How many sections?

[AnotherHelen]

Hello! i was just wondering how many c-sections it is safe to have? we had an emergency section with our first, and then had to have an elective with our second, im now 21 weeks pregnant with our 3rd which we have been told again will have to have another section, problem is dp and i always wanted quite a big family and have heard some people say its not safe to have any more than 3 c-sections! We have said that 3 will probably be enough for us, but its not nice to
think we can't change our mind! i just wondered if anyone has had more than 3 sections and found it to be
ok?

I'm due to have section no 4 in Oct/Nov, have to say I'm a bit aprehensive it, although no 3 was fine, so fingers crossed 4 will be similar!

We lost our first baby, so have 2 children at the mo, I've always having imagined 3. We have a girl and a boy and it seems a bit 'neat' IYSWIM?

Midwife has said women are having more sections, she says procedures are more advanced so what where the guidelined 10-20 years ago are changing. She may have been saying this to make me feel better?!

But back to the first question section no3 was fine, recovery time was the same as 2nd!

I've had two sections and hope to have another one. I'm sure I read a post from Mears on here once saying that there was no evidence for the three section thing.

When I was in hosptital having my first, a mum in there was telling another mum at breakfast that she'd just had a third section and had agreed to be sterilised at the same time 'because they don't like you to have another one after three.' Reminded me of spaying a cat!

Yes they asked me a couple of weeks before i had my last section if I wanted to be sterilised at the time!

I did think about it at the time but am glad I declined. Not all women are in the right frame of mind to be thinking about being sterilised at 36 weeks pg. I wonder if any women took up their 'offer' and regret it afterwards?

Hey Rodeo1 thanks im glad you found your third ok! really sorry to hear about your first i too have heard about being offered to be sterilised after section number 3! - it does remind me a spaying a cat lol ionesmum!! its awful, i dont think they should ever suggest it unless there is a very serious REAL problem that would avoid endangering your life in any way! how sad though to think maybe some people have gone ahead with it and later regreted it - how awful!

rodeo, sorry, only just read your post re your first baby.

It's awful to think of women who have been sterilised against their better judgement.

Aw - don't worry lovey - seems like a long time ago now

Hi - I'm due to have 3rd section beginning august (although think it will be in july now due to diabetes complications).....this is my 2nd baby with new husband and he's very keen to have another as well - I'm nervous but also love having babies so feel torn - would no way agree to sterilisation and although had been keen for husband to have vasectomy, have now asked him to wait...possibly indefinitely. I find recovery after section hard,although last time had filthy internal infection which did'nt help at all....hope to avoid that this time. Have also taken sad decision not to breastfeed after having problems with back, pelvis etc with all other 3...have decided too tough on my system (and other kids!) to do it all again and be sem-invalid while I am feeding. Specialist has warned increased risk of bleeding and therefore emergency hysterectomy after each subsequent c section -hope he's wrong!

Have discovered someone through a close friend recently who had her5th c-section a couple of months ago! She said her first section was horrible and her third was bad because of infections and such but the second, fourth and fifth were fine and she and her dh have not ruled out having any more - her consultant said it was fine too! so i guess you can never tell! i think some consultants like to put you off and scare you a little! not sure why. xxx

Hello all!

I had an emergency c-section with my DS - and in 9 weeks time - I'd rather like another (non emergency this time though!). My DH is not keen he wants a natural birth (um well he wont feel it!)

AnotherHelen - I liked your comment about the 2nd C-section easier than the first - a friend had said this to me too - is that the case???

I'm very nervous about the birth now - but theres no going back now - and I can't wait to met the little person - I think its a girl - but time will tell!

Helenxx

redhelen - that sounds like me - emergency section under ga with ds1 and due to have a planned section in 12 weeks time for no.2. please tell me that recovery times for the 2nd one are better as i am quite nervous about it.

also - just found something that recommended lying on your side to breastfeed after c-section, but i couldn't lie on my side at all last time as it hurt too much. does anyone have tips on this? sorry to crash the thread btw!!

joseyjo, redhelen - i found my second section to be MUCH easier than my first! i really really found it less painful less hard work getting around afterwards, and i just felt myself alot quicker! i have heard from many people that the first c-section permanently numbs or kills alot of the nerve ending around the scar area and so subsequant sections are less painful because there are less nerve endings to 'feel it'! i was dreading it beforehand as my first was soooo painful and took me ages and ages to recover from! having my third in september and im not quite as worried about this one like i was the last! sorry for the length! hope this helps abit! xxxxx

Hi joseyjo- if you have'nt got one already buy a bean bag for breast feeding - the twin ones are particularly brilliant after a section. The nct website sell them....I could'nt feed at all lying down and you need something to keep the pressure off your scar.
Best of luck with it.