Uterine window at previous csection, really want another baby

[Franxxx]

My first was born by emergency C-section, it was very rushed and recovery was tough. My second was born by planned csection. The consultant said it had all gone really well but when they went to deliver the baby they noticed a ‘uterine window’ where the scar in my uterus was so stretched it was really thin and see-through. She warned that this could be risky for a future pregnancy but as I was overjoyed, full of oramorph and holding my newborn at the time I don’t really remember the facts of what was said.

Now my kids are getting out of the baby/toddler stage I’m starting to feel really gutted that I might not be able to have another. We have a boy and a girl and always had this idea (after finding out with both) that we’d have a surprise for our third and it would just complete us.

I’m planning to ask for a birth debrief to go through my notes and find out what that actually means but so far all I’ve done is google it. A lot of the research seems to come from America but I’ve found articles suggesting that the chance of having a uterine window in a future pregnancy isn’t actually high and it doesn’t cause uterine rupture for most people. It seems a scan is unlikely to show it up so it’s hard to diagnose but they’d be likely to deliver the baby 1-3 weeks early.

I hate the thought of entering into anything that might be at all risky though as I know I will worry non-stop, especially when I feel like I have everything I need but a third baby would just be the cherry on top. I just can’t shake the sadness of not being able to have a third child when I’m not even sure if that’s the case 😔 Has anyone else had a uterine window in a previous csection and gone on to have a successful pregnancy?

I had a complete rupture this year during a VBAC attempt. I’ve learned a lot about uterine windows and ruptures since going through this and having debriefs with the hospital. Apparently windows can be quite common and alot of reports show that future pregnancies are not necessarily going to be the same. People report having windows / incomplete ruptures in previous pregnancies and then in subsequent pregnancies the consultants have said that the uterus looks great! It entirely depends on your uterus / body. The advice given to me is that I’d have to deliver by 36 weeks in a future pregnancy to avoid labour and I was told I couldn’t have a term baby

@NBF2 oh wow, how scary for you. Was it extremely painful or is it something you are unaware when it’s happening? I imagined it would be excruciating. Do you think you’ll have another?

I didn’t even know ‘windows’ were a thing before all of this but spend so much time trying to find out about it now. Most articles are about ruptures rather than windows though but I have come across some that say there isn’t necessarily a link and it doesn’t mean your odds are terrible for a future pregnancy. I think the doctors will probably give me some vague advice on it as they won’t want to say it’s safe in case it’s not but I really just wish there was some sort of test they could do to check beforehand then I’d know whether it was okay or not!

I also had a complete rupture during a Vbac. This was during labour with my second baby. I went on to have a third baby (born 4 years 10 months after second baby) and was well monitored during pregnancy and delivered by planned c section at 37 weeks. All ok. It was a worrying pregnancy though!

No one can tell you whether it will be ok, bit it’s certainly possible. I think it’s the labour that’s the biggest risk of rupture from what I remember.

@SueGeneris oh sorry to hear that but amazing you went on to have another! It’s the constant uneasy feeling that I’d dread the most I think 🤦🏼‍♀️ it does sound like it’s possible and I’d hopefully have an early section anyway so wouldn’t have the risk of labour rupturing it. The odds of mum dying with a rupture is something like 1 in 10 though and baby is like 15%, just don’t like those odds 😩

@Franxxx It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt, I was screaming from the pain that came after each contraction had finished and the midwife I don’t think realised what was happening at first because she kept asking me was I having another contraction and I remember shouting back saying I didn’t know what was happening but I knew it was completely different than my contraction pain! Baby was in my abdomen when I went for the EMCS which is absolutely terrifying but luckily he’s a perfectly healthy 3
month old :) I and would love to have another but I’m going to wait a few years and see how I feel :) x