| Your next baby
It takes your body about a year to recover from a Caesarean, so it’s best not to think about trying for your next baby until then. When you do have your next baby, you won’t necessarily have to have another Caesarean. There has been a great deal of research into vaginal birth after Caesarean which has shown that most women could achieve a vaginal delivery after a previous section (some researchers quote a figure of 90 per cent of women). Of course, if the reason why you had a Caesarean first time round is still valid, for example if your womb is an unusual shape, your pelvis is exceptionally small or you have a heart condition that would make labour too stressful for you, then you should probably elect for another Caesarean. However, if the reason for your first Caesarean was perhaps ‘failure to progress’ (the cervix didn’t open up properly) or even ‘suspected cephalo-pelvic disproportion’ (there was some doubt whether your pelvis was big enough for your baby), the likelihood is that your next birth will be straightforward. If you had your first Caesarean because your baby was breech or became distressed during labour, there is every reason to think that your next labour will be a normal one ending in a vaginal birth. Many women who have had a Caesarean worry that a subsequent natural birth will rupture the scar, but this is very rare. If you are concerned about this, discuss it with your midwife or consultant. Where to next?
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