What Are the Risks of Getting Pregnant After a C-Section? Research shows that getting pregnant less than six months after a C-section can increase your risk of complications, such as ruptured uterus or a low birth weight baby.
Uterine rupture is usually when the scar from your previous caesarean section tears open. Though it's uncommon, you should be aware of this risk, particularly if you're thinking about giving birth vaginally next time. It's possible for your scar to gape slightly while you're pregnant (scar dehiscence).
The study is in JAMA Network Open. Of the women who delivered by C-section, 68.9 percent conceived, compared with 76.7 percent of women who delivered vaginally. C-section was also associated with a lower rate of subsequent birth — 42.8 percent, compared with 50.1 percent for vaginal delivery.
Getting Pregnant After C-Sections
Doctors recommend you wait at least six weeks after a C-section before having sex and generally encourage using birth control until six to 18 months postpartum. The longer you have to recover and heal, the lower your risk of complications.
You can get pregnant as little as 3 weeks after the birth of a baby, even if you're breastfeeding and your periods haven't started again. Unless you want to get pregnant again, it's important to use some kind of contraception every time you have sex after giving birth, including the first time.
The shortest interval between two children born to separate confinements is 208 days for Jayne Bleackley (New Zealand) who gave birth to Joseph Robert on 3 September 1999 and Annie Jessica Joyce on 30 March 2000.
Is It Bad to Get Pregnant Right After Giving Birth? Experts recommend waiting 18 months after birth before getting pregnant again, according to March of Dimes. An earlier conception could increase the risk of complications, including premature birth and low birthweight.
The absolute risk of failed trial of vaginal birth after a cesarean was 45% (95% CI: 38.5, 51.5). Conclusion: Women who have one previous C-section face a markedly increased risk of repeat caesarean sections and feto-maternal complications in subsequent pregnancies.
Getting pregnant after a c-section
It's important to give your body time to recover before you start trying to get pregnant again. You will need to wait at least 6 months but your doctor or midwife may advise you to wait for 12–18 months. The longer you leave your scar to heal, the stronger it will be.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections that you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take, and the higher your risk of complications becomes. If you've had a caesarean in the past, it's still possible to give birth to your baby vaginally.
Two studies [51], [82] reported a statistically significant increase in odds of miscarriage following Caesarean delivery by 32% and 22% respectively.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.
Postpartum uterine dehiscence is the opening of the incision line after cesarean section. It is a rare clinical condition. Risk factors include diabetes, emergency surgery, infection, suture technique, hematoma on the uterine incision line, and retrovesical hematoma.
Your wound will take about 6 weeks to heal. You will have a scar but this will fade over time. Your scar will be 10–20cm long and is usually just below your bikini line. It will be red at first but will fade over time.
Normally, women after cesarean section will have their period in the first cycle, which is about 6-8 weeks after giving birth.
The risk of having a complication after delivery is highest during the first two weeks after delivery. But waiting will also give your body time to heal. In addition to postpartum discharge and vaginal tears, you might experience fatigue, vaginal dryness, pain and low sexual desire.
Whether you had a vaginal birth or c-section, your body is capable of getting pregnant very shortly after giving birth. You can ovulate before having your first postpartum period,1 and as soon as you ovulate, you can conceive.
Risks to future pregnancies
Although uncommon, having a caesarean can increase the risk of certain problems in future pregnancies, including: the scar in your womb opening up. the placenta being abnormally attached to the wall of the womb, leading to difficulties delivering the placenta.
After a cesarean surgery, it is normal for scar tissue to develop. However, sometimes internal scarring from a C-section can cause obstructions and inflammation in the abdomen and reproductive organs that, in turn, can prevent future pregnancies.
Research suggests that beginning a pregnancy within six months of a live birth is associated with an increased risk of: Premature birth. The placenta partially or completely peeling away from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery (placental abruption) Low birth weight.
But getting pregnant too soon after giving birth can be risky for both you and your baby. Becoming pregnant again within a year of giving birth increases the chance that your new baby will be born too soon. Babies that are born too soon can have health problems.
VERDICT: As per World Health Organization, a gap of at least 24 months should be there between your first and second child. By this time, the mother's body gets fully recovered from her first pregnancy as she replenishes the nutrients she lost in her first pregnancy.
Your second pregnancy is often different than your first. You might show sooner, feel more tired, have stronger or more frequent back pains, and notice Braxton Hicks contractions earlier. Labor will likely be faster, but postpartum recovery could take longer.
Having two babies in the same calendar year is rare, and the colloquial term for it is “Irish twins.”