Need other c-section mom's advice and experiences

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Momofmyangels

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Hi all,
This is my first post and I was wondering if anyone out there had multiple c-section experience. I have had 6 c-sections due to CPD-cephalo-pelvic disproportion, basically my pelvis is too small to accommodate the passage of a baby. I have had healthy babies and experienced no complications whatsoever with any of them. My concern now is that advice from my doctor is that c-sections after number 5 brings risks and that they are not even recommended after having 3! I have a hard time living my life worried about what might, but likely won’t happen. My husband and I have been open to life from the moment we were married, which was 10 years ago. We have never practiced or even considered birth control. We have never even used NFP, relying totally on what God wants of us. I still feel this way although a part of me is a bit scared now. We always wanted a large family and we can’t rationalize preventing any further babies because of fear. However, I am somewhat fearful. So, I was wondering if there was anyone with a similar experience. Has anyone had, or know of anyone who has had more than 6 c-sections? Any thoughts would be appreciated. I can’t bear the thought of no more little angels in our lives.
 
This is something you need to research with an obstetrician who can take into account the issues with regards to your specific case, not something that the experience of other moms can really guide you on. Your decision is going to depend on your health history, not someone else’s.

Although nothing on the web is going to take the place of the judgement of a physician with specific training and experience in obstetrics when it comes to guiding your decision, I have had health care professionals recommend the Mayo Clinic web site as a good place for laypeople to get information in preparation for talking with their doctors. mayoclinic.com/health/c-sections/AN02070

Keep in mind, though, that it is unlikely that your doctor is going to tell you to go ahead and ignore the prevailing standard of care. Obstetricians are already hauled into court as it is, for failing to be able to guarantee a perfect pregnancy and birth to everyone. They have to hold themselves to standard that will hold up in front of a jury. If you educate yourself and decide that the risk of another pregnancy is warranted in your specific case, that will be your decision, and yours alone. Having said that, you may be able to find a doctor or someone at the local medical school obstetrics department who will help you find the actual primary rearch that lead to the formation of the current standard of care. This could help you to guess what the best estimates of your risks actually are. Even then, the best you’re going to get is a guess.

No one is going to dispute your generosity in having had six pregnancies, each having required a C-section. Find out what you are risking, both with regards to your openness to life and your willingness to sustain injury or death at this juncture in the lives of your children. Your tolerance of risk may or may not match that of a litigating attorney…you do not know until you look into it. You do owe it to your family to find out what it is that you are risking, especially when you choose to ignore the advice of a physician.

Part of obeying your conscience requires informing your conscience properly. This is not a decision to make based on either your previous dreams or someone else’s opinion but on an educated application of the Church’s teachings. Educate yourself with your husband about the facts, to the degree you are able, then educate yourself in the school of prayer. Obedience requires listening, and openness to God’s answer. Obey what you hear, and then let go of your anxiety. You don’t have to be right, beyond any doubt. That degree of certainty isn’t a realistic goal in cases like yours. You must only be honestly obedient to the best of your ability, willing to follow the answer you get, and let God take care of making it right.

Good luck, and God bless you.
 
My wife had nine in a 13 year span. She did fine with all of them.
 
ChosenAndCalled said:
My wife had nine in a 13 year span. She did fine with all of them.
Click to expand...
The OP might do the same. Or, she might die with the seventh delivery…and let us face it, any mother might die in any delivery. Or she might decide with her husband that, considering her particular case, taking the risk isn’t the faithful course of action. Then, having decided to avoid pregnancy for legitimate reasons, they might have another child, anyway! We can’t tell.

The main thing is that we know that, whatever happens, we make these decisions as faithfully as we know how. Then we can leave the rest to God, no matter what the outcome.
Or as Mother Theresa put it: God did not call me to be successful. He called me to be faithful.
 
I only had two C-sections.

OP, I kind of think this thread is a medical issue, and should be closed. You’re talking about life and death here.

I personally feel very uncomfortable with this thread. I respect the people who have responded so far and think that they have given you wise advice. But I hope for your sake and others that the Mods close this thread really soon. It’s not something that you should be talking about in a forum of people that you don’t know from Adam.
 
EasterJoy,
Thank you for the reply. Please don’t think that I am disregarding my obstetrician’s advice. I have certainly taken to heart what she said, but she is not pro-life and others in her office think that 3 is enough in general, c-section or not. If I had a pro-life OB like my mother had, I would certainly be discussing this with him/her, but I am not so lucky. So, I was basically looking to see what others’ experiences were. My research shows me that the risks occur at any number of c-sections, with many happening after 2 or 3, and I do not find much, if any research on 5 c-sections or more.

ChosenAndCalled,
Thank you. While I know I cannot compare my experiences with anyone elses, this is what I was looking for…to know that it can and does happen. Thanks again
 
Cat,
Sorry if this was inappropriate and if I offended you, it was certainly NOT my intent. I am sorry for posting and will not again.
 
I have a friend who has 8 c-sections… but she has a great dr who is very pro-life. Are you able to get a second opinion from a pro-life dr? I think with 6 kids already, you need a dr you can trust to give you sound medical advice, with a sound pro-life perspective.

JMHO
 
I feel your pain and understand you’re dilemma. I understood your intent of the thread not to be to seek medical advice, but to see what other women have experienced, so here you go: 😛 I’ve had 4 c-sections and am pregnant with my 5th, which obviously will also be a c-section. This will be the 5th c-section in 7 years. I am scared. I was scared with the 4th one. I do feel that yes, God wants me to be open to life (which we are through NFP), but I also need to be responsible for the lives I’ve already brought into this world and this weighs heavily on mine and my DH’s decisions for our family size.

I do sometimes feel “cheated” that having had c-sections will dictate the number of children I am able to have unlike a woman who has had vaginal births. It does stink. But God has given me 5 unbelievable little blessings and without the technology of c-sections, it is likely that my first one would not be here with me today. I am so unbelievably blessed to have the little ones I do have, when so many people are unable to have ANY.

I hold on to that… “gratefulness” instead of “wishfulness”. 🙂

Many prayers for you and your family.
 
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