What to do when c-sections become dangerous?

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boymama

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I had my third child recently, and my (Catholic) doctor has told me that my uterus is not able to handle another child. Each child has been delivered by C-section, and I have had multiple uterine/ovary surgeries thanks to endometriosis and PCOS. I actually had an ovary and tube removed a few years ago. This brings my total uterine surgeries to seven.

I believe that he is probably correct in his statement. He is a very down-to-earth guy who has always said that we need to take it C-section by C-section, and he has never led me to believe he would tell me to stop having kids unless it was actually necessary. I also got a second opinion from another doctor who 115% agreed with my doctor. Another pregnancy could lead to uterine rupture and/or hysterectomy and/or death, and so my husband and I are content to stop at three children.

However, I feel like we are now at a crossroads. I’m not even 30 yet. We have used NFP to space children or avoid pregnancy while I recovered from uterine procedures. I’m very concerned about becoming pregnant again, because I would like to be around for my family.

My husband and I have an appointment set up with our priest to discuss later this week, but I was curious if anyone else had been in this situation and what they did to prevent further pregnancies. Google is giving me mixed results about what the Church’s actual stance is here. Does this count as a medical issue that allows for birth control? Do we need to abstain for the next 50+ years?!? Do we use NFP (which is a bit more risky given my PCOS and endometriosis)?

Any guidance you can give is much appreciated. I’d appreciate if we stuck to Church teaching and/or what a priest has told you rather than what you THINK a person should do in this situation. I know that there are a lot of Catholics who are willing to risk their lives for more babies. I do not think that is an appropriate response in this case.
 
boymama said:
Does this count as a medical issue that allows for birth control? Do we need to abstain for the next 50+ years?!? .
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Very sorry to here of this development - My wife has had to have 3 c- sections - but is not in your circumstance -though things can of course change with each one…

As to the question - forgive me for being brief here.

But to answer: Contraception would be gravely evil to choose. Such would not according to the nature of the marital act. It cannot be chosen here.

(and heck they fail anyhow…not that if they did not they would be good -but often people forget that when tempted by this)

No matter what anyone says (even if a Priest says it is ok - it is not --what a Priest? -yes it is possible there could still be some around that do not teach what the Church Teaches -who are still influenced by errors in this area)

(When referring to a “medical use” that is meaning say for treatment of a medical problem (itself)… which raise other issues for those who are engaging in marital relations. --And since we cannot give medical advice here - I will limit what I say about such - and refer anyone with that such medical difficulties to the Pope Paul VI Institute - for there are ways of treating things that are more healthy etc).

But again as to the question here - no contraception may not be used to prevent another conception - even when there is a risk if a new conception would happen. Such would simply go against the marital act. Against marriage.

One would need to consider a good NFP - lived very conservatively (discuss with say an ethicist etc) or if it is serious to abstain until one is not fertile any longer. I know it sounds like a difficult cross. But it may be necessary at times. And one is then there for ones Children.

Compendium issued by Pope Benedict XVI
  1. When is it moral to regulate births?
2368-2369
2399

The regulation of births, which is an aspect of responsible fatherhood and motherhood, is objectively morally acceptable when it is pursued by the spouses without external pressure; when it is practiced not out of selfishness but for serious reasons; and with methods that conform to the objective criteria of morality, that is, periodic continence and use of the infertile periods.
  1. What are immoral means of birth control?
2370-2372

Every action - for example, direct sterilization or contraception - is intrinsically immoral which (either in anticipation of the conjugal act, in its accomplishment or in the development of its natural consequences) proposes, as an end or as a means, to hinder procreation.

vatican.va/archive/compendium_ccc/documents/archive_2005_compendium-ccc_en.html

I suggest contacting the Paul VI Institute popepaulvi.com/ And they train doctors all over the country. They can work even to get rid of your endometriosis…and their method of NFP is likely better than many. And they can find remedies for things that other doctors do not. Please contact them!

As to moral issues one can contact ncbcenter.org/ one may talk with an ethicist.

Both the above are recommended by Catholic Answers and have appeared repeatedly on their programs.

I am very sorry for this great suffering. Stay close to Jesus of Nazareth and his Church - In him is* true life* -which we do not want to separate ourselves from. Hold fast to him - stay close to him in prayer and the Sacraments.

Hang in there! It is good you seek the right way!

Jesus the Good Shepherd loves us and is with us even in the dark paths of fears and sufferings.
 
I am so sorry for your situation. I also can’t have more children for serious health reasons.

The Church states that we can’t use birth control to prevent pregnancy for any reason (it can be used as a therapy for disease. Pregnancy is not a disease.)

If you want to obey Church teaching, you will need to decide whether you want to use NFP (I recommend a really good class that includes ongoing mentoring) or abstain until menopause.

The risk vs. benefits are something you and your husband will need to discuss. This has been a huge cross for me and my husband to bear and I wish you the best working it out.
 
