Sterilisation after 3rd c-section

[RFCMummy]

Hello all I am battling with myself a bit over whether or not to get sterilised when I have my 3rd c-section in September.

I have always wanted 3 children and all will have been delivered by c-section and I do feel that 3 sections is enough and I would be putting myself at greater risk to have any more and I genuinely don't want any more children after this 3rd one anyway.

I think opting for sterilisation when they do the 3rd section is the best idea but it just seems so final and I can't help thinking the unthinkable of what if something happened to my baby or one of my other children, would I then want to get pregnant again???

Sorry for ranting but has anyone made a similar decision?

Thank you xx

i wouldn't - you have a big surge of broodiness right after you give birth. i don't think you would be in the right frame of mind to handle both situations.

Interesting you should ask that as I'm toying with the same dilemma, although am not having a c-section (or at least a planned one!)

My theory is that 3 dc's is enough for me, regardless of what the future may bring, and therefore I won't want another child. Should the worst happen, I wouldn't want another but that is a very personal thing.

I do wonder though whether it would be best to give it 6 months or so after the baby before doing something so final.
The alternative option is the coil or mirena coil - no good for me as the mirena sent my hormones all over the place!

I would wait. I really think it is too much to handle emotionally after giving birth. Another year or so of using contraception isn't the end of the world, and if you still feel the same, you can go for it. There is also the small possibility that you will change your mind. I was adamant I only wanted two until I had my second - am now fighting off extreme broodiness for no.3, and it's no joke.

If you have any doubts, don't do it! You need to be 100%. I also had a 3rd c section but have 5 kids. I had 2 stillbirths and 2 m/c also and after loosing them felt a desperate urge to have another baby, not to replace them but to give me back some hope. I think in a few years they are doing a vasectomy which can be reversed but also is the mirena an option for you? Just as reliable as sterilisation, although there can be, as been said, side effects.

DON'T When your tubes are engorged post pregnancy it is the worst and most unreliable time to get sterilised. They tube can reattach and it is less reliable than the pill at preventing pregnancy...or so two consultants told me.

wow thank you all for the responses that has definitely given me food for thought!!!

I think I will do as most of you say and wait until a year after the birth.

Don't think I can have the Mirena as I have PCOS so my hormones are pretty haywire anyway!!

I will look at other forms of contraceptive though and make sure we are careful as when this 3rd one is born I will have 3 under 4 and definitely don't want any more!!!

I am 31 now so although no spring chicken I guess I am still young enough to change my mind in say 3 or 4 years time and you are right, I would be devastated if I didn't have that choice.

Thanks again xxx

If I were you i'd get your dh to have the snip-a far simpler procedure (and easier to reverse and more reliable in the first place)-this is what we plan to do when we have had the children we want

Well I am up for DH having the snip although he quite rightly says that should anything ever happen to our relationship then I would naturally as the mother keep our children with me and he may then want children with a future partner.

We are very happy and not planning any sort of break up ever but I do see his point and totally respect his decision.

I think I will sort out some sort of contraception for a year after ~3 is born and then see how we both feel

I had this dilemma and was still mulling it over 10 mins before the c-section, due to being told "no we don't do them at c-sections, too many women regret it in the post-natal period," then subsequently being told I could have it if I wanted.

As someone else has said, everything inside you is swollen with hormones at childbirth, which is what makes it more likely that when the swelling goes down the ring might come off.

I also feared that I would freak out knowing "no more babies" after the birth, as I mentioned above, apparently a lot of women do hence a degree of reluctance to do the procedure during a section.

Also, the thing that got me most was that you have no way of knowing that it has worked - unlike with vasectomy. When DS2 was about 5 months old I met a woman who had an even bigger age gap than me - she had been sterilised 9 years before, after the birth of what she thought was her last child!! (not sure if it was during a c-section though, I got the impression it wasn't.)

DH had a vasectomy.

You could always suggest to your DH that you go for a fourth - that might make him see vasectomy more favourably

I definitely think suggesting a fourth would send DH running for the vasectomy clinic!!!!! What a good plan!

I didn't know that it might be less successful during a section and also hadn't thought about all the hormones rushing around post partum and how that might make me feel.

I think I am definitely going to give it a miss during the section and see how we feel afterwards.

Thanks again for all the wonderful advice

Hi RCF

am also pg with 3rd and will be having c/s. I actually asked midwife and also consultant about this. They both said the hospital policy was not to do it at birth - as you might change your mind and also it's less reliable (tubes still swollen or something).

I think DH will have snip! is a much simpler op and more reliable for man to be sterilised. I'll have had 3 operations for babies so don't want another one!

you just said you dont want another and this part of you is the part you keep trying to undermine you need to make this decision with your other half not people who dont know your body and situation stick with what you think is right it may not b what u want

Im having my 3rd c-sec soon and will be sterlised at the same time. I agree with this, OH agrees with this, midwife agrees and consultant agrees. I just need to sort out the consent forms when I go in at 24 weeks as my last pregnacy finished at 33 weeks so need to have all forms signed beforehand so they dont think Im rushing into things.

3 pregnancies has resulted in 5 children and the eldest is 3 (wll just turn 4 before these 2 are due). Contraception is a pain for me, the pill has failed, the morning after pill has failed and my body cant handle another pregnancy.

I've been offered sterilization with my next c-section (will be my 4th) & have declined even though dh & I definitely do not want more than 4 children.

I was told there was a 1:200 chance of failure when it is done during the section & also an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (not sure what the statistic is), it also increases the length of time in theatre (they said it could take anything up to an extra hour because of adhesions from previous sections etc) - that's golden time to me, when I should be establishing breastfeeding etc. Personally I'm not willing to make an irreversible decisions until dc is here & I know they are okay.

DH does have an appointment with the GP to discuss having a vasectomy next week though.

well he won't be having the vasectomy next week!