tell me about your pg after a cs?

we are still trying for another baby, its just not happening atm :wall:

anyway, I would like to hear from other ladies who have had a previous cs and then pregnant with another.

what complications did you experience? did you end up with another cs? did you have a rupture? was it a different sort of pg (eg, could you do all normal things, like lifting etc), was it a constant worry that you might rupture?

I am just thinking that perhaps my mind set atm is preventing me from falling pg. I am quite scared about another pg, especially after our recent loss as I just can't go thru that again and also i'm terrified of what will happen if the baby does continue growing thru the pg and if I will rupture etc..

so thanks in advance for your replies :)

So sorry for you loss hun. :hug: My pregnancy after my c/s was fine, I did everything and more than I did with my first and chasing a toddler makes it interesting! Mine are 17 mth apart adn I didn't worry about rupture at all during the pregnancy. Rupture occurs during labour (if at all and remember the % is the same as for a first time mother who is induced as it is for a VBACing mother). The one thing I wished I had been more careful of was lifting DD while pg. I had muscle separation with her and then after DS it was over 6cms wide and is still there now, so if I had my time over I would be more careful with sitting up in bed and lifting. At the time I felt fine though. I went 14 days overdue with DS waiting to have a VBAC that never eventuated but DS was 10lbs. If you are wanting to have a VBAC or are unsure, then do lots of reading to help you ease your mind and help you decide what is right for you. xoxo

I can't talk from experience, but just wanted to stop and say sorry for your losses. I know quite a few mums who had cs with their first (and in some cases, second and third!) and they went on to have perfectly normal pregnancies with no complications. One lady i know (28 weeks pg now after 2 cs) amazes me by running around playing with her 18 month and almost 3yr olds. The only thing that seems to bother her is the hope to have 6 kids and she's not sure her doc will let her keep going after 3 or 4, or if the chance to give birth naturally will ever present itself to her.

Anyway theres lots of experience and advice floating around here, maybe go thru some of the positive atfter cs birth stories to ease your mind a little bit. Sending you lots of :pink-babydust::bluedust: and hoping we see a BFP announcement from you soon!

Hey there :hug:

I think its pretty rare that the uterus will rupture with a pregnancy after a c-section. I was never worried about that happening, more so it happening in labour - if at all. Plus, all my research into VBAC's never mentioned rupturing during a pregnancy, so I think its pretty uncommon. (Although I think thats what happened to Kim?)

My sister has had 4 c-sections, 04, 06, 07 and 08. The last two only 12 months apart. She had no complications other than some severe bruising to get my angel niece out. But that wasn't a complication from her previous c-section, my sister has a clotting disorder.

As for me, I had a c-section in 07 and another one in 08. Just under 19 months between them. Nothing was bad in my pregnancy, other than a bit of muscular pain where they cut into the muscles from the first c-section. It was the same with my third pregnancy in 09 (just under 16 months between that birth and my last c-section) - same muscular pain, but it didn't have anything to do with the uterine scar, just the muscles around it.

So far this pregnancy I have pain when I sneeze a lot of times in a row, and also severe coughing. And its muscular pain, again, in the same area as all the others.

This is my 4th pregnancy, and I have not had any rupture issues in any of them from the first two c-sections.

I hope this eases some worries for you. Good luck on your ttc journey :hug:

ETA: Just read more of your post (more thoroughly anyway haha)... I didn't have any complications during the pregnancies, just after my second c-section when I got an infection in my uterus. That was the only complication from either of my c-sections, and nothing out of the ordinary during the pregnancies themselves. And yup I could do everything the same as I could before I'd even had a c-section (so during my first pregnancy). Having had 2 c-sections never stopped me from doing anything during pregnancy - it was my SPD that stopped me from doing a lot ;)

I am now pregnant with number 3, I have had 2 c/s. To answer your questions:

What complications did you experience? None in relation to the CS.
Did you end up with another cs? Yes but, it was not related to the previous CS really, my baby has heart disease, she needed a scheduled birth with cardiologists present.
Did you have a rupture? No and my surgeon said while stitching me up last time that I was good for many more at this stage :D.
Was it a different sort of pg (eg, could you do all normal things, like lifting etc)? I could do everything the same as I could with my first.
Was it a constant worry that you might rupture? Suprisingly no, leading up tp TTC it was on my mind but once I was pregnant I didn't give it another thought.

Best of luck :goodluck: and lots of babydust.

What complications did you experience? None

Did you end up with another cs? No, i had an amazing, beautiful natural birth, even though DS was 4.62kgs and had a 38cm head :)

Did you have a rupture? No, the risk of this is actually incredibly small

Was it a different sort of pg (eg, could you do all normal things, like lifting etc)? Nope, completely normal

Was it a constant worry that you might rupture? Not at all, once i had done some research. When i was in labour and getting a bit panicky though when i felt uncomfortable across my scar and freaked out that i was rupturing, this was the point i decided to go to hospital and found out not only was there no problem but i was already 8cms!

