Need Advice for Fourth Pregnancy

Hi. My doctor told me, after my 2nd c-section, that I needed to wait 2 yrs. He said that b/c there is more scar tissue that needs to heal etc, having one sooner than that could cause problems. Now every doctor is different but that's what mine said. Good Luck!

I am not a professional just someone with an opinion. First I think that all pregnancies should be at least two years apart so that the body has a chance to bounce back. I personally feel that delivering two children, in any method, is enough for one body. My first was a section and I was told I would have no problems having my 2nd as a vaginal delivery, but I had to have another section after 36 hrs of labor. Don't know if it had anything to do with the section or what. I think plenty of women have a vaginal delivery after a section unless there are extreme conditons.

they normally say it takes a year for your body to completely recover from a section. For the age question, my sister was 37 when she had my youngest neice and she did have some complications, but due to being on birth control when she got pregnant, not due to age. My mother was 35 when she had me, no complications. I would consult with your doctor and see how long he/she thinks you should wait, that would be the best advice. I know people who have had multiple sections with no complications what so ever, but i don't know anyone who did vbac though. hope that helps and good luck!

Dear B.,

I would not worry about a third section unless your Dr. expressed concern after your last delivery. I am about to have mt fifth section this May, and my Dr. has routinely performed multiple sections (as in 4 or more). I am 40 and had my forth at 36 with no complications. The recovery has actually been easier each time, possibly due to far more distractions.

hi B.~
i have had 3 c-sections. there we're 3 1/2 years in between my first and second and i tried a v-bac that time and my doctor said it was perfectly fine to try since the scar had enough time to heal. unfortunately i was not dialating(sp?) fast enough so i ended up with a c-section that time. when my second son was 8 months old i found out i was pregnant with my 3rd. when i had her there was 17 months between them. i had a c-section and had no complications. i did end up having a tubaligation so i couldn't have anymore. i would suggest talking to your doctor about the 4th pregnancy. see if they recommend a vbac or a c-section.
p.s.
i also have a cousin who had 5 c-sections total! the last one came with many complications including her having to have a blood transfusion. she ended up getting pregnant when her 4th baby was only 3 1/2 months old. i think the fact that they were so close and her body did not have time to heal was the cause of her complications.

The terminology that you used is interesting. You are going to give him another child? Let's stop right here. One or two nights with him turn into 10 months and a lifetime for you. So before you start talking more children, riddle me this. Does you husband just want more intimacy or does HE WANT MORE CHILDREN AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOES WITH THEM? How much time and effort DOES HE PUT INTO THE CHILDREN THAT YOU ALREADY HAVE?
Now. Having had my last child at 42. I have no doubt that if it is in your destiny to be a mother again, it won't really matter how that baby gets born. Children are blessings no matter how they have to come into this world. And if YOU really want to have more children AND THE ADDITIONAL TIME AND ENERGY THAT GOES WITH THEM, then I know that you will do whatever is needed to support a healthy child being born.
Regarding the vaginal birth after a 2nd section. Most doctors will assume that you will automatically have to have a C. Unless you have some physiological impediment, if you prepare adequately, you can increase the chances of ending you next labor with a vag birth. You will have to eat well, exercise, take some herbals that help to strengthen your muscle tone and most importantly visualize yourself accomplishing you goal, smile when you think of being pregnant (instead of worrying).
Oh! And Yes!!! You need to wait give your body more time to heal. You were pregnant for 10 months, your womb needs at least that much time before it has to work that hard again. Even sex at 6 months can be draining, especially if you are nursing and/ or doing the wake up 2 or 3 times a night thing. It's ok to talk to your husband honestly about what you are feeling. And about what you would like to achieve in you life - for you. He has his career. As a healer, you have a right to do what you have been called to do, in addition to being the dedicated, stay-at-home mom that you are.

Usually after having 2 sections they will say that you should have the 3rd by c-section as well. We're having the same debate. I've only had 1 c-section [because my last baby was breach]. I know that a VBAC would be possible, but it seems military hospitals aren't for VBAC's. I've had 2 previous vaginal deliveries. I was told to wait at least 18 months before even trying again. We're probably waiting 2-3 yrs to have another, and that's if we have another. I would really like to have another. The hubby is saying maybe. Good luck in figuring this out!

Linds
Mommy of Bridgette (3.5 yrs), Anya (2 yrs) & Leilani (5 months)

I have had 3 sections. My second was the gardest because I tried to have a V-BAC only to labor for 18 hours before having a section. I had my 3rd section at 34. My 3rd section was probably my easiest because I knew how my body responds to healing. My doctor once told me that after 2 sections, a VBAC was not advised because of the scar tissue from the first 2. She said that It would be a risk of rupture during my pregnancy. I was also told that you should give your body a year after a section before trying again. Good Luck!

I know there are many women who have had successful vaginal deliveries after multiple cesareans. The problem is finding a provider who will provide you care and a VBAC friendly hospital.

Check out this site: http://www.ican-online.org/

First, definitely speak to your OB before even thinking about another pregnancy. I don't know the medical/personal reasons for your two c-sections but my ob said absolutely not when I asked about a vbac. I had my first baby emergency c-section and the last two were scheduled. Each one was progressively more difficult to heal from...age, maybe?:) On a personal note, who's counting??? You just had a baby less than 6 months ago! Give yourself time to heal and get to know your new baby. If you get the go-ahead from your OB and YOU are ready for a new addition, then god bless and good luck!

