Head is all over

Hi 😊 I also had a c-section and spoke to my gynaecologist cause me and my husband wanted to have a rough plan for when we’d like to try for a second. She told me it was best to have a couple of years between sections but in all cases at least one. Best to discuss it with your own doctor, though, so they can explain any potential risks.

I got pregnant 7 months after my csection and the consultant said it was fine and can have either vbac or a planned csection. He went through the risks of both and it's pretty much identical. However if the first baby was an emergency csection it would need to be a planned csection for the second baby

@MJ can I pm u please

I got pregnant 11 months after an emergency c-section, so gave birth 20 months later. I was told I would have to wait 2 years between pregnancies but didn’t. It made no difference and nobody mentioned it at all so I guess it’s more preferred as opposed to necessity. I had an elective c-section the second time but I had the option of both VBAC or elective, they didn’t force either xxx

I would go for elective c section again , my gap between children would be quiet small and I would have 2 under 2 , I think its more of the risks on my body and on baby too that I'm worried about xx

@MJ Doesn’t necessarily *need* to be a planned C section if it was emergency first time round - it very much depends on what the reason for EMCS was. My SIL had EMCS with her first and VBAC with her second.

Unfortunately, whatever route you go there is going to be some level of risk involved (that’s always the case but heightened for you because of the short gap). This really is a conversation for you to have with your midwife/consultant who can give you evidence and figures around the various risks. The things I’d be considering/asking questions about; - recovery; do you have a good support network who can help if you’re incapacitated by another c-section? Remember, no two recoveries are same and having a smooth recovery the first time isn’t a guarantee that the second will be as smooth. But there is also a recovery period for vaginal births, - risks; what are the risks to baby *and* you of each mode of delivery? - what do you really want? What will make you feel safe? For some, they feel like a VBAC would give them back some of the control they may have lost in the first birth. For others, they may choose elective CS because they’re comforted by knowing what will happen, when etc.

- Have you processed your first birth? A lot of people who have CS (not all, obviously!) have some form of birth trauma that should be addressed before giving birth again. You don’t want to make decisions from a place of fear based on a past experience. The likelihood is you’ll be put under consultant care so I’d just keep a running list of things you want to ask/know/check and bring them up whenever you see the consultant x

I got pregnant 4 months after a planned c section and it was all absolutely fine no one seem remotely bothered that it was so close . I had another c section which I wanted anyway and I now have a a 17minth old and a 4 month old and it’s the best thing in the world . I did get gestational diabetes this time but so did most of my other pregnant friends cause it seems to be super common now xx

@Kari I'm going to pm u hope this is OK I have a few questions xx

@Kirsty yes sure

@Jess That's just what the procedure is at my hospital for the duration between the two, it wouldn't be consultant based either, it's going to vary from place to place, I was just sharing my recent experience