Good luck to you, second time round after a c/s (depending on the reason for it of course) your challenges are 99% emotional, 1 % physical IMO

Sirenz

I'm really sorry for your loss and can somewhat relate to how you are feeling :comfort:

I know that nobody can say for sure but I personally think that mindset can have a lot to do with how quickly/if you fall pregnant again. I had a missed miscarriage in 2007, and waited over a year before I eventually fell pregnant with my son. I spent the year worrying about falling pregnant, not falling pregnant and just about everything else I could worry about. We tried and tried and failed and failed to fall pregnant again. The very month my dh put his foot down and said enough trying, enough temp taking, clock watching and making him feel like a piece of meat I fell pregnant and had a successful and healthy pregnancy. After a long, gruelling and uneventful labour I was given an emergency c/s to birth my son. Thankfully for me, I have had no personal issues, regrets or remorse about this birth.

I fell pregnant again in 2009. We hadn't been making such a big deal about trying to conceive but I was very aware of my body & cycles. I miscarried at 8 weeks. This was again devestating to me as I found out again through a scan as again my body didn't miscarry. I didn't attribute this to my previous c/s at all at the time and don't now as I know that sometimes these things just happen.

I am now nearly 37 weeks pregnant with my second child. I have opted for an elective c/s as I believe this is the best way for me to birth my child. I have had no complications with this pregnancy, the pregnancy has been the same as my first, lifting no problem. I'm still lifting my toddler without any problems (although after reading Tanstars response realise I probably should be laying off a little). I haven't worried once if I would rupture, and even if I had decided to try for a Vbac I wouldn't worry too much, knowing I was in good hands.

Sometimes we can be our own worst enemies when we let our minds take us away. Think of all the positive things, you have had a successful pregnancy and your body knows what to do and just because you have had one loss does not mean you will suffer another.

Be kind to yourself, try to relax and stop worrying. No amount of brain pain will stop what will be.

BIG hugs to you hon. Invite a positive mind to join you, it will help you endlessly :hug::hug::hug:

Sirenz hun, knowledge is power. Make the best informed decision for you. Read all you can and find out what the risks really are, not what the scare tacticians would have you believe.
I will tell you my story because you asked.

DS pregnancy was a fair bit smoother than DD's in terms of pregnancy after c/s. I did have a complication that wasn't discovered until my second c/s and that was a dehiscence of the uterine scar. That happened to me at 24 weeks (they think). In any further pregs I will be requesting u/s of my uterine scar to check it's viability. It (rupturing) honestly never even occurred to me until I was in theatre and all of a sudden it was an emergency (by that time though I was open and they could see what was going on).
I didn't rupture because my body didn't go into labour. There are a couple of girls on here that have, but remember that is a rare complication.
I have double sutures in my uterus now.
I was on rest throughout the third tri, but that didn't stop me from living day to day and wasn't a huge restriction. The rest was because they 'thought' I had a hidden abruption, not anything to do with my scar). I still had a toddler to look after.
I also had a loss before DS at 12 weeks and TBH I never wanted to go through that again. I can't remember what changed or how I managed that intense fear - I really wish I could tell you, but I also wantedto offer some empathy :hug:

Good luck on your journey.

Hi Sirenz,

I have now had 2 c-sections. With the second pregnancy I had absolutely no complications relating to the previous cs. No unusual pain or anything at the scar site. And I was more active with the second preg with a toddler to run around after. The thought of a rupture whilst pregnant never crossed my mind. Just remember your scar is strong hun.

I did have a second CS but it wasn't related to the first one.

Sending lots of babydust your way. x

Hi Sirenz

What complications did you experience? I had no trouble falling pregnant again and had a perfectly trouble-free pregnancy, I exercised all the way through and had no complications at all

Did you end up with another cs? Yes it was all very quick and I recovered even faster and better than the first one

Did you have a rupture? Yes, I was about to (hence the second c/s) but I recognised the signs and my OB acted quickly and everything was fine

Was it a different sort of pg (eg, could you do all normal things, like lifting etc)? I found that I was bigger so towards the end there were things that were more uncomfortable, everything else was fine except that I had to do it all on much less sleep!! You don't get to have as much rest the second time around when you are running around after a toddler :lol:

Was it a constant worry that you might rupture? I never thought I would but I made sure I was informed so I listened to my body and went with my instincts.

Would I do it again (if I wanted more than 2 kids)? Yes I would and I would recommend anyone to still go for a VBAC and make sure you are informed

Good luck :hug:

my pg after my c-sect was so much better than my pg with Jack, less stressful had no dramas nothing I did have another c-sect but it was elective

just want to thank you all for your replies :) it means alot to me to hear your stories (even positive ones with a rupture). I guess I am just so worried with having 2 losses already, i just want to get it right this time.

I do understand that rupture is very rare, but i'm also aware that it does happen and that is what i can't get out of my mind :( Unfortunately for me (and my poor dh), I am a 'worryer', its in my nature, its something that I can't control and I constantly worry about anything and everything.

As Maybub said, sometimes we can be our own worst enemies, and this certainly rings true for me :) I need to learn self control and think positive. I do remember when we were trying for our ds, (he took a long time to conceive) that we were starting to think we might need some help, and as soon as we relaxed (we were on a beach holiday together when we concieved him :) ) and just decided to go with the flow, it happened almost immediately :)

Anyway, thanks again for all of your replies, I love bellybelly, don't know where i would be without it and all you wonderful ladies. You have definately helped me put into perspective a little more about the rupturing risk and how low it is :)

can't wait to get pg and feel all those wonderful baby movements and the love :)