Giving birth again after caesarean with T-shaped incision

[ToddleAlong]

I had an emergency section which required a t shape incision as I was quite far along and baby was low down in birth canal. I’m now pregnant with a second about 18 months later. I have a birth choices appointment with midwife at hospital in next few weeks but wondered if anyone experienced similar & went on to have another?

At the time, I was told no VBAC in future by obstetrician performing the section, which is fine. But wondering if they’ll also book a section earlier than 39 weeks to avoid risk of uterine rupture?

At the birth choices appointment, exercise your right tonspeak woth an obsterrician, preferably a consultant. If they won't facilitate, pay to see the very best and ask them to send their written recommendarions.

I don’t have a T shape incision but had quite a large angle extension on the cut in my uterus (basically it tore leftwards unintentionally as they got my baby out). I’ve been told I must have a csection at 38 weeks so I don’t go into labour. I’ve gone into labour at 39+2 with both my children.

In my hospital trust women having ELCS for previous T shaped incision have their section around 37-38 weeks to balance lung maturity with the risk of going into labour naturally. Definitely discuss with your consultant and they can tailor the plan to your individual circumstances.

Thank you all, very helpful!

I had a section at 38 weeks. Not for a previous t shape scar but something else that put me at higher risk of rupture than usual.

I’m not sure what a T incision is but with my first it was a complicated emergency under GA and I had a hip to hip horizontal incision and a vertical one inside, is that the same thing? The notes from that said if I had another pregnancy I’d need an ELCS at 37 weeks which made it all quite straight forward when I did and that’s what happened.

It’s where they cut horizontal (as normal) and then have to make a small vertical incision in the uterus as well (so the incision looks like a T shape). For me it was because my baby’s head was far down birth canal. Hoping my hospital notes have it accurately recorded but was surprised it hadn’t been included on my discharge summary at the time which makes me wonder

You can request your maternity notes to check. My discharge note is very vague and makes no mention of complications but my notes have it. This is even when the angle extension causing quite a severe injury to my urinary tract for which I’ve needed a reconstruction. Nothing about it on my discharge!

I had a second (planned) c/sec at 38 weeks and it was fine. DS was a bit cold when he came out but they warmed him under the lamp thing - he did develop jaundice as well but didn’t need the treatment, just monitoring.
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My first birth experience w a failed induction was horrific - by comparison the elective was a breeze. Anything after 37 weeks is considered full term so that’s not an issue re baby’s development.

Oh that’s helpful, thank you!

I did, after a T shape. I was told at the VBAC at 37 weeks that I could have had another baby, had I chosen to. I didn’t, though. But it was interesting to know that my uterus still looked strong.