Pregnancy after C-section
Did you experience a c-section with your last child? I don’t know whether it is just me but my doctor did not seem to give me much information on my future pregnancy after the c-section or perhaps he did and I was that overwhelmed with being a new mummy that I didn’t hear him… (that happened a lot) either way we all want to know our options for our growing family so we can plan ahead.
What is the procedure on pregnancy after a c- section? How long should I wait to conceive? Will I have to have a c-section next time? These are common questions that us c-section mummy’s want to know the answers to.
When Can I conceive?
Your body has been through so much during pregnancy and childbirth that the longer you leave it the better. It is generally recommended to wait at least 18 months to conceive after a c-section. This allows your body time to heal, it means there will be less chance of health complications and also allows for better planning for the next baby. Many ladies forget that a c-section is major surgery and can be a very traumatic experience, not only for you but for your body too. During a C-section delivery a lot of blood is lost (more than a vaginal delivery) therefore your iron stores can be very low afterwards, we forget that iron was also shared our baby and the placenta too. You also lose many other nutrients which will need replenishing. Replenishing nutrients isn’t something that happens instantly. Nutrients are replenished over time.
Ladies who get pregnant soon after they have given birth are more likely to suffer complications. It is advisable to wait so that the chances of any problems are low and the scar has time to heal.
Pregnant already? Do not worry 18 months is just a guideline and this allows your body to make a full recovery. You may have decided that your age does not allow you to wait a full 18 months and that is fine. It is likely that you will just be closely monitored by your doctor or midwife.
Vaginal or C-section
Pregnancy after a c-section doesn’t mean that just because you had a C-section previously you necessarily have to have all your future babies via c-section. A lot of ladies who have previously had a c-section have gone on to have a normal vaginal birth. It may mean that you require extra medical attention during pregnancy to ensure that everything is happening exactly how it should but a vaginal birth is a possibility. Unfortunately, some ladies aren’t lucky enough to have a choice and the only way they can deliver is via c-section.
Carla is the founder of MyBump2Baby. Carla has a huge passion for linking together small businesses and growing families. Carla’s humorous, non-filtered honesty has won the hearts of thousands of parents throughout the UK.
She has previously written for the Metro and made appearances on BBC News, BBC 5 live, LBC etc. Carla is a finalist for Blogger of the Year award with Simply Ladies inc. Carla is also the host of the popular Fifty Shades of Motherhood podcast and The MyBump2Baby Expert podcast.
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