Multiple c-sections with complications - need advice please

[Nat2016]

Good morning, I hope everyone is safe and well !

I am desperate for advice from anyone who has had multiple c sections with complications and still gone ahead with another?

I have been advised that although previous c-sections had complications, and of course there will be risks with a fourth one but they can be managed.

Can anyone please advise of their experiences? We are desperate for a fourth child. Ive hit 40 and have three kids. And I would like to try. At the same time I am scared and worried. Thanks in advance for taking time out to reply. :)

When I was in hospital for two months before having dc3 with placenta praevia due to bleeding there were women who were having their fifth child by c section successfully.

There were also women like me, the small proportion who have complications.

I had adhesions in my previous 2nd c sections, however they said I could try for a natural birth with number 3 at first. I had also had post-partum haemorrhages of 1-2litres. In my third pregnancy I had placenta praevia. At 26 weeks I had a massive bleed and was rushed into hospital. I spent two months away from my young children. My placenta had grown out of my uterus, through my old c section scar (where the uterus is thinner) and into my bladder, placenta percreta, possibly a 7% chance of death for the mother, I was one of the lucky ones that made it. Due to bleeding my baby was delivered at 34 weeks. I had an emergency hysterectomy to save my life. I lost 6 litres of blood and had multiple transfusions. I also had surgery on my bladder, which luckily does not impact me too greatly now. I had PTSD due to the birth, which was a hard road after the birth and my child has Autism which will impact on his life, this may or may not be due to his premature birth there is a correlation, but other factors may play a part. My older children were traumatised by not having me at home for 2 months at such a young age, they had issues with sleep and anxiety for years. My DH was also traumatised.

Make sure you consider everything carefully in discussion with your obstetricians. You have three children that need you.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/placenta-praevia/

[quote Choconuttolata]When I was in hospital for two months before having dc3 with placenta praevia due to bleeding there were women who were having their fifth child by c section successfully.

There were also women like me, the small proportion who have complications.

I had adhesions in my previous 2nd c sections, however they said I could try for a natural birth with number 3 at first. I had also had post-partum haemorrhages of 1-2litres. In my third pregnancy I had placenta praevia. At 26 weeks I had a massive bleed and was rushed into hospital. I spent two months away from my young children. My placenta had grown out of my uterus, through my old c section scar (where the uterus is thinner) and into my bladder, placenta percreta, possibly a 7% chance of death for the mother, I was one of the lucky ones that made it. Due to bleeding my baby was delivered at 34 weeks. I had an emergency hysterectomy to save my life. I lost 6 litres of blood and had multiple transfusions. I also had surgery on my bladder, which luckily does not impact me too greatly now. I had PTSD due to the birth, which was a hard road after the birth and my child has Autism which will impact on his life, this may or may not be due to his premature birth there is a correlation, but other factors may play a part. My older children were traumatised by not having me at home for 2 months at such a young age, they had issues with sleep and anxiety for years. My DH was also traumatised.

Make sure you consider everything carefully in discussion with your obstetricians. You have three children that need you.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/patients/patient-leaflets/placenta-praevia/[/quote]
I am so sorry for what you went through that is absolutely awful. I wish you and your family good health. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell me your experience.

Not a problem and I don't tell you this to terrify you, it is your body, you are not me and it is your choice.

I just think you need to be aware of the rare things that can go wrong, because three young people rely on you already and the thought that I nearly left three children motherless (it was a close call) was awful.

The risk of developing accreta in women with 3 prior c section deliveries and placenta praevia was found to be 40% in this study.

Part of me wants 4 children, but I can always adopt a baby if that is something I cannot live without.

I wish you well with whatever you decide x

Hi OP. I recently had my 4th c section (age 43). I was told after the third that I had a lot of adhesions and advised against having another, but baby no 4 was something of a surprise! All went well. I never had bladder or bowel damage though. I can answer any questions you might have?

@Somethingsnappy

Hi OP. I recently had my 4th c section (age 43). I was told after the third that I had a lot of adhesions and advised against having another, but baby no 4 was something of a surprise! All went well. I never had bladder or bowel damage though. I can answer any questions you might have?

Hi, thank you so much for your reply. Firstly congratulations! I hope you and baby are well. I had adhesions too for my last c section but it was an elective and seemed like a dream compared to others. How was your pregnancy and how did you feel throughout?

My pregnancy was my best one yet actually! My baby was slightly smaller than my others had been and so I was more comfortable and able to be more active and not put on nearly as much weight as with previous pregnancies. I was anxious about another section, particularly after having been advised against a 4th, but in the end it went really well. It was actually quicker and easier than my third had been and the recovery was quicker and less painful too. My consultant had actually said to me that her and her colleagues had noticed that 4th sections were sometimes easier than the third, because a lot of the scarring had been cleared away during the previous section.

