Options for childbirth following abdominal surgery

[jcp123]

I've had two major abdominal surgeries, the latest in March, so have extensive scaring round my tummy. The first cut was like a section and the second up and down (pubic bone to above tummy button), neither op ruptured my uterus.

I'm 30wks pregnant and feeling very uncomfortable round my scars, especially asI get bigger. I've asked my midwife if my surgery will have any impact on my birth options but she does not know. I'm on shared care and supposed to get a consultant appointment to discuss but still waiting for this to happen.

I would love to know if anyone has been given any advice for something similar.

Thanks in advance!

I have had a c-section and also had my appendix removed when I was 31 weeks pg with DD2 - it was quite a big scar though sounds like it wasn't as bad as yours.

Anyway, the consultant I saw at 36 weeks said she was not in the least bothered about my 5-wk old appy scar, the scar on my uterus was the one she wanted to keep on eye on. DD2 (and DD3, for that matter) was born as a VBAC at exactly 40weeks, natural onset of labour, forceps delivery. The consultant said to me that it's the stress of the contractions on the uterine scar that is concerning, and the appendectomy scar wasn't being stressed in the same way.

The appy scar was uncomfortable with DD2 as it stretched during the last weeks (and it was rather fresh!) but some moisturiser seemed to help, and the same again with DD3 (though it was 2.5 years old by that time).

HTH.

Hi there. I have had one c-section and found this website for The association for the improvement of maternity services incredibly useful, with stats etc, for any dangers associated with Vaginal Birth After C-section (VBAC). It may be relevent to you too....

www.aims.org.uk/

Thank-you both for your helpful advice and quick replies. I will take a look at that website, and try the moisturiser trick to ease my discomfort!