Is it really that bad having two c/s close together?

I'm not pregnant & not intending on TTC for a while yet, but wondered how bad it is having two c/s close together. How close is too close? Does it matter if you've already had two previous c/s?

The reason i ask is that we're thinking of not botering with contraception. Seeing as Juliette was an IVF bub & Zander was miracle boy, conceived just before starting IVF, we thought it wasn't worth bothering with the expense etc of using any contraception. But should a little surprise bundle appear, is it really that bad to be under the recommended 12 months. If the risks are too high, we will use contraception for the next however many months. I am exclusively breastfeeding, so that would have some impact too I guess.

If it helps at all, my sister has had four c-sections in four years, the last two were nearly exactly a year apart. She had quite bad bruising on the last c-section though, but she seemed to handle it ok. I've never actually seen bruising like hers though, so it was a little scary..

Oh wow, bruising from th actual op? They must've been rough with her.

Yeah thats what I thought, but they weren't in a hurry or anything, and it was the same doc, I think its just her tummy had taken all it could take without proper recovery if you know what I mean??

Sarah - I asked my OB about 'another c/s' and she said to give my body 12 months off between pregnancies which effectively allows for up almost two years between c/s, but she said if it happened earlier we would just deal with it and determine approrpiate course of care for me (BTW im NOT ttc or thinking about it just yet but I wanted to know my options JIC I had a suprise..).

Sarah, I asked my ob the same thing at my 6 week check and she said to wait 6 months. I was surprised as I was expecting to hear at least 12 months. We aren't bothering with contraception as we want another and J was a miracle bub so I don't know if/how long my body and endo will keep me waiting for number 2.

LOL I didn't even think to ask.

I'll be holding out to see a pregnancy announcement from you now Sarah.... :cryinglaugh:

Hey Sarah, someone I know was pregnant again 3 months after her first caesarean and her body handled it just fine! Her second was born my maternal assisted caesarean. Wouldn't it be nice for you to get a little surprise ;)

Well... I had my first boy on the 23rd december 06, and fell pregnant december 07 ;) (we actually conceived this one on his first birthday)
Hospy dont want to let me trial a vbac, so they want to section me.

I guess (as with anything!) alot comes down to the individual...general guidelines are that a gap of at least a year is optimal but I have a friend who's had three c/s in 4 years - and she hasn't had any dramas. She is very overweight too which could put her at higher risk but she's recovered well each time and no problems in the following pregnancy.

As soon as you're not worried about getting pregnant though...you know you will don't you ;) :lol:

My family friend had a 3rd c-section when her 2nd boy was 17 months old and she got the all clear before leaving the hospital (yep all clear in the 1st week) that she can have a 4th if she wants to.

My OB is happy for me to try for a VBAC and there will be nearly 19 months between to two so I don't see why there would be an issue with another c-section. I was getting told when I was trying to prevent the first c-section due to my breech bundle that I would only need to wait 12 months between deliveries (which I did double check) but that was what they said so check with the OB. Alternatively - what are they going to do about it if it is sooner rather than later :D

M ichelle, i wonder why there is a difference between you and i :(:(
I was told that under no circumstance will they let me VBAC... but hey... i can always refuse medical treatment!

Sarah, sorry for going a little off track here.

Mummatotwo, I am really disappointed in the Gold Coast Hospital that they wont allow you to VBAC with less then 24 months between births. I know it's a little further out for you, but have you tried calling Logan or Redlands to see what they say? Or even Tweed? It's not really too far away these days with the Tugan bypass.

Sarah i have an aquaintance who just had a VBA2C 11 months after her last c-section. It was her first vaginal birth, 14 hour labour, no drugs, no tears, no dramas. She had to have CFM but her waters had broken so they put the internal one on bubs and she could move about and use the shower and everything. And that's in the UK, pretty much just as scalpel happy as Aus.

The question is not "is it going to be a drama?" but "Is the medical profession going to TURN it into a drama" ;) And THAT depends on your caregivers, who you can ditch and replace if you need to. You'll be right hun, given your fertility issues of the past, if you get a little surprise bundle then it is MEANT to be and the (*counts in her head*) FIVE of you would be fine.

Bx

Ok so I think I'm confused, is it 12 months between deliveries or 12 months from delivery to pregnancy?

In the UK it's MEANT to be 15-18 months between deliveries, but as my woman found, it depends on the Ob. She got the same ob for her 2nd section and her VBA2C and he said "what would it be saying about my surgical skills if i didn't let you try for a VBAC?"

I think the general guideline is 12 months between pregnancies to allow your body the time to recover fully from the stresses of the last pregnancy. Well that's what my Ob told me anyway, but there are plently of people out there who have fallen pregnant much sooner and have been totally fine. Someone here on BB was pg 6 weeks after giving birth! And like I said, someone I know had a second cs 12 months after her first with no dramas. I did read somewhere that one OB thinks that after 3 months your cs scar is going to be as healed as it is ever going to be. I think if you are feeling healthy enough in yourself then it doesn't matter how soon you fall pg again. And like Hoobley said, I recon if it happens then it's mean't to be ;)

MY OB mentioned as long as I didn`t conceive within the first 6 weeks post c/s I`d be aok to conceive again, off course it also all depends if there were any complications during your c/sec.

Mummatotwo - Sorry to hear they will not let you VBAC, my VBAC was 15 months after m,y c/sec, it would have been 14.5 months if DS wasn`t late!!!!

Sarah, DD#1's aunty has two c-secs 13 months apart :)

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M ichelle, i wonder why there is a difference between you and i :(:(
I was told that under no circumstance will they let me VBAC... but hey... i can always refuse medical treatment!

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Sorry to hear you are being bullied into surgery, Mummatotwo. I think if you really would like to try for a VBAC change hospitals, change caregivers, get a Doula. research your options. I am sure you will get lots of helpful advice here, I suggest you start your own thread :)

hi there, ive had cesareans 14months apart and im preg again this time will be 11-12 months apart!each time the recovery is easier and u know what to expect. all the best when your suprise is concieved!

all the research i did when i found i was preg with my 2nd (conceived 4 months after my 1st was delivered by c.s) the recommendation was two years between the ops.
I guess it really depends on your body too and how well the internal muscles etc have healed.