Caesarean #4?

Hi,

I haven't posted in this forum before, but I've had 3 caesareans now (the most recent being almost 4 months ago). To give you a little background, my first was with my first baby. He was 10 days overdue and I was induced. 2 doses of gel, my water broke, 21hrs of nothing (well I made it to 2cm), had a caesar (his head was stuck in my pelvis, 9lbs). Baby #2, was considering VBAC, had trouble finding encouraging VBAC stories online/published etc, wasn't feeling very confident, booked in for a caesar (8lbs13oz). Baby #3, discovered bellybelly in 2nd trimester, desperately wanted to go into labour naturally before my booked in caesar, had loads of braxton hicks, plenty of early labour signs, but nothing happened, had a caesar (8lbs11oz).

I've always had really good recoveries, and never have felt emotionally scarred from not being able to birth vaginally, but now, being totally in love with yet another baby, I'm thinking of the future. I love love love being pregnant and having babies. I love love love being a mum. I do not love epidurals (for the surgeries). I do not love the recovery. I do not love the risk of post partum haemorrhage. Do I stop having babies? Is the risk of complications higher each time? In a perfect world I would have another baby in a heartbeat. But I have 3 children now, and is it selfish of me to want another? To risk abandoning my family for another baby? I also totally freaked out this epidural, and the thought of a fourth giant needle entering my spine makes me shudder.

Can anyone offer advice? Or experienced the same thing?

The risk of complications does increase each c-section you have, thats pretty well documented.

My sister has had 4 sections herself with no dramas, and the recoveries are better each and every time. Her OB has never set a limit on how many she can have either, so I would say its down to the individual person as to how many your body can handle.

I don't ever think its selfish to want another child - children bring a lot of joy into your life, so I don't see the selfishness of wanting another little bundle of joy ;)

it's possible to have a vba3c! It's a bit soon to be thinking about it, you'd want to give your uterus a good two years to recover before you tried it though. And over the next two years you will undoubtedly have plenty of time to wonder about whether or not to have another baby!

I have had 3 cesareans and i am hoping to commence another IVF cycle then end of thi year and i soo desperatly would love a VBA3C BUT in all honesty i don't see it happening :(
It will be my 4th cesarean and i have been told by the OB/GYN that performed my last section that 1 more would be it.... i am planning to go through a private OB/GYN next bub and see what they say...

Ive had 4 and a tubual reversal ......the ob told me I could have another 2 :o but we both decided due to having bad pg's and nearly losing DS3 at birth that enough was enough. I still yearn for another baby...but I know that ive reached my limit. I dont think your being selfish at all....if you have enough love in your heart to share and a se tof warm arms for loads of cuddles then go for it :dance:

'I will say though...it does take its toll out on your body. I have no feeling in my tummy any more, its loop sided and because im overweight I have an 'apron' that will get damp quiet quickly beneith and smell if I dont take care.