How Many C-Sections Can A Woman Have?

How many C-sections can a woman have to be safe? Although there wasn`t enough studies made to outline a limit in the number of Caesarean births that can be safely performed, most women can have 3 such births. Each Caesarean surgery is usually more complicated than the previous one.

Is There a Limited Number of C-sections that a Woman Can Have?

As already mentioned although there wasn`t enough studies made on this matter, doctors believe that most women can make up to 3 Caesarean birth in safe conditions. For the young women, the risk of experiencing surgical complications, such as abundant bleeding or infection, increases only slightly from one C-section to the next. If you had a long and difficult labor before your first C-section, a second Caesarean birth may be a bit more extenuating. The healing process will last at least just as long as your previous experience, probably more if you`ll experience any complications.

How Many C-Sections Can a Woman Have?

This is a question for which no doctor can offer a real answer. Basically, the observations made until now support the statistics according to which a woman can have 3 Caesarean births without exposing herself to a major risk. However, each intervention may prove to be more difficult and risky than the previous one.

There are women to which the risk of surgical and post-operative complications remains very small. However, there are also women that develop aberrant and extensive scars, for which each new medical intervention is that much more dangerous.

After the first C-section, around 50% of women develop adherents. However, after 3 such births, 83% of women develop such adherents. These scar tissue bands may lead to pains because they limit the movements of the internal organs and may lead to infertility because they compress and block the fallopian tubes.

The abundant adherents make the medical intervention more difficult and increase the risk as the bladder or intestine to be sectioned by mistake quite a lot.

Issues Occurred from Repeated C-Sections

There is a series of problems that a Caesarean birth implies, no matter how well and healthy a maternal organism would regenerate, or how careful and experienced would the obstetrician be.

The risk of such complications occurring is that much high if we talk about repeated C-sections.

The uterine wall is weak. Each incision made inside the uterus determines the development of a scar, around which the tissue losses its elasticity. The more incisions there are on the uterus, the more weak points there are.

There may be issues related to the placenta, their probability increasing in proportion with the number of C-sections. The placenta may implant itself too deep inside the uterine wall (placenta accrete) or it may implant itself over the uterine head and not rise (placenta praevia).

Bladder damage is unlikely during the first Caesarean birth, but it`s not that rare when it comes to repeated Caesarean births. This occurs due to the adherents that form after surgeries on the abdomen and which “binds” the bladder from the uterus.

It`s the same case when it comes to the intestine on which the abundant adherents can transform it, together with the uterus, in a real “organ block.”

Abundant hemorrhages represent a risk for any surgery, but repeated C-sections are associated with an increased risk of uterine bleeding that is difficult to control, and which may lead to the necessity of performing an emergency hysterectomy.

Considering that out there the average family has 1 or 2 children, the elective Caesarean section can represent an option, although it`s recommended to be open when talking with your doctor about this and weigh as well as possible the arguments that are in the favor of giving birth naturally.

However, if you want a big family, Caesarean birth shouldn`t be taken into consideration as a preference, but rather as a measure of emergency.

And even if you already experienced a Caesarean birth, there are lots of doctors out there who accept natural birth after Caesarean, if this is an option.

Third Time, Risks Should Be Carefully Weighed

Lots of women experience repeated C-sections. Still, after the third one, the surgical risks need to be weighed carefully if you want to become pregnant again.

If you gave birth to a child through Caesarean birth, it`s possible to have another option with your second child. So, you should either schedule yourself for another C-section or choose vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC).

Years ago, a C-section would end any hope of ever giving birth naturally. Today, due to the changes in the surgical techniques in most part, VBAC is possible in lots of cases. Actually, around 75% of women who try VBAC manage a successful vaginal birth.

VBAC isn`t the right way to go for all women! However, sometimes there`s a complication involving the pregnancy or the initial conditions prevent the possibility of a successful VBAC. Lots of local hospitals out there don`t offer VBAC as an option, because they don`t have the resources of medical staff required for an emergency C-section.