Multiple C-Sections: How Many Is Too Many?
Multiple c-sections are very common, especially nowadays. When a woman is considering having more children after having her first via cesarean delivery, she may have some concerns about several things including: the type of birth(s) she’ll have in the future, the size of the family she can have, potential risks of complications along with concerns about her body image.
There was a time when doctors recommended a woman had no more than three c-sections and back then, a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery was practically unheard of due to the fear of risk to mother and baby. Even the way that cesareans were performed was generally different with a midline incision vertically on the woman’s abdomen. Today, most deliveries via c-section are lower uterine sections that involve a much smaller scar horizontally on the lower abdomen.
Many doctors today suggest that four or even five c-sections are a safe number and many women have a c-section for their first baby and then go on to deliver several more babies vaginally.
The safe number of c-section surgeries for a woman is dependant on many health factors including how well the woman healed after her last c-section. A plus today is that a cesarean section for your first baby does not necessarily sentence you to subsequent c-sections for each child you hope to have. Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is quite common today if there is no medical reason for a subsequent section.
C-Section Recommendations
Doctors typically recommend that a woman having multiple c-sections does give her body time to heal between surgeries and often suggests waiting a minimum of a year between babies.
Having babies too close together could increase risk of uterine rupture due to the lack of time to heal from the incision. And, even after multiple c-sections, you may still be able to have a VBAC but this depends on many factors that should be addressed by your doctor based on your specific health status. Of course if you’re not happy with your doctor’s recommendations for future deliveries or delivery options, it is perfectly acceptable to seek an alternate opinion.
Possible Complications
As the number of cesareans increases, the risk of complications increases as well. Potential risks include: post-delivery hysterectomy, the need for blood transfusions and a condition called Placenta Accreta among other risks. In some cases, a doctor who has performed a c-section will tell a woman after the birth that there was a high amount of scar tissue and that she needs to avoid further pregnancies by arranging a tubal ligation.
Common Fears
You may be concerned that having multiple c-sections can mean that your scar will be more prominent and that you’ll have trouble losing your baby weight.
In reality, many factors contribute to weight gain and loss after a baby and it is very possible to regain a figure that is close to your old one. In terms of scarring, today’s c-section scars are low enough that a woman can even wear a bikini (if she chooses) without revealing her scar.
There are many factors that will determine how many babies you can safely have, how many c-sections are safe for you or if a VBAC is an option. The very fact that you are researching the options will empower you to make a decision that’s right for you, your health and your well-being.
