Anyone have a C-section after previous abdominal surgery?

[Sevendayhigher]

Hey everyone,

I'd so appreciate your help! I'm 8 months pregnant and am having a C section for the birth. It may be medically necessary due to low-lying placenta but if that's moved, it'll be an elective at 39 weeks.

My reason for 'electing' is due to major emergency surgery I had years ago to remove an ovarian tumour, leaving me with a large vertical scar on my abdomen. It's one of those slightly grey areas where it's not technically necessary (there's no reason in theory why a VBAC couldn't go ahead) but I was told by the consultant that should an emergency C be necessary, my case would be considered a complex surgery and in his words, 'they would have to act much earlier on and would never leave an emergency C until the last minute in your case - one of the consultants would be on stand-by to do it and would assess you much earlier on' as my surgery would take longer and they'd have to be more careful.

I was very confused by this because I've been told/read that often a birth can be going brilliantly until the very end and can then require a last-minute emergency C, so how can they possibly pre-empt something like that 'earlier on'? Surely they're not going to be able to know whether they'll need to get the baby out quickly via C at the very last minute.

At the same time, generally the consultants have been ignoring this and treating my case like any other - which is fine if it actually IS like any other, but they're also telling me it's complex and they'll need to do essentially predict whether I need one etc.

Has anyone had any experience with C sections after previous abdominal surgery? I'm just so confused about the mixed messages I'm getting from consultants! I'm really not prepared to take any chances - I know everything comes with risk but I'd like to minimise that as much as possible.

Thanks so much!

Yes, I have had several bowel operations in the past and had an elective c section planned due to the issues those operations left me with (bowel incontinence).

In the end I had an “emergency” c section due to going into labour before my planned c section date (wasn’t actually an emergency, was just unplanned for that day).

I was told similar things about the c sections. And they explained that all it meant was I needed a colorectal surgeon on standby in case when they opened me up, I had adhesions that resulted in my womb being stuck to my colon and I needed that specialist input.

In reality, all that happened was the colorectal surgeon came to see me before the c section, and as there were no issues during the c section, never saw him again.

I have another c section planned for next week, so this post reminded me I should check they have a colorectal surgeon on standby again!

Thanks, this is so helpful! Out of interest, did they advise you to have C sections? I'm just wondering if they generally just don't advise you to have one unless you tick a box that says a VBAC will likely not work out (rather than an emergency C being even more difficult on the chance that you would have to have one).

Good luck with your birth and wishing you all the best for you and baby!

So ever since the bowel operations caused me permanent issues, I was advised at the time, several years ago, I would need to have a c section in future.

Once the consultant obstetrician met me and understood my medical history, she also said I would need to have a c section. Despite this, I had midwives and junior doctors trying to change my mind and ask me to consider a vaginal birth, both before and after the consultant told me I need a c section. I suspect that was more part of the general push in the NHS to discourage c sections rather than informed advice.

So, a mix of views, depending on who I saw, which wasn’t helpful. It was evident that the people discouraging me from having one just saw me as a routine patient rather than someone with a complex history.

One more thing I forgot to mention - for the c section, I had both an epidural and a spinal, just in case the surgery ended up being longer than a routine c section due to the potential complications.

Thank you, and good luck to you too!

Sorry I know I’m very late to the party on this but I wondered what happened in the end? I’m in exactly the same position, had major abdominal surgery 18 months ago to remove a 25cm ovarian tumour and now they’re advising VBAC but also saying an emergency c-section could be dangerous, I’m really confused!

Hi,

Congratulations!!

My placenta previa cleared up at the last minute so I had a choice whether to do VBAC or an elective cesarean - but I was advised a VBAC by another consultant because technically there wasn’t any reason I shouldn’t be able to - except there was this problem about an emergency cesarean if I had to have one. It confused me a lot but in the end I chose what I felt was safest for the baby - an elective cesarean. I was met with a few patronising comments about how it’s not the easier option (I’d have thought it was obvious that I knew that by the massive vertical scar I have running down my body but hey ho!) At the time I had doubts especially in the face of remarks like that but I’m so glad I chose that in the end and pushed for that decision. It was a really positive birth experience and I knew that my baby was going to be delivered in the safest way possible. This isn’t to scare you, but 13 out of 15 births in my antenatal group ended up cesareans when only two were planned (mine and another’s), and all are fine but I know just for the trauma of have an emergency cesarean in our situation where we’ve been told it might be more difficult, it wasn’t worth it for me to try and have a VBAC for the sake of it. It’s worth noting that while they’re acting like we’re ordinary cases, we’re actually not - most people’s bodies haven’t been through what ours have and it IS different from “the norm.” No matter how the doctors claim it might not be.

Our baby’s nearly three months old now and it seemed like this was an enormous decision to make - and of course in some ways it is - but at the same time, in the end it SO did not matter how I gave birth (apart from it being a generally positive experience.) So what I would say is if you’re making a choice between them, do not make it because you feel you “ought” to try to have a VBAC - absolutely nobody is interested in how you gave birth after it’s happened so just go with whatever you think is best for you and baby and don’t be pressured by doctors to do one thing or another (unless they have serious medical grounds backing up their advice).

Definitely happy to answer more questions if you have any! :) So exciting for you and your little one!