How soon after a caesarean can I get pregnant?

How soon after a caesarean can I get
pregnant?

It's best for you to wait at least six months
after your caesarean section before becoming pregnant again. A year would be even better. The longer you leave your scar to heal, the stronger it will be.

You'll remember how long it takes to recover
from a caesarean. You probably felt exhausted and sore at first. And you may not be back to all your day-to-day activities if it wasn't that long ago. So make sure you give your body a really good opportunity to recover before your next pregnancy.

In most caesareans, a cut is made just along
the top of your pubic hair. This is called a bikini cut. It usually heals by three months after your baby's birth. But waiting at least six months may be particularly important if you want to try for a vaginal birth next time. This is called a VBAC, which is a vaginal birth after caesarean.

There is a very low risk of your caesarean
scar tearing with a VBAC. This is called uterine rupture. Even though the risk is low, it may increase if there is a short gap between your pregnancies.

A small gap also increases your risk of
having a low-lying placenta (placenta praevia) or that the placenta will separate from your womb (uterus). This is a serious complication known as placental abruption. This may sound frightening, but all these risks are very low.

The most important factor is that you and your partner feel ready for another baby.