@Somethingsnappy

My pregnancy was my best one yet actually! My baby was slightly smaller than my others had been and so I was more comfortable and able to be more active and not put on nearly as much weight as with previous pregnancies. I was anxious about another section, particularly after having been advised against a 4th, but in the end it went really well. It was actually quicker and easier than my third had been and the recovery was quicker and less painful too. My consultant had actually said to me that her and her colleagues had noticed that 4th sections were sometimes easier than the third, because a lot of the scarring had been cleared away during the previous section.

Wow that sounds like a dream! I wish you and your family good health. Thanks for your reply

Well I would err on the side of caution as many pp have suggested,

But please could I ask what the name of the appointment you made with the private consultant was? I mean how did you get it? I don’t mind paying privately- I had a traumatic c section with my first child, I would love another but need the reassurance that everything is working as it should first. Would be grateful if you could let me know and good luck whatever you decide

@littlejalapeno

Well I would err on the side of caution as many pp have suggested,

But please could I ask what the name of the appointment you made with the private consultant was? I mean how did you get it? I don’t mind paying privately- I had a traumatic c section with my first child, I would love another but need the reassurance that everything is working as it should first. Would be grateful if you could let me know and good luck whatever you decide

Hi

Thanks for your email.
Of course, I googled the top gynaecologist in London then I filtered down by their specialities. There are some based on Harley street and some in private hospitals around London. I spoke to the secretary of the consultant explained my situation and she then came back to me to confirm the consultant could help. I had an initial consultation and then he obtained my file on my last c section. Do you need any more information?
One thing I would say is that I have joined a number of c section support groups on Facebook and this for me has been invaluable, perhaps you can do the same?
Sorry to hear about your trauma experience this was my first and second but my third went so smoothly that it covered the bad times. Wish you the best.

I only know of one woman in that situation she got placenta acretia with her 4th and died on the operating table from blood loss. Honestly I would not risk my 3 existing children losing their mum for a 4th.

Would you not be better paying for counselling to understand why you would put yourself at risk and more importantly put your 3 existing children at risk of their mother becoming very unwell because you want a 4th child

Hi @Nat2016 thank you very much for your reply and kind words. It must be lovely to have three kids! That would be my ideal, but the risk to your health does go up each time, c section or vaginal, so I will probably only have one more pregnancy, as things are already a bit mangled. I do get how you feel about having the number of kids you always dreamed of, but having experienced it when things go wrong I don’t know if I want to put myself in a vulnerable situation again and have the odds stacked for worse outcomes, you know? I think a lot of people have given really good advice on this thread. I would be heartbroken to think of my little boy growing up without a mum, or wandering round the house looking for me and unable to understand why I’m not there, I don’t think I can risk another birth where the odds are stacked against good outcomes. I’m going to try to find a consultant and have a scan to see if there are any adhesions or scar tissue - I do get some pain in my lower left stomach sometimes to the side of the scar tissue, which is what’s held me back so far. Hopefully a consultant will be able to shed some light, though if there’s a lot of scarring and adhesions I’ll settle for the one little dream boy i have! Good luck with what ever you decide.

@littlejalapeno

Hi *@Nat2016* thank you very much for your reply and kind words. It must be lovely to have three kids! That would be my ideal, but the risk to your health does go up each time, c section or vaginal, so I will probably only have one more pregnancy, as things are already a bit mangled. I do get how you feel about having the number of kids you always dreamed of, but having experienced it when things go wrong I don’t know if I want to put myself in a vulnerable situation again and have the odds stacked for worse outcomes, you know? I think a lot of people have given really good advice on this thread. I would be heartbroken to think of my little boy growing up without a mum, or wandering round the house looking for me and unable to understand why I’m not there, I don’t think I can risk another birth where the odds are stacked against good outcomes. I’m going to try to find a consultant and have a scan to see if there are any adhesions or scar tissue - I do get some pain in my lower left stomach sometimes to the side of the scar tissue, which is what’s held me back so far. Hopefully a consultant will be able to shed some light, though if there’s a lot of scarring and adhesions I’ll settle for the one little dream boy i have! Good luck with what ever you decide.

Thank you so much! They did an internal scan for me to check the adhesions too. If you join the groups I mentioned, you will have so much insight into other women's situations and experiences. This I feel also helps. All the best.

Hi
I am also wondering about experiences of 4th csections - I have had 3 uncomplicated csections and never advised not to have any more but also not advised if having another was safe if that makes sense- all the info I got at my 3rd was that the op went smoothly and they removed my old scar to help with healing, at the time I wasn't even thinking about a 4th.. however sadly my first baby passed away due to a complicated labour - a crash section was performed but it was too late to save her, I have two lovely boys at home the youngest is only 3months old so I've no intention of having another baby anytime soon but I haven't completely ruled it out for the future yet - I am considering my contraception options and if having something more long term like the coil or implant etc might be a better idea if a 4th csection would be too risky. I'm so sorry for the people who have had complicated deliveries especially for the poster who lost a friend, I'd never heard of anyone knowing someone who died during a ceserean before. I can't find any recent statistics about risks etc online - if anyone had some links I'd appreciate it.