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Pregnancy

How many C-sections?

21 replies

Number3cometome · 30/12/2014 15:12

I am currently expecting DC3.

Some people have said that 3 c-sections are really the most surgeons like to do but no one has said anything to me about this yet?

(DS and DD were also sections)

Any experiences to share?

I recall when I was at Kings College hospital last time there was a lady who had 8 but not sure how common more than 3 are?

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MozzchopsThirty · 30/12/2014 15:15

I know someone who had 4

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RevoltingPeasant · 30/12/2014 15:18

I think you might not be able to use the same scar after a bit. My friend has had two 'bikini cut' ones and was told they might have to do a vertical scar if she ever had another child. Equally my mum had two old-style vertical sections and was warned against more children by her ob-gyn, but then that was a while ago so the 'rules' may have changed! (She went on to have a VBAC, in fact!)

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myotherusernameisbetter · 30/12/2014 15:18

I was advised no more after 2 but wasn't planning any more children anyway.

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DishwasherDogs · 30/12/2014 15:18

I had 4 - 1 emcs and 3 ELCS.

Dc4 pregnancy was consultant led and the CS was carried out by the consultant, who took his time over it (took 20 mins to get baby out rather than 5-10 mins like the others)
None of the midwives batted an eyelid, so I don't think it's unusual. Friends and family were very vocal about how dangerous it would be to have another CS! but I perfected the art of shrugging and saying the baby would have to come out somehow.

I did do loads of googling about multiple CS, from what I read it is no more risky to have a third or fourth CS than having a 2nd, but obviously you are exposing yourself to the risk again and again.

My fourth was the easiest and quickest recovery.

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Number3cometome · 30/12/2014 15:28

Thank you ladies!!

I already have a vertical scar from a spinal fusion (through the front) so am hoping that will get left alone as it is a big scar.

No one has mentioned a third section being an issue, and we have already discussed that it will probably be under a general (spinal issues) so I was surprised to google and read you are quite limited!

I need to stop googling and worrying!

Thanks

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imip · 30/12/2014 15:45

I've had 4 sections and was ok to have more. I think it depends on a lot of factors (scar tissue, how thin your uterus wall is etc) and they should advise you after your section whether or not you can have another.

The record at my busy London hosp was 8. No one battered an eyelid at me until I went I into labour before my due date. I was kept in but labour abated (was my 5th pregnancy, and this had happened before). It was about three days before my op was due.

Rcovery from my 4th was also the hardest. I had two scars that diverged along the scar line with section no.3 and this was corrected during the 4th section.

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Suzietwo · 30/12/2014 16:02

i have had 3, 2 emergency and an elective. during my 3rd pregnancy i spoke at length to anyone who would listen, about whether a 4th would be any more risky. they all said than unless it is specifically raised with you as a risk, you can assume you are good to go for repeat sections. they were totally unconcerned about the risk of another both before my third and after (the surgeon confirmed after that i was fine for another)

my 3rd section was a long one because i had severe adhesions caused by infection after No 2 (i have keloid scarring anyway) and i didnt enjoy it at all. it was almost bad enough to put me off having a 4th but i am 7 months on from it now and will probably go for a 4th child in a year or so.

i also google obsessively for stories of people who have had 4+ sections and i have never read a seriously bad report of a 4th or more.

i am consious that everyone thinks you should only have 3 and that would make the pregnancy quite tedious but fvck em. even the old midwife who wanted me to vbac No 3 (HA!) said that it was an old wives tale and i hold that advice close!

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Number3cometome · 30/12/2014 16:07

I really cannot risk a VBAC, me and OH have said this will be our last, but I know in a couple of years I may change my mind

No one has mentioned anything about my scar at all, which is what I found odd, but I guess it is a good thing as means it's unremarkable?

Recovery from both previous sections was absolutely fine.

My last one I was home on day 3 and down the park walking baby. Yes it was sore but I could cope absolutely fine.

