Anyone had 3 csections?

[buzzgirly]

I have 2 dcs who were both born by EMCS - neither of them coped well with labour.

I am considering dc 3, but I am nervous about another csection. I recovered both times very easily and worried this wont be the same again. Also after 2 very long labours I was pretty out of it by the time of my section and so not too aware of what was happening - so not sure what a planned section would be like.

I'm not even pregnant so I do feel a bit ridiculous worrying already! But it is putting me off slightly!

My mum did (in the late 80s) - two emergency ones after horrible labours, one planned at 38 weeks. She said the 3rd birth was by far the easiest, but the recovery was the hardest - though she did have a 4 yo and a 2yo too at that point.

Yes, 1 crash gen anaesthetic emcs and two planned CS.
I think you'll be fine with a planned one. I always feel fortunate not to have had protracted labour and then an emcs, that must be hard. So I think it will be relatively straightforward compared to what you've ready been through. :-)

I know one woman who had had 4 (3 of them elective),another who has had 3 (2 elective). I don't really know them well enough to discuss their experiences. I've had 2 (1 emergency, one planned but short notice and no other option). Bizarrely I had a much better time with the emergency, though recovered better with my "semi-elective". Will be going for a 3rd but want either a consultant anaesthetist or a GA (unlikely).

Yes, one had 3 electives. Another had 4 electives. I don't think it is a particularly big deal, since you recover easily.

3 here - first was emergency second 2 were planned. It's fine, recovery is much bette than after an exhausting labour.

About to have my 3rd. Will be my first elective after two emcs and very looking forward to not having gone through hours of labour first.

I had 1 elective then 2 emergency (they class it as emergency I class it as just earlier than expected)

Easiest to recover from was 1 and 2 (I stopped breathing in the 2nd one too) the last one was difficult but that was more me as I had gestational diabetes and my bloods went haywire!

Thanks everyone for your replies and reassurance. I think I am more worried about being much aware of the doctors rummaging around than anything else! But I suppose with an ELCS there shouldn't be too much of that as the baby shouldn't be too far down? Dc2 was very far down and it took a long time to get him out.

Also do I have to have the ELCS two weeks before due date? Or can I wait until due date?

My dsis has had 3 c sections and a friend has had 5. Both are very healthy and recovered well.

I had my elcs at 39+1, I think they like you to get to 39 weeks, could be different at other hospitals though.

I've had 4. 1 EMCS, 3 elcs.
All the elcs were very calm and laid back - lovely experiences.
The first two elcs were on my due date, the 4th at 38w6d.
I think having a third cs is considered normal and no higher risk than the second. Obviously there are risks, but if you spoke to a mw about planning a third, no-one would raise their eyebrows.

I have a theory that recovery rate is linked to how easy/difficult the baby is. Dc4 was a dream baby and I felt back to normal in a couple of weeks. Dc1 and 3 the recovery was longer.

I've only had one but wanted to reassure you on how it feels when you're fully aware of it, it's really not that bad. I was terrified that it would feel horrible but it's pretty quick and just felt like a slight tugging sensation to me, didn't even feel like it was happening 'inside' iyswim. There was a midwife talking to me the whole way through and DD was out before I even realised.

I have had 3. 1st was an emergency after a long labour & dd getting distressed. 2nd was elcs & was traumatic as spinal was in wrong place & didn't work so had ga. Ds was fine though as was I although it took 5 years before I would consider another. Ds is 18 months now & his elcs was fine, calm & I would definitely go once more in a couple of years time. Only problem I had was I split my stitches by carrying too much shopping but that was my fault for doing everything & not knowing my own limitations.
Good luck