anyone had a 2nd c section?

[juice]

hi i am 5 weeks pregnant. i not been to doc yet, but will soon.
i had to have an emergency c section with my first baby 13 months ago as i had not progressed well enough in first stages of labour and dd was getting distressed. i was in labour for 30 hours in total and my waters were broken for many hours before dd was born.
so this time will i be allowed to just have an elective c section. or if i did have a natural birth would there be any complications.
also if i do go for c section, do they use same incision line as last one. and also do they let you home sooner as i was in for 5 days with first c section.
cant think of anything else right now, but sure there will b lots more questions to come.

thanks

I had a second section - first was for placenta praevia second was my choice though I did go into labour first. I went home after two nights -it's totally your call when you go home. And yes, they do use the same incision line so you have exactly the same scar. I found it even easier second time around though it's obviously a different experience for every woman - just like any other kind of childbirth.
What do you want to happen?

yep i had emergency c-section with my twin girls, then a 28 hour labour with little progression so ended up with a section, they use they same scar, i stayed in 8 days first time, five days the second time.

You may not automatically be given an elective this time. Part will depend on whether the consultant feels that the condition that required a c section first time will be repeated So for example if you had ha a c/section becuae of breech birth first time round, they wouldn't go for a second c-section unless you were breech again. With failure to progress it is more difficult, but it seems to be the case that the further along in terms of cervical dilation (ie how many cm) you were the more likely a vaginal delivery 2nd time will not succeed. Many women do go onto to have vagainal births after a c-section (usually referred to as a vbac) successfully. I went for a 2nd c-section, and did convince the consultabt int he end - but is certainly wasn't an automatic option.

The main risk with vbac is uterine rupture (where the womb tears along the line of the orignal c-section scar). You should be monitored for this during labour, and ideally shouldn't be induced (as this seems to increase the risk of rupture). This is often a reason as to why post-s-section babies which go overdue end up as c-sections.

They should go for the same incision more or less (my scar second time seemed a bit longer).

Whilst 5 days is about avaerage if you and baby are "well" then you can get out earlier - 2 of my friends managed to be out within 48 hours. I took advantage of the relative peace and quiet of the hospital!

aloha, i am leaning towards another c section. just in case there was problems with a natural delivery as i may want more kids.
thanks for your relpies

Juice - Why are you worried about having more kids if you deliver naturally? Surely the risk of fertility problems is greater if you have a C-section? Don't know for sure though.

I would say that if you are physically able to have a natural delivery then you should try it.

My friend stamped her feet (Consultants words)and got an elective section after her 1st dd was born my emergency section. There was no reason why she could not have delievered naturally.
The Consultant was NOT happy about it and she actually regretted it a bit afterwards. She was just anxious about problems occurring again.

I personally don't think consultants should use sexist and patronising terms like that. I cannot imagine anyone ever using a term like that about a man.
My consultant (female, very experienced) was very happy for me to have a second section. Previous section is a perfectly good reason for a second one.
However, if you want more children you may want to consider a vaginal birth. Do you trust your consultant? If you said you wanted a carefully controlled trial labour with a move to section far earlier than last time, would you feel more confident? It may be a totally different experience this time.

I have had 2 sections - first one was an emergency at 10 days prior to due date due to foetal issues. Second was elective - due to large baby and unwillingness to appear. I wanted a VBAC second time round but it did not end up that way.

In terms of the incision - mine was a little lower than the previous and in fact they cut out the previous scar tissue BUT would not do me a tummy tuck despite my asking!

Despite having a 2 1/2 year old who was not walking etc - I recovered much quicker second time round and don't regret having had the c-section. I wanted the VBAC thinking I would recover quicker and would be able to do all the lifting/driving etc that needed to be done for dd1 - who had medical appts etc that were in my 'recovery' period. WIth the quicker recovery - I was lifting her within a couple of weeks and driving as well.

My consultant ( 2nd time round) was fab - he supported my wishes for a VBAC - when that looked unlikely - he also supported my decision for a c-section. The only person who made me see red regarding this was a registrar - who at my first visit wanted to automatically book me in for a c-section.

One question though, are you insured if you drive within the 6wk period after a c-section? Last time I felt fine after 3-4 wks, & should I need another section this time, the restrictions on getting out & about are my main apprehension, as we aren't walking distance to anything useful.

scully I was insured after three weeks provided the GP signed me off....

Juice,
I had an emergence section with DD. Then, I had DS 2 years and 2 months later by elective section. You may have to fight for the elective. But if you really want one and youpersist accordingly you will most likely get it. One of the factors in the Nice guideline is "maternal preference". Just decide what you want and press for it. (and perhaps choose your hospital accordingly)

In hindsight I made absolutely the right decision for me. I'm finished having kids, but if I did want another it would definitely be another section for me.

Oh, and my scar looks better after the second one. Queen Charlotte did a nice job of cleaning it up.

Oh, and my insurance company said I was insured to drive whenever I felt up to it. And my previous insurance company said they'sd never heard of anyone not being insured due to a caesarean... though I have heard one or two mumsnetters say they weren't insured. Just as your insurance company. They seem to differ.

I've had two c sections the first was emergency at 32 wks. The second was planned as I had gestational diabetes and it was safer for the baby.
The second section was a very fast recovery walking about by tea time (born at 1030) and hardly any pain.

