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C-sections
How many c-sections were you told you could have?
I wound up with an unplanned c-section for the birth of my son and was told by my dr that I could have up to 3 c-sections, after that it is too risky, and she does not do VBACs at all. DH and I have always talked about having a large family and four kids sound great to us, even more if we can afford it. I would like to attempt a VBAC so I will be switching drs anyway, but I was just curious as to what others had been told. I will likely end up with another section due to various reasons, and would hate to have the number of children I have decided for me. So what have you been told, 3 like me, or could I have my large family with c-sections?
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Re: How many c-sections were you told you could have?
Are you a candidate for VBAC? If so, I would switch to another practitioner. Any doc that won't consider VBACs at all is, IMHO, waaayyyy too conservative. Under the right circumstances, VBACS are completely safe and the increased risk of ute. rupture is minute at best. That said, there really is no "golden number" for how many CSs you can have. Some say 2, some 3, and some 6. It often has to do with how comfortable they are with higher risk CS. Each time you have another one there are increased risks. Excessive blood loss, scar tissue on the uterus, and the most serious being placenta accreta (it attaches to the ute. wall too deeply). That said, if you have a competent doc., they can "clean you out" with each CS (clear out some of the scar tissue), and reduce your risks. I personally have had to have 3 CS (not by choice...I have a medical condition), and plan to have one more. My doc is completely supportive.
My OB prefers to keep it at three or less, but depending on the recovery and how much scar tissue is there he has done up to five. I think so much depends on the reasoning for the c-section, how you recovered, and how your body handles the surgery.
As for the question of what do they do if you get pregnant after their "magic number", some OBs around here will simply refuse to accept you as a patient, which is within their rights as long as you aren't actually at the hospital in labor.
When I was pg with DD2 and discussing delivery options (VBAC or RCS) my doc said that she was fine with 3 or 4. After having DD2 via RCS, doc said everything looked great and reconfirmed 3 or 4.
I will be stopping at 3 c/s, as I'm currently pg with twins and our family is now complete
The Dr. might refuse to see you as a patient and ask that you find a different Dr. Dr's can "release" patients if they don't feel comfortable seeing them.
My ob didn't say, and I didn't think to ask. But he also said he wouldn't consider not having me try for a vbac.
I personally don't think I am willing to have more than 3. But I haven't thought much about it. I want 3 kids and to do surogacy when I am done. If all 3 are c sections, I will not do surogacy.
ROFLMAO
I have had 4 c-sections... 6/10/94,2/5/97,6/20/2001 and almost 8months ago 01/16/2011. They all went great no complications. I was told by my doctor that i had minimal scaring and adhesion's inside and my uterus is a little bit ahered to my abdominal wall, but that should be fine.... Was also told if i wanted to have atleast one more he didnt see why i couldnt. So i guess its just how your body repsonds and how much it can take also depends on your doctors if they are supportive in your decisions. I'm on a quest myself trying to find out if there are any women out there that have successfully had 4 or more c-sections.
Considering ttc when my smunchie is between 18- 20 months!
mommyof41978,
This lady states that she has had 9!
https://www.manymcdaniels.com/birthstories.htmlI respect what you're saying, but I just wanted to jump in and say that if I were going to have a VBAC, I'd have to have a doctor 200 miles away. And I think on my birth month board, someone mentioned a state (Oklahoma, maybe?) where VBACs aren't even allowed. It's not so easy for everyone to try a VBAC.
This article is from 2009, so it's a bit outdated, but the statistics seem about right still.
https://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1880665,00.html
Mac and cheese lover!
Oh, I get what you are saying geographically. However, the doc preference of simply doing RCS (for convenience and for $$) are contributing to less and less OBs not "allowing" VBACs. Hospitals and docs hide behind scare tactics s a reason not to allow them, and it's simply wrong. The increased risk is so remotely small, and a good amount of ladies that have a C/S the 1st time around should be given the option. OP didn't talk about geographic restrictions, just simply that her doc wouldn't allow it. Regardless of how many LOs she wants, I think it is important that she have a Doc. that gives her options. Good article BTW.