I have had 3 c-sections, not a problem, my doctor said everything looked great and I could do another, if I wanted. I don't know any doctors in the area that would do a VBAC after 2 c-sections, there are too many risks, and most doctors are scared of lawsuits, so they take the easy way out. Likely you would have another c-section. So, I don't think that how the baby gets here should be a concern, just the question of whether or not you want another one. If you and your husband both (not one or the other) decide that you want another, then go for it. If your husband wants another baby, and you want another baby, then have another baby. Don't worry about what anyone else says...

As a note, I read another response that says your husband might not want another baby, just more intimacy... I'm not sure what that means, because you can be intimate with him anytime you want, not just when you are trying to have a baby. So I don't think that has anything to do with it.

I had a V-Bac after 2 C-sections. Jury is still out on which way was easier! ;-)
You really do need to give your body some more time to recover. 6 months is VERY early. Maybe you should call your OB on this one...
Good luck!

Yes! I have done it all backwards. The first two were c-sections and the last two were VBAC's. I say find yourself a good DR. that has midwifes in his practice and go for it. All four of mine were born over a five year period. As for getting pregnant if your period is back to normal I don't see any reason to wait. My c-sections were 16mos apart.
Good luck and if I can help let me know.
D.
PS I am assuming your scar runs laterlly and not vertically. Vertical is a no go for VBAC. Don't let the DR. push you into a section. If they aren't even open to it move on. Sometimes they do them for convience. There own, that is.

How ironic that I read your info today. I just got back from the dr having my annual and asked her about having a 4th c-section. I have had three c-sections with my girls ages 8, 5 and 10 months. They have always said each section gets harder to recover from. However, my experience has been different. Mine have been easier each time- I think it just honestly depends on your own health. I would think that an OB/GYN would be happy to answer that questions at your annual though.

Best wishes!

I would say bare minimum of 1 year. I haven't had any sections, but my mom has had 3. Her 1st two were just over a year apart. She hadn't healed enough from the first when she got pregnant with the second. They had to to an emergency c-sec 6 weeks early because her previous incision had begun to pull apart. Her incision ran vertically from her belly button all the way down though. Much larger than they typically do now. However, she did go on to carry me to 38 weeks 5 years after her 2nd section. Talk it over with your doctor just to be on the safe side and see what he thinks.

Hi B....I am sympathetic to wanting more children but being uncertain about how many c-sections, etc. I've had 4 c-sections, all pretty close together...7/99, 10/00, 11/02, and 04/04. My first one was an emergency one with a lot of internal tearing and scarring and the doctor told us to wait for atleast a year or so to heal, but that didn't happen. I was pregnant 3 months later. Thankfully, it never was a problem. I didn't have any complications or discomfort from the previous c-section. The only concern of the physician with each one so close together was the internal scarring. She put some medical "adhesive-type" dissolvable material in me as she closed me up each time to help control the scarring in the event I had another c-section (or ANY abdominal surgery thereafter). On the fourth c-section, she said that the scarring was minimal. She said that physically I could have another but she was uncomfortable doing 5 c-sections. (I couldn't handle that MENTALLY anyway...yikes.( Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth) Good luck!! C. O.

Hi B.,

I've had three c-sectiona all with 4 years of eachother. The first two were just about 18 months apart and then the last one was just about 2 years from the second one (does that makes sense?!?! :) My last one was also a twin pregnancy so there was even an extra baby inside there! I had no cmplications whatsoever with any of my sections. I am also 33. I would talk to your doctor about it. I'm not sure if the vbac will have any merit on what comes next however, every pregnancy is different as well as deliveres so to say that something may or may not happen is probably just a guess. Like I said I had three in a fairly short amount of time, the last one being a multiple with no problems. I also had my tubes tied following with no complications their either.

Wish you all the luck!

A.

Hello B.,
My first, third, and fourth children were all C-sections. My second was a VBAC. I felt with the 2nd and 3rd C-section I healed a lot more quickly. I knew what to expect and really made sure I follwed the Dr's instructions to the letter. I would talk to your Dr. about your concerns. Take care. If you live in the Abingdon, Harford county area we have a free forum called www.chesapeakemommies.com Everyone is really friendly and we have a lot of meet and greets, playdates, etc. We have a doula Enza on our board who is sooooo helpful with questions like these. We have military wives on there as well. I am Alynchpyon. If you join send me a quick "hello".
Take care.
A.

Talk to your doctor about precautions on having another c-section, but I do know for a fact, that once you have a c-section, they will NOT (or at least should not) let you have a vaginal birth now. Women used to have a vaginal birth after a c-section and there were too many complications (including death) so now once you've had a c-section, you will always have a c-section.

Good luck on your fourth little angel!

Hi B.,

Have you and your husband considered adopting?
As always, be good to yourself.

There is no problem having a 4th. A third c-section would be safe but I would wait a while before conceiving. Ideally there should be at least two years between your children. You need time to have your incision heal, esp if you are considering a vbac. As far as the vbac question... you know your body can do a vaginal delivery which is half of the issue but why did you have your c-sections? If they were due to breech or fetal distress and not that you didn't progress then why not try a vbac. You should check with your ob to get their opinion. Some doctors are more agreeable to vbac's then others. Good luck!

I had three cesareans before having a VBAC with my fourth. He was born vaginally, unmedicated using the Bradley method. At 9lb 15 oz he was the largest of my five children. (#5 was a cesarean do to being a footling breech and being 8 weeks early- a true emergency)

Good luck!