How long to wait before the next pregnancy
Short intervals raise the chance of a repeat cesarean.
In a population study of 792,094 US women whose first delivery was a cesarean, an interval between pregnancies of 11 months or less raised the odds of a repeat cesarean by about 55%, and an interval of 12 to 17 months by about 38%, compared with an interval of 18 to 23 months.
A commonly given recommendation is to wait at least 18 months before conceiving again after a cesarean, though the evidence base for a specific number is not strong.
Where this comes from:
355. Dong H, Chi J, Wang W, Liu L. Association between interpregnancy interval and maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in women with a cesarean delivery: a population-based study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23(1):284.
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