Fifteenth c/s!

My first was a c/s. I was 41 weeks and 6 days, and after being in hospital for 32 hours with induction obviously not working well I asked for one. However, I'm unsure which way to go with my second. One reason of course how many c/s can you have. I asked my OBs. and she said I shouldn't really worry as you just don't know, she read in a Medical journal recently about a woman in South Africa who just had her fifteenth c/s!!

My obs. is also happy to let me try for a VBAC and will even let me go over 40 weeks again. Really don't know what to do, but it is early days yet and I am pretty happy she is okay either way.

I'm interested to know how many people here have had though.

My Mum had 4 c/s

my mum had 2 but then couldnt have anymore coz of other issues i know of someone who had 5 with no issues all close in age

I've heard of a few members in BB who have had 4.

15!!! :o

I've heard of 4 but the last one had to be a vertical incision.

Good luck with whichever way you end up

Ive had 4 and a tubual reversal....and the ob said I was still fit for atleast 2 more after Mateauz...

I've had 2 c/s then a vba2c. :)

My mom had 8 c-sections - 7 with no issues at all, and the last with major complications, a 28 week delivery, and a hysterectomy. She always wished they would have let her try for a VBAC though. (just "wasn't done" in the 80's.)
If you have no other complicating factors, personally, I'd recommend you try a vaginal delivery *without* an induction - let nature take it's course as much as possible. Generally, things go much better that way. All the best with your decision!

My mum had 4, each 2yrs or less apart. She looks like she has 5 belly buttons lol

4 here...no dramas at all.

Jo

We are going for CS No 5...I have a 24, 19, 17 and 4 year old, so the gap is quite great!

We have been told that I will go earlier (prob 36-37 weeks) due to the increased risk of No 5 and uterine rupture ( I think the odds must go up substantially)

The only thing I am noticing with this one is the amount of discomfort around the scar and pulling sensation...I have to admit I do get worried about a rupture, but Im also 42 and have diabetes, so not in the prime of health!!!

The most I have seen as a midwife is 7 and there were complications. Due to the amount of scar tissue the ladies bladder was damaged with both her 6th and 7th c/s. She had to have a catheter. After no6 she had it for 6weeks and after number 7 I don't know as she went home with it but they expected it would be a while.

The risk with multiple c/s is as they take the scar tissue out each time the uterus gets smaller each c/s. So the likelyhood of the placenta developing on the old c/s site, prem labour (because of the uterus getting smaller), very thin uterus and uterine rupture (very rare) gets abit higher each c/s. As for 3-4 even 5 c/s they are generally uncomplicated its when your looking at much higher numbers. If your planning on a very large family I would probably rather a vaginal birth so the risk isn't as great for future pregnancies but if you want 5 or less then I wouldn't be concerned about the amount of c/s you have.

The dr's where I work strongly recommend tubal ligation with the 4th c/s (done at the same time as the c/s) but its a personal decision as to weather you are then happy to stop at 4 which I know is what most dr's recommend. In saying all this I know a woman who recently had her 3rd c/s and they said her uterus was too thin to have any more children. Apparently it was like glad wrap and transparent they could see the baby through it. There are products out there to help strengthen the uterus though so if you are wanting or needing a repeat c/s you can take them prior to pregnancy to help restore the uterus for future pregnancies. If you have another C/S perhaps you can ask the surgeon doing the procedure what your uterus is like. Ie is there any damage, the thickness of it etc.

ive had 3 and next year will be 4

i have had 4 and dr said how good the scar tissue is so i could have more if want but a friend has had 3 and the dr told her no more it all depends on the scaring inside of you so some people can have only 2 were other people can have more but the drs really only recomend people only have 3 as the risk gets higher all the time

I've had 4, and will be having my 5th caesarean in 10 weeks. I'm 38 years old.
With my first I had placenta praevia, number 2 I was prepared to go naturally, however at 41 weeks Dr decided that it was better for me to have a caesarean, so I was booked in for the following day. #3 and #4 just went with a c section again. Apart from my first, which I had with a general anaesthetic, all of my caesareans have been wonderful experiences - meeting a new little person has been fantastic each and every time. I had the same doctor for my previous 4 caesareans, a new one this time, but he's very confident all will be well. Apparently I had no issues with scar tissue in the other surgeries, so all will be fine. My recovery was great, up and moving about the next day with pain, but not unbearable. Caesareans can be a wonderful experience.:)

iv been told by my gynae before i even am pregnant that a c-section and poss a hystorectomy- iv got severe bowel and pelvic adhesions. i wish you the best of luck xox

I have a close friend whose had 4 :) She had to give it 5 years between the last 2 though & they've recommended no more.

The risk involved with 15 caesareans is something I don't even want to contemplate.

The fact that your OB quoted that to you without any context is even more disturbing. It implies that a caesarean is without risk, or comes with minimal risk - this is something alot of people believe as they become more prevalent. It is absolutely not the case. Every caesarean a woman has increases her risk of serious complications and it's pretty irresponsible to imply that the risk is negligible. It's not.

Most practitioners will support 3-4 caesars. With good reason.