Fingers crossed.

Just so glad to hear all your stories ladies, it does put my mind at rest!

(also had a scan two weeks ago and no one mentioned anything)

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myotherusernameisbetter · 30/12/2014 16:10

I had my two 13 months apart, first was EMCS as DS1 was stuck fast - 9lb 13oz and lying back to back, 36 hour labour never got past 8cms dilated. when I was pregnant with DS2, I got a lot of twinges and pain in the scar but they put it down to stretching and the consultant I was referred to for delivery said that she thought we should book in for ELCS on or after my due date and if I went into labour before that we would try labour and see how we got on. It was another big baby and also lying back to back so I was understandably nervous. My midwife fudged the dates a wee bit and got me booked in just before my due date. During the surgery the consultant told me that the internal scar was very fragile and would never have withstood a trial of labour . I'm guessing that was maybe why my GP, after reading the notes, asked if I was planning any more as another CS wouldn't be advisable.

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Suzietwo · 30/12/2014 16:13

wouldnt that have been a reason nt to vbac rather than csection tho?

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myotherusernameisbetter · 30/12/2014 16:22

If that was to me, I have no idea Suzie - I didn't really get into conversation as this was at my 6 week check which I attended with a 6 week old and my 14 month old so I was pretty clear I didn't want any more! :o

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Suzietwo · 30/12/2014 16:24

Ha!

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Number3cometome · 30/12/2014 16:24

FYI - My oldest is 12 next month, my last c-section was 7.5 years ago.

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myotherusernameisbetter · 30/12/2014 16:34

I think they had to cut away the entire previous scar tissue though so maybe that was it? who knows. I'm sure all will be well OP, I'm sure someone would have mentioned any issue by now :)

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Number3cometome · 30/12/2014 16:39

Thanks ladies, you have been very helpful at easing my mind xx

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weebarra · 30/12/2014 16:41

I've had three EMCS. Recently had an oophrectomy (ovary and tube removal) and the surgeon said I had pretty bad adhesions, so that might have been an issue if I'd chosen to have more children. Last section was 16 months ago.

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myotherusernameisbetter · 30/12/2014 16:42

My eldest is 14 and youngest is 13 so it was a while ago too. DH had the snipo by the time youngest turned 1. They are lovely btw, very hard work as babies and toddlers but great now and brilliant friends 99% of the time which for two teenage boys is a miracle. :o

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MehsMum · 30/12/2014 17:45

Not wishing to put the frighteners on anybody but... repeat sections increase the chance of placenta accreta (where the placenta grows through the scar in the womb, pretty much) as well as placenta praevia (placenta grows across cervix and increases rick of bleeding etc).

A friend of mine had both these complications after 3 sections and her 4th baby did not have a fun ride. Nor did my friend: she almost didn't make it - nearly bled to death, lost her uterus, etc.

I know this is not what people want to hear, but sadly these are genuine complications which are much more likely after repeat CSs.

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imip · 30/12/2014 17:55

meh you are completely and utterly right. My pregnancy following the first section was a section again because of placenta previa. i do know women who have lost babies because of placenta accreta.

I also know someone who almost died on the 4th section when their contracting uterus adhered to their bowel and ripped their bowel.

For me though, I lost my first baby, text book pregnancy, stillborn baby. I'm not making light of the risks, but the old view that their was the same limit that applied to everyone really isn't the case.

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SomeSunnySunday · 30/12/2014 18:03

I've just had my 3rd c-section - first was an EMCS, second and third were elective.

Pre-op the obstetrician warned me to expect a longer and more complicated operation, but when it came to it the section was my most straightforward yet, and I was told that it all looks fine in there - no adhesions, only minimal scar tissue. The surgeon said he saw no reason not to go for baby number 4, although they always advise leaving a decent gap between sections (I had 2 years then 3 years).

The risks on paper do increase, and I was worried about a third section, but in practice my third section was the only one which could be described as 'textbook'.