Birth after one previous CS

[Molotov]

I'm not currently pg but have been increasingly thinking about ttc again for over a year now.

We have 2 dds already: dd1 was an assisted vaginal delivery in 2009. I was 26yo at the time and had really lovely and easy pg but labour and delivery was a long and painful slog. 31hrs in total with a 2hr pushing stage. I felt my tailbone 'go' during pushing and this deep bone pain was worse than the contractions and healing from my eventual episiotomy.

The tailbone pain never ever went away. It was agony sitting down and rising to stand . I had private physio 4m after her birth as I was experiencing sciatica which was making it difficult to walk and pick her up from her crib.

Consequently, I requested a ELCS for dd2's birth in 2012. My consultant was against it as he saw no medical reason why I shouldn't VB again. He presented a bleak picture of cesarean delivery but I chose the more predictable risks of CS against re-injury or worsening my back.

6y on and my tailbone still isn't right. I can't ever sit on my arse and instead perch on either cheek. So, if we had another baby I wouldn't want to have a VBAC because of the reason for the first ELCS, plus I now have a uterine scar which is a risk in itself during labour.

The thing is, I'm worried about the increased risks of placenta praevia, placenta accreta, hysterectomy with each successive CS. I've been looking at the Green-top guidelines (#45 about birth after CS) and risks are small at 0.something% with first and second CSs. The risk for placenta praevia with accreta is 3% for a first CS but jumps to 11% in a second CS.

All of this knowledge is really clouding my perception and judgement about whether I want to ttc a third (and what would be our last) baby.

There are other reasons not exclusively connected to giving birth that make me unsure about ttc again (the need for a house move; how I would manage parenting 3 dcs) but this particular worry really worries me, IYKWIM.

No-one IRL understands and I can't speak to DH about it because he wants to ttc again and I've been blowing hot and cold on him for months. I know I'm baffling and frustrating him.

I just need some clarity because I either want to ttc again or completely put the idea out of my mind.

Thanks for reading.

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I've just re-read my OP and realise that I'm not actually asking anything and it's a bit of a ramble

I suppose I'm curious about how you've fared during a post-CS pregnancy, and what a repeat CS was like? Particularly interested in ELCS after ELCS stories; how they compared, how you recovered second time and now how your health and body is now after two?

I've only had one emcs and will have an elcs with dc2. As you've only had one cs.to date, I wouldn't let the risks put you off ttc. My consultant was clear that he wouldn't support an elcs if I were planning more pregnancies, but I made clear I'm not and won't become pg accidentally as I'm infertile but for ivf.

Good luck!

I had a long but ok vb with ds1, but then cs with ds2 because I had placenta praevia. Now I'm at an increased risk of pp again, not because I've had it before but because I've had a cs, but every medical person I have spoken to had said my risk is 'just the same as anyone else who has had one cs', a risk they don't seem to regard as v high.

I probably won't have more dcs for other reasons, but my point is you could have got one of those complications anyway.....my cs with pp was totally fine, I was prioritised with a very experienced surgeon and felt in incredibly safe hands.

Good luck whatever you decide.