?

Answer 1

you should take a rest for at least a year.

Answer 2

i had my daughter by c section also, and waited till she was 9.5 months old my doctor said everything was okay and that there wouldn't be any harm to my body. my son was also delivered c section. my kids are 20 months apart. my daughter is a big helper she's at the perfect age to wanna help with the baby :)  

Answer 3

It is best to ask your doctor for his or her recommendation. Generally they say you should wait 12 months before getting pregnant again after your last child, regardless of c-section or not. When you have a c-section, some doctors will increase that amount of time to 24 months. It also matters whether you will be wanting to try for a VBAC - Vaginal Birth After Cesarean. If you are, they might recommend more towards the 24 months to ensure absolute and complete healing of the scar on your uterus before putting it through labor and delivery.

That all being said - a lot of women end up pregnant, purposely or not, before the "12 month rule" - me included. I found out I was pregnant with #2 (we were trying though) when my first (who was born by emergency c-section under general anesthesia) was 10 months old. I have had no complications through my pregnancy though. I am having a planned c-section, due to only having 10 months between surgery and new pregnancy. But otherwise there haven't been any issues to come up.

Talk to your doctor about it. Or even if you decide to go ahead despite your doctor's recommendations, maybe you could compromise and start trying when #1 is 6 months? It really is important that you allow your uterine incision to heal, and 4 months isn't very long, if you happen to conceive right away. After all it was a major surgery!  

Answer 4

I think you should have a baby whenever you feel like the time is right. If you feel your body has recovered enough to conceive then go for it.

Answer 5

My friend Courtney was told to space her pregnancies out by 12-18 months to make it more safer, to allow more healing time because she has c-sections.  She got a surprise though last month and found out that she is pregnant but her youngest is only 8 months old so the Dr said they will have to really watch her.  

Answer 6

i conceived my second when my son was 8 months.  i delivered him by a c-section am now 37 weeks preg and my doc has scheduled me for another c-section on 11 aug 08 since the scar is still 'raw' i cannot try a VB.

Answer 7

This is a great question.  I also had a C section and I'm wondering the same thing.  I'm going to talk to my doctor at my next appointment in a few months and find out what he says.  I would be nervous to get pregnant again too soon after a C section.