Do Cesareans limit your family size? - Page 2

[MaryLang]

I agree with StormBride. Where is this information from?
It is worth noting that the placenta can sometimes get "hung up" on the scar tissue, thus leading to an increased risk of anterior placenta (I've had this 2X) and 1 placenta previa resulting in my 3rd c/s that was a planned VBAC, the scar tissue just makes it harder for the placenta to move up and away.

[EuroMama]

I personally don't ever want another cesarean. I have two beautiful children and I am thankful I have them in my life, but I don't ever want to go through that much pain again.

[justKate]

For me, personally, a second c-section will limit my family size.  Of course I can't say for sure because I'm not going to make any permanent decisions until the babe I'm cooking now is 2 or 3 years old, but I can't see a third pregnancy if this (second) birth is anything like my DD's birth.  A gentle VBAC, I can see a third (and last) pregnancy.  A traumatic c-section after 32 hours of labor (again)...then this is probably the last. 

For now I'm trying to treat this as my last pregnancy and enjoy it, not knowing what the future will bring.

[CoBabyMaker]

For me, personally, a second c-section will limit my family size.  Of course I can't say for sure because I'm not going to make any permanent decisions until the babe I'm cooking now is 2 or 3 years old, but I can't see a third pregnancy if this (second) birth is anything like my DD's birth.  A gentle VBAC, I can see a third (and last) pregnancy.  A traumatic c-section after 32 hours of labor (again)...then this is probably the last.

This was exactly me.  Yet here I am hoping to get pregnant with #3 in a year.  (JustKate, I am in no way trying to say you will change your mind.  I am simply saying that I'm surprised that I have.)

[justKate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

This was exactly me.  Yet here I am hoping to get pregnant with #3 in a year.  (JustKate, I am in no way trying to say you will change your mind.  I am simply saying that I'm surprised that I have.)

  That wouldn't surprise me!  I know myself well enough now to know that I can ALWAYS change my mind.  Good luck with #3!

[catters]

Ugh, I think about this all the time.  I've had two c-sections and now, I"m weeks away from delivering my third child and pray the skies open up and magic unicorns appear and somehow I have an amazing "I can't believe I'm in labor and look, I'm at ten already and feel the urge to push and wow, here I am at the hospital with baby already crowning, you can't force me despite your "ban" - neener neener neener!" - kind of experience.  But... when asked (also at each and every OB appointment) if I'm having a tubal, I always say no.  And none of them have said anything scary about me having a fourth (which we are thinking about, and kind of want, but I am terrified of three, let alone four - let alone having had ONE and now TWO - c-sections.  I have been so lucky to have beautiful easy pregnancies, but I don't want these c-sections to make me feel like I can't have another child if we wanted.  And that chart is terrifying.  Probably not something I needed to see right now.  :(

[MaryLang]

catters - That unicorns thing sounds just like me! I've always secretly hoped that I've always figured, if I feel this way, why not hb? But with my history I never felt comfortable with it. Looks like your due soon, wishing you a peaceful birth.

[star*mora]

no, but i never thought of having more than two. truth be told, i was content with one, but dh is a really great partner in raising our children, so it opened me up to having a 2nd. after having a 33weeker, it was a different experience having a baby closer to term (36wks) but that was more of a factor than a cesarian birth was

[Haelmoon]

The table with outcomes is missing some explanation. In particular the risk of percreta should be clarified. If you have a placenta previa with a previous c-section that is the risk of a placenta percreta. If you have multiple c-sections but the placenta is not implanted over the scar the risk is no greater than any multifarious woman.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by catters 

Ugh, I think about this all the time.  I've had two c-sections and now, I"m weeks away from delivering my third child and pray the skies open up and magic unicorns appear and somehow I have an amazing "I can't believe I'm in labor and look, I'm at ten already and feel the urge to push and wow, here I am at the hospital with baby already crowning, you can't force me despite your "ban" - neener neener neener!" - kind of experience.  But... when asked (also at each and every OB appointment) if I'm having a tubal, I always say no.  And none of them have said anything scary about me having a fourth (which we are thinking about, and kind of want, but I am terrified of three, let alone four - let alone having had ONE and now TWO - c-sections.  I have been so lucky to have beautiful easy pregnancies, but I don't want these c-sections to make me feel like I can't have another child if we wanted.  And that chart is terrifying.  Probably not something I needed to see right now.  :(

That chart is very misleading. I'm not trying to ignore, or even downplay, the fact that c-sections can, and do, cause complications in later pregnancies. But, the percentages in that chart aren't presented properly.