I had a trial of labour second time, but ended up with a second c-section. I think recovery was fairly similar, but there is a thread somewhere around about it being harder second time, and quite a few people definately thought so. I think mostly to with recovering from an operation with a toddler around. You should get the choice, and the chance to talk through your options before you decide.

I found the hard bit about the second c-section was knowing what you were letting yourself in for. First time was an emergency & over very quickly, second time I got myself in such a state walking into the operating theatre it took them 45mins. to get the spinal in! DH dressed as Dr.Kildare outside was beside himself - not on account of me you understand, he thought they'd forgotten about him & he'd missed the birth. Will definately look into hypnosis & relaxation 3rd time round (if it ever happens )

juice, I have had to emergencies and yes they do go in throught the same incision scar and you can't tell I'll had two ops.

I know this isn't what you asked in your original question and I know it's a bit controversial, but as you get further in to your pregnancy don't rule out having a planned C section next time, I had a labour like yours first and second time and wish I'd gone for the planned Caesar instead of trial of labour. All I mean is that 2 C sections are not the end of the world in the long run and it may be easier to plan a recovery around knowing that you are going to have one instead of it being a total surprise.

I've had 2 c sections and have 2 scars - is this v unusual???

i had 2 c/s as well through the same scar. |First was emergency due to a failed labour and second was elective - recovery much better after elective. Its not the end of the world to have 2 sections

I had DS1 by section for failing to progress and foetal distress.

I had DDs1&2 vaginally.

Then I had the DTs by elective section.

All well with each birth. DD2's was the best of all!

hi juice i had emergency c section 3 years ago,
every body has been happy to go with vbac this time. am 7 days overdue currently , the hospital are monitering the baby evry 3 days now as i go more overdue.
i have tried hypnosis and still really want vbac however now iam at this point i know i am very limited and every day later is leading to another c section..
i think you have to try but as soon as you are at risk then accept a cesearean . there are positive points .
at least if i do get a date for the birth i can plan quality care for my daughter and plan her meals, pre school lifts etc
the one thing that is stalling me is they cant induce and the length if labour is watched if it doesnt progress they said i would have to accept c section due to risk to the wound rupturing.
i was the same as you and but did not have the experience of labour so i know this will be a slow one.. i will keep you posted though as this experience is close

I just wanted to let eveyone know to be aware of VBAC as I was quite keen to have a vbac but at the last minute and sudden memories of my first labour I decided to have another c section and thank goodness I did as during the operation the scar tissue from the first operation had stuck from my womb to my bladder and the surgeon said that had I had an emergancy section it would have been a "disaster" I felt it important to tell people not to be pushed into a VBAC.
The recovery from the 2nd section has been far better than the first, I was sore for a day or 2 but after a week I didn't need many pain killers at all. Lots of rest is required but its definitely worth it. The surgeon has advised me not to have another baby and I am just very relieved to have 2 lovely sons and a bladder that is still in strong working order. I wouldn't hesistate to recommend a second c section.

Had cs for ds as he was breech.

It was entirely up to me for dd 2 years later. I decided i'd give vbac a go but when nothing had happened within 24 hours of waters breaking, went in for a second cs.

was all fine - they used the same scar - although incision was slightly longer, scar definitely neater second time around.

you just need to be assertive - if you have strong feelings (ie i was not happy to be induced having had all the risks explained to me) then you need to communicate these. i found it hard to remain unemotional in some appointments -notablt with junior doctors - and found dh was a great ally in getting across my poin t of view when it really mattered

I had three c-sections. For 1 and 2 I was in for 5 days - with no3 I was in for two days total from pre surgery to going home.

They will try and use the same general area as the old incision. I know with no2 and no3 - they cut the old scar out as much as possible.

I can't comment on what would happen. My first was an emergency c-section due to poor dopplers and a baby that was not growing. There was not reason for me to have a second c-section and I actually wanted a vbac mainly cause dh was due to start a new job the day I ended up having dd2 and i had no one to help with a child with special needs who was not mobile in anyway and was almost 2 1/2. However as the due date came and went and 10 days over dd2 showed no sign of arriving I opted for an elective section. With dd3 I went for the elective section again.

The not being insured to drive after a C-section seems to be a bit of an urban myth. I had a planned section with my DS due to medical history and will be doing the same with any future DC, but have also had other abdominal surgery - assumed each time I would not be insured to drive for 6 weeks. However, when I rang my insurance company after 6 weeks to check I was OK to start again, on one occasion they said it was always fine to drive as long as my doctor gave me the OK, and on the other they said it was fine as long as I felt OK. So it seems that the insurance companies themselves don't have a hard and fast rule, but instead leave the decision to you or your doctor.

I had an excellent recovery from my section and could happily have driven within two weeks - I would hope to do the same if I have another. From what I have seen, there can be a world of difference between a planned and an emergency CS, and a planned CS is generally very smooth with a high likelihood of a good recovery quickly.

my insurance company said as long as the GP signed me off then they were fine with it. With dd1 I did not really need to drive and so took it easy - with dd2 it was after 4 weeks and with dd3 it was at around the 3 week mark. You need to be able to do an emergency stop without causing your internal stitches etc to come to any grief.