How soon after a caesarean can I get pregnant?

The usual advice is that you should wait a year after one caesarean section before becoming pregnant again. The longer your scar has to heal, the better, especially if you want a vaginal birth next time.

At the very least, you should give your body a rest of six months before trying to conceive again.

In most caesarean sections, a cut is made into your belly and uterus (womb) just along the top of your pubic hair. It's called a bikini cut. It will usually have healed well three months after your baby's birth.

But the longer it's left, the stronger the heal will be. And a strong heal may cause fewer problems over time. This may particularly matter to you if you want to try for a vaginal birth or VBAC (pronounced veeback) next time.

There is a very low risk of your caesarean scar tearing with 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 short gap can also increase the chance that you'll have problems with your placenta. These may include the placenta being low-lying, called placenta praevia, or the placenta separating from your uterus wall, called placental abruption.

This may sound alarming, but the risks of rupture and problems with the placenta are still very small. Most women who have a smaller gap between pregnancies have no problems at all during a VBAC.

There are other advantages to having a longer interval between babies, whether you've had a caesarean or not. Read our article on age gaps between siblings to find out more.

Almost one third of all births in Australia are by caesarean section. Many women don't realise how long it takes to recover. You're likely to feel exhausted and very sore afterwards. It can take several months to get back to your day-to-day activities. So giving yourself a really good rest after your first caesarean can only benefit you and your next baby.

Find out more about uterine rupture.