A lot of people make fun of C-sections as “easy,” but if you’ve ever had one, you know that this is completely false.
Not only was your abdominal wall medically opened and put back together after being cut open during childbirth, but you also had a baby squeezed out via your birth canal.
As a general rule, C-sections are more complicated, more painful and need a longer postpartum recovery period.
How will your C-section influence future pregnancies if you decide to have another child? What you need to know is right here.
Does having a C-section affect your fertility?
It is not uncommon for us to jump right in and refute medical lore and myths with crystal-clear answers, but the answer to this specific topic is still up in the air.
Why? Because there are two significant studies that contradict each other. According to a research published in 2014, the variations in birth rates after a C-section are so slight that they are not statistically significant.
However, according to a new analysis by 2020Trusted Source, the difference isn’t as little as first thought: Having a caesarean section as a first-time parent does decrease the likelihood of having another child. It’s unclear why, although uterine scarring may have been a contributing factor.
Within three years of having a caesarean section, over two-thirds of those studied were able to become pregnant again. Around 76% of women who had vaginal deliveries were able to conceive within the same time span as those who did not.
It’s true that other variables (such geographic location and socioeconomic position) might have easily influenced the findings, yet the 2020 study’s researchers nevertheless concede that
So we don’t know for sure whether a C-section could affect your future fertility, but here are some things to keep in mind:
• If caesarean sections are connected to reduced reproduction rates, it’s likely to have a little — not exponential — impact.
• Some studies have shown no influence on fertility, while others have found a little effect.
• C-sections and infertility may not be related to the surgical technique itself. Instead, it’s possible that your C-origins sections are to blame (like needing to be induced for low amniotic fluid or other common reproductive issues that often lead to C-sections).
How long should you wait to get pregnant again after a C-section?
The topic of “how long is the right length of time to wait in between pregnancies” is dependant on a variety of things – how old you are, if you had a high risk pregnancy last time, and, yes, whether your last birth was a C-section.
In general, you should wait at least 6 months before becoming pregnant again following a C-section. That’s the basic minimum required; some experts advise it’s preferable to wait 12 to 15 months, while others recommend 18 to 24 months.
How long you, precisely, should wait should be a dialogue with your doctor. Ideally you want someone who knows you to analyse your general health, your pregnancy and reproductive history, and your age before offering you a suggestion.
What are the risks of getting pregnant too soon after you’ve had a C-section?
A C-section is major abdominal surgery, and your body needs time (probably more than you realize) to fully heal. Otherwise, you could be at a higher risk for:
• Uterine rupture. Basically, the longer you wait, the lower your risk of rupture. A 2010 study Trusted Source found that the rate of uterine rupture in people who had prior cesareans was:
o almost 5 percent in those who got pregnant again in less than 18 months
o almost 2 percent in those who waited 18 to 23 months
o just over 1 percent for those who waited 24 months or longer
• Placenta accreta. Sometimes the placenta embeds itself into the lining of your uterus (or even into an existing C-section scar), which can lead to serious complications during delivery. People who have had a C-section are more likely to experience this condition.
• Preterm birth. Two recent studies published in 2019, one from BJOGTrusted Source and one from PLOS OneTrusted Source, correlate C-sections in first pregnancies to preterm births in second pregnancies. In both, there was a statistically significant higher rate of preterm births in people who’d had prior cesareans. Some researchers suspect this may be worsened by shorter periods of time between pregnancies, but at this point that hasn’t been studied carefully enough to say for sure.
What if there are reasons for getting pregnant soon after a C-section or it happens accidentally?
We’ve pounded you with science, but now it’s time to get down to business: It’s not always possible to go at least 24 months without becoming pregnant again. If you’re over 35 or think you’ll have difficulties becoming pregnant again, you may not be able to wait the whole two years.
Of then, there are the “oops” infants to consider. Are you bound to experience uterine rupture, birth hemorrhaging, a premature baby, and other issues if you become pregnant seven months after a C-section?
No! Keep in mind that the dangers are still quite modest. It is possible to have a healthy pregnancy after a C-section as long as you cooperate with your doctor to avoid difficulties.
You should speak to your doctor about future pregnancies if you’re older or if you’ve had reproductive issues in the past.
Will you need another C-section or is a vaginal birth (VBAC) possible?
Now that we’ve given you a good dose of science, it’s time to get real: Being pregnant every 24 months can’t always be avoided. You may not be able to wait two years if you’re over 35 or fear you’ll have difficulty becoming pregnant again.
Those “oops” infants should not be forgotten either. A C-section patient who becomes pregnant seven months after the procedure is at risk for uterine rupture, bleeding during delivery, and premature birth.
No! The dangers are relatively modest in the broad scheme of things, remember. If you work closely with your doctor, you may have a safe pregnancy shortly after a C-section if you avoid difficulties.
You should speak to your doctor about future pregnancies if you’re older or if you’ve had reproductive issues in the past.
How should you talk to your doctor about pregnancy after C-section?
Your OB-GYN visits, including your 6-week postpartum check-up and your yearly gynaecological exam, should be going as planned, right? Talking to your doctor about whether or not you should try to become pregnant again is a good idea at any of these points in time.
Because your first child is still keeping you awake at night, you don’t have to worry about having a second one just yet. When you’re ready, you may make a separate appointment with your clinician to discuss your reproductive choices.
Whenever the conversation happens, make sure to ask your doctor:
• How long they recommend you wait until trying to conceive again, based on your previous pregnancy and overall health.
• If you can “afford,” in terms of your age and fertility, to wait the preferred 24 months before getting pregnant again.
• How they handle pregnancies that happen sooner than expected after C-section (e.g., if they’ll schedule extra ultrasounds to check the health of your uterus or placenta).
• What their position is on VBAC and whether or not they think you could possibly be a candidate for it, should you get pregnant again in the near future.
Of course, if you’re nowhere near ready to think about another baby — let alone have one — make sure you let your provider know that, too, so they can advise you on the best way to avoid pregnancy. Some forms of contraception and family planning don’t exactly play nice with breastfeeding.
The bottom line
Having a C-section doesn’t mean that you’ll be unable to have more children in the future. In most cases, these procedures have little or no influence on fertility or pregnancy health (and some are still pretty unconfirmed).
Generally speaking, the longer you wait between pregnancies, the healthier you’ll be, but it doesn’t imply that two pregnancies close together is always risky or something to be avoided. When in doubt, see your physician and come up with a game plan together.
People also search
Do previous C-sections affect future pregnancies?
A repeat c-section usually takes longer than the first operation. This is because you will have scar tissue, which can make the operation more difficult. Scar tissue might also damage your bowel or bladder. You have a slightly higher risk of placenta praevia and/or placenta accreta in future pregnancies.
Is pregnancy After C-section considered high risk?
Getting Pregnant After C-Sections
The longer you have to recover and heal, the lower your risk of complications. That said, if you do get pregnant before the recommended timeline, you can still have a healthy pregnancy. Be sure to talk to your doctor early and often about proper prenatal care.
What are the long-term side effects of C-section?
Long-Term Effects of C-Sections
Children born by C-section also suffer increased rates of diseases, including asthma, type I diabetes, allergies, obesity, as well as reduced overall cognitive functioning and lower academic performance.
