Is a hysterectomy and birth control moral in my situation?

[strings385]

Hello,
My wife is scheduled to deliver our 3rd child via C-section birth this Friday. Our previous 2 children were C-section babies as well, so naturally, the risks involved to try to have a natural birth this time would be to high, so we had to opt for a C-section again. Last doctor visit, my wife’s doctor informed us that if any complications arose during this C-section (i.e. can’t stop the bleeding), they may have to take the uterus. She said if that doesn’t happen, she would highly recommend to us not to have anymore children as the risks would be to high for baby and mom. She recommended that if they don’t have to do the hysterectomy, that she go on birth control. Would the hysterectomy in this scenario be moral? Also, would birth control in this scenario be moral? Or would we have to stick faithfully to NFP or possibly abstain? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I’m very nervous about all of this. Any prayers would also be appreciated.

 

[1ke]

If your wife needs a hysterectomy due to a diseased uterus (rupture, etc) then of course it is acceptable. The purpose is not to be sterilized to prevent pregnancy but to take out a diseased organ that is causing issues (no different than an appendix or such).

If there is no medical necessity or it would be solely to prevent pregnancy, that is direct sterilization and it is never a moral option.

Contraception is always immoral. There are no situations in which you can contracept without committing grave matter against the sixth commandment. Yes, abstinence through NFP is a moral option.

I am sorry to hear your wife is having a difficult time. But what a blessing your newest baby will be to the family! Congrats!

 

[babochka]

Hello,
My wife is scheduled to deliver our 3rd child via C-section birth this Friday. Our previous 2 children were C-section babies as well, so naturally, the risks involved to try to have a natural birth this time would be to high, so we had to opt for a C-section again. Last doctor visit, my wife’s doctor informed us that if any complications arose during this C-section (i.e. can’t stop the bleeding), they may have to take the uterus. She said if that doesn’t happen, she would highly recommend to us not to have anymore children as the risks would be to high for baby and mom. She recommended that if they don’t have to do the hysterectomy, that she go on birth control. Would the hysterectomy in this scenario be moral? Also, would birth control in this scenario be moral? Or would we have to stick faithfully to NFP or possibly abstain? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I’m very nervous about all of this. Any prayers would also be appreciated.

No pregnancy and no surgery is without risks. I’m pregnant with my 6th child right now, and this will be my 5th c-section. Every doctor has his or her own way of looking at the risks. Some doctors feel that one should never have more than 3 c-sections. In fact, I would say that is pretty standard medical advice, to have no more than 3 c-sections. Some of that is personal bias and not evidence-based. On the other hand, the risks do increase with the number of c-sections. When I had my 3rd c-section, I went out of my way to choose a pro-life doctor. I asked her opinion about whether it would be safe to have another c-section and she said that I had very little scar tissue and had healed well, so in her medical opinion, it was safe. A different doctor gave me a green light after my 4th c-section. Ultimately, the risk is yours to determine, with (name removed by moderator)ut from medical professionals who know your situation. Most importantly, it is your risk to take or not to take.

A hysterectomy in the case you describe would absolutely be moral. It would be valid medical treatment for a serious condition. Has she had a problem with uncontrolled bleeding in the past? It is something to be prepared for, but doesn’t seem a terribly likely outcome if she has no history.

As to the second question, artificial contraception would not be licit under these (or any) circumstances. Your doctor is not going to understand. She might pressure your wife and use scare tactics. I cannot give medical advice, but please know that there are other perspectives out there and other women, including myself, who have gone on to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies after 3 c-sections.

I will pray for your wife and for a good outcome for her and your baby.

 

[fpt]

Hello,
My wife is scheduled to deliver our 3rd child via C-section birth this Friday. Our previous 2 children were C-section babies as well, so naturally, the risks involved to try to have a natural birth this time would be to high, so we had to opt for a C-section again. Last doctor visit, my wife’s doctor informed us that if any complications arose during this C-section (i.e. can’t stop the bleeding), they may have to take the uterus. She said if that doesn’t happen, she would highly recommend to us not to have anymore children as the risks would be to high for baby and mom. She recommended that if they don’t have to do the hysterectomy, that she go on birth control. Would the hysterectomy in this scenario be moral? Also, would birth control in this scenario be moral? Or would we have to stick faithfully to NFP or possibly abstain? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. I’m very nervous about all of this. Any prayers would also be appreciated.

She should get some medical advice, in the details with all the subtleties, with some catholic midwives and some catholic gynecologists and obstetricians who are respectful of the catholic morality and of the true medical sciences on this topic. Take appointments with some catholic pro-life midwives and some catholic pro-life gynecologists and obstetricians. May be, ask to your diocese or your pastors the list of those catholic doctors and the list of those catholic hospitals, and those catholic clinics. It is an emergency of being with catholic doctors who respects the natural moral law.

Be careful with the catholic fundamentalists who are too much rigorist and who say more than the official teaching coming from the Vatican.

 

[fpt]

Corrections with a plus

She should get some medical advice, in the details with all the subtleties, with some catholic midwives and some catholic gynecologists and obstetricians who are respectful of the catholic morality and of the true medical sciences on this topic. Take appointments with some catholic pro-life midwives and some catholic pro-life gynecologists and obstetricians. May be, ask to your diocese or your pastors the list of those catholic doctors and the list of those catholic hospitals, and those catholic clinics. It is an emergency of being with catholic doctors who *respect *the natural moral law.

Be careful with the catholic fundamentalists who are too much rigorist and who say more than the official teaching coming from the Vatican.

If during the cesarean section, there are, objectively speaking, some medical issues in link with the uterus that are dangerous for her life and imply,* in function of the medical science of today*, the hysterectomy, there is not moral issue for her, for you, for the doctors and for your future sexual conjugal life. The only negative effect will be no baby possible in the future, but your sexual life will possible, morally speaking.

 

[Bookcat]

Find a doctor who was trained by the Pope Paul VI Institute. One who is not going to give immoral advice (birth control or sterilization). One who can advise you according to your particular case in a moral way.

popepaulvi.com/

fertilitycare.org/

Note well that one cannot have a hysterectomy in order to avoid a pregnancy - but for the intention of say removing a uterus that is in need of removal (cancer etc) (but not to prevent a future preg for some reason.) Contact the National Catholic Bioethics Center and ask to speak with an ethicist - they can advise regarding particular cases. ncbcenter.org/ (number at the bottom)

• note we cannot give advice of a medical nature here but I will note that our doctor said that things depend on the particular person and the state of their health and uterus etc - that she has had a patient with something like 9 C- Sections…so I refer you to the Pope Paul VI institute - they have doctors all over the country and world even.