Scarring Question

[DocsNemesis]

I'm just wondering about something. I had my 2nd cesarean about 3.5 weeks ago and during/after they told me that I had very little scar tissue and I looked really good internally. Does that mean I just don't scar badly or was that just a one time thing? I guess I'm wondering if that means I shouldn't have a ton of scar tissue after the 2nd cesarean either or if its totally independent.

I'm planning on having 1-2 more before I'm done and the scarring worries me a bit. I am hoping to find a doc willing to do VBAC after 2 cesareans, but even so, having had 2 cesareans already and possibly another 1, I'm worried about the scar tissue causing problems. Does having minimal scar tissue actually really matter in the long run? I mean, they acted like it was a good thing but I have no clue really.

[babycatcher12]

I don't have an answer for you, but I'm curious to see what other's responses are because the comments made at my 2nd and 3rd c/s were the opposite of what you were told. My docs (2 different ones) made comments about how much scar tissue and how many adhesions I had. I haven't found any research that goes one way or the other, but I'm curious if anyone else has.

[MNHall]

I really have no idea either, but it sure sounds to me like a positive thing! Lack of scar tissue doesn't sound to me like a bad heal, it sounds like it healed so well that there isn't a bunch of junk around it!

Like I said, I don't know...but it sounds good in my head!

[AlexisT]

I do know that more scar tissue makes it harder for the surgeon next time around. I know someone who had a lot of trouble with CS #4 because she had so much scar tissue.

Doing well after CS #1 isn't necessarily predictive, though. It also has to do with surgical skill and luck. Each subsequent section will mean more scarring.

[SelenaJean]

I had laprascopic(sp?) surgery last year for a suspected ectopic. My OB mentioned that I had some adhesions from my 2 sections that he removed while in there. During my follow up appts he was supportive of my wanting a VBA2C with my next baby, he even brought up the subject with out me asking. He did not think the scar tissue would be a problem with my future births.

[courtenay_e]

Scar tissue or lack thereof isn't typically a problem with a subsequent vaginal birth, it's the next cesareans that they worry about.

[DocsNemesis]

Ah ok. Well, I suppose its still something to think about since like I said, I will be having one more for sure and may still want one more of my own in the future. I mean, I didn't think there would be any issues with this VBAC and obviously my stubborn little girl had other ideas. I know that I can't know what will happen with the next one either so if I do indeed have another cesarean, that'll be number 3 and it makes me more nervous about contemplating another baby of my own. I know I have 5, but this was my fiance's first and he thinks he might want another one of his own-which I have no problem with, I always wanted 6 kids anyway!

I also realize that surgical skill has something to do with it, but I guess I was thinking maybe my body doesn't scar as badly or something? I dunno!! lol

[courtenay_e]

It very well could be that your body doesn't scar as badly as some people's. It could be genetics, diet, whatever...I know that my sister scars very badly, and so does my son. I do not. *shrug* Genetics or poor diet? Not sure. My son has just recently been treated with NAET for food allergies and now, FINALLY, is taking nutrients IN and absorbing them when he eats...so perhaps in our family it's a little of both, poor diet (in my sister's case, it's by choice, in my son's case, it's cause he was allergic to all the vitamins and minerals he was eating and wasn't absorbing them) AND a propensity to scar tissue forming thickly? Can't say. WHichever it is for you, yay team!

[babycatcher12]

Scar tissue or lack thereof isn't typically a problem with a subsequent vaginal birth, it's the next cesareans that they worry about.

This is what I thought. My midwife did say that as my uterus grows I may notices a little more discomfort along my scar as it stretches those adhesions, but it's nothing really to worry about.

[Amynf1]

When my doc looked at my external scar, which is barely visible, he commented that I heal really well. He said that some people heal well with very little scar tissue internally and externally and some people have more scar tissues, it varies. He also said during my u/s that I had no adhesions and he bet that the scar on my uterus was very well healed as well since everything else did so well. I would think that if you looked great after two that after three c/s you will probably still have minimal scarring because that's just how your body handles it.