FWIW, I've had five c-sections. I've hated every minute of them, and every minute of every recovery. But, I haven't experienced any of the complications that are of the most concern to people....no placental issues (was worried about it with my last, as I did have an anterior placenta with her), no ruptures, nothing like that. I've got some nerve damage, which sucks. I also suspect my diastasis is worse than it might have been without all the surgeries. But, I haven't had any of the "big ones". I have another friend who has had five, and she hasn't, either.

[JudiAU]

My sister has had four. The first was unplanned and the rest of a lot of inventions and the other three were scheduled. She was a suitable vbac candidate with the 2nd but didn't choose her. Her doctor encouraged her to have her tubes tied at the same time as the third and she said they were considering having a third child. He hemmed and ha'd and told her it might not be possible but that he would evaluate her carefully during the delivery of the third and look at the scar tissue, etc. She completed the c-section and he told her she could attempt another if healing went well. She did and they have four. At the time of the fourth she said that she would like to have another child and he told her that he didn't recommend it for her or anyone else. And she would have to leave the practice. He wouldn't be responsible. He also insisted on writing a note in her medical records saying he recommended against it. They have a long history together (she also had a four miscarriages) and he was very, very concerned about uterine rupture.

I have a cousin with 13 kids and she has had three csections. She was told that a fourth csection would result in the loss of her uterus.

[TheDivineMrsM]

The risks for complications with mom and baby go up with every C. Those with good outcomes after multiple sections played the odds and won; not everyone is so lucky. I am not a gambler. I really want 3 children, but not 3 surgical births. When we have #2, I'm going for a VBAC, but if that turns into a c-section, I think we're done. 

[Jackeke]

Originally Posted by AlexisT 

Not me personally, since I never planned a large family.

Statistically, complications begin to rise after the 4th, and the women I know who want large families try to avoid a CS and are more keen on VBAC. You never know when you're going to hit your personal limit (I know one woman whose uterus was in bad shape when they did her 3rd and another who had 6 CS) so it makes sense not to gamble.

Wow 6!!! 

My mother had both me and my sister via c-section after having a nasty fibroid tumor that made vaginal birth not possible. I thought about that myself...vaginal vs c-section but didn't want to deal with a scar on my stomach (vain I know!) but my mother's c-section scar is terrible and from an incompetent doctor :/ I think I only want two but may want more in the future so trying to stick to VBAC if I can 

[Snapdragon]

yes! I had thought I would have more than one child-- I had also thought I would have an unmedicated homebirth--- but I had a c section. While my c section ended up being fine- no extra troubles outside of the general c section recovery- it really changed my body. three yrs later I still don't feel totally fit or strong in my core, and other things. I am pretty sure just having a kid at all has mostly contributed to me deciding to probably have an only child- but I know that I am scared of what another birth would do- both scared of how the birth would turn out, and what another potential c section would do to further damage my body-- I definitely factor in my c section when I often consider if I want to have a second child, and it influences my decision. I am not 100% on not having a second, but if I had had a good birth experience I think I would be leaning towards a second child more than I do.

[NurseMomX4]

Not mine. Ill be having section #4 in October. OB said if we wanted another baby, it would be fine by him. I've never had any complications from the surgeries.

[SweetPea17]

We were not going to let c-sections limit our family size, but after our 4th c/s we began to question the risks involved with another one. We decided at the beginning of our 5th pregnancy that we would do a VBAMC. It was successful, and now I'm waiting for a 2HBA4C! Any day now!

There are many women who get dooped by the medical community (me included) into thinking that a cesarean is less risky, and that because they have had one (for whatever reason, but more than likely the mom got diagnosed with CPD or failure to progress) they have to have repeats. Moms are not given an option anymore. Maybe in bigger cities around the country, but rarely in rural hospitals. It's pretty sad.

[NurseMomX4]

Sweet pea that's awesome for you...you GO mama!

Why did you have to get 4 sections? I'm on my 4th due to my never dilating past 4 & it distressing babies. How do you come back from 4 sections and end up with a vaginal home birth?! I'm fascinated.

[PamelaMassey]

My 1st was an emergency cs. My 2nd I chose to have a cs, so my understanding w my 3rd I had to have a cs. When Dr was closing me up after 3rd, said if I had tried vbac I more than likely would have hemorrhaged due to something being too thin (I was on pain Meds so don't remember what he said exactly lol). I had a tubal w my 3rd, but now I wish I hadn't bc me & new hubby of 3 yrs want a child (he has none). I definitely wish I had tried vbac w my 2nd. I live in a small rural town in Alabama & the doctors hear encourage & support vbac. Sorry for any typos, it's 4 am & I've not been to sleep yet lol. Got to get off here & get some rest.