Humanae Vitae

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html
Lawful Therapeutic Means
15. On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever.
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Is your doctor suggesting hysterectomy as a treatment for your polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis?
 
boymama said:
My husband and I have an appointment set up with our priest to discuss later this week, but I was curious if anyone else had been in this situation and what they did to prevent further pregnancies.
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Periodic continence using NFP or complete continence if you believe periodic continence to be too risky for your comfort.
boymama said:
Google is giving me mixed results about what the Church’s actual stance is here.
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Contraception is always a moral evil and can never be an option.
boymama said:
Does this count as a medical issue that allows for birth control?
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No. The sole role of a contraceptive here would be to prevent pregnancy, not an unintended side effect of a treatment for some other problem.
boymama said:
Do we need to abstain for the next 50+ years?!? Do we use NFP (which is a bit more risky given my PCOS and endometriosis)?
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The amount of abstention is for you and your husband to decide. you can choose either. Conservative NFP rules can be applied, but if neither of you is comfortable with that, then yes you can choose more prolonged abstinence.
boymama said:
Any guidance you can give is much appreciated. I’d appreciate if we stuck to Church teaching and/or what a priest has told you rather than what you THINK a person should do in this situation. I know that there are a lot of Catholics who are willing to risk their lives for more babies. I do not think that is an appropriate response in this case.
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Humanae Vitae and the Catechism are both clear here.

I am really sorry for your current situation, I am sure it is very scary and difficult.
 
I am sorry to hear that you are going through this.

I am pretty sure that such a serious health condition would justify the use of NFP to prevent you from conceiving future children.
 
I suspect the OP’s case may be somewhat unusual compared to normal too-many-c-section cases, because of her complicated gynecological history.

It’s possible that BC pills may be the most appropriate treatment for her endometriosis–perhaps not now (if she has no current issues) but perhaps sometime in the near future if her symptoms flare up. I would ask my OB/GYN or specialist what the prognosis is on the endometriosis and PCOS and then share that info with the National Catholic Bioethics Center hotline people and ask for their advice as to whether or not BC is appropriate in this case:

ncbcenter.org/page.aspx?pid=1172

Of course, there is the problem that even if BC pills are appropriate and moral for the OP’s case, the OP has to be prepared for the possibility that she might have an unexpected pregnancy even on BC pills (typical use failure rate–9%). Without sterilization (and even then there are some rare flukes) or total abstinence, the OP has to be mentally prepared for the possibility of a dangerous unexpected pregnancy.

Best wishes!
 
boymama said:
I had my third child recently, and my (Catholic) doctor has told me that my uterus is not able to handle another child. Each child has been delivered by C-section, and I have had multiple uterine/ovary surgeries thanks to endometriosis and PCOS. I actually had an ovary and tube removed a few years ago. This brings my total uterine surgeries to seven.

I believe that he is probably correct in his statement. He is a very down-to-earth guy who has always said that we need to take it C-section by C-section, and he has never led me to believe he would tell me to stop having kids unless it was actually necessary. I also got a second opinion from another doctor who 115% agreed with my doctor. Another pregnancy could lead to uterine rupture and/or hysterectomy and/or death, and so my husband and I are content to stop at three children.

However, I feel like we are now at a crossroads. I’m not even 30 yet. We have used NFP to space children or avoid pregnancy while I recovered from uterine procedures. I’m very concerned about becoming pregnant again, because I would like to be around for my family.

My husband and I have an appointment set up with our priest to discuss later this week, but I was curious if anyone else had been in this situation and what they did to prevent further pregnancies. Google is giving me mixed results about what the Church’s actual stance is here. Does this count as a medical issue that allows for birth control? Do we need to abstain for the next 50+ years?!? Do we use NFP (which is a bit more risky given my PCOS and endometriosis)?

Any guidance you can give is much appreciated. I’d appreciate if we stuck to Church teaching and/or what a priest has told you rather than what you THINK a person should do in this situation. I know that there are a lot of Catholics who are willing to risk their lives for more babies. I do not think that is an appropriate response in this case.
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My wife and I are in a similar situation, though without the additional surgeries for endomentriosis and PCOS which you mentioned you have had. My wife has had four c-sections, and she has been advised by doctors that another c-section would be risky. The percentage chance of something bad happening is small, but if something bad did happen, it could be very bad.

As you probably know, the church does not condone artificial contraception, for good reasons which I could go into if you want, but you probably know them already. My wife and I use NFP, and it has worked well for us. We do have to abstain about 14 days out of every cycle (with her cycles being usually around 28 to 29 days), but at our ages (at least 10 years older than you), that is not as difficult as it used to be. And even with the abstinence, we are intimate almost as many times per month now as we were when we didn’t need to abstain.

I sympathize with your situation very much, as my wife and I want very much to have another child. It is difficult each and every month to know that we probably could easily conceive another child (we have been blessed with great fertility), but that we must choose not to. That is something that we struggle with all the time.

We have considered adoption, but we are not convinced that that is the right path for us. But maybe you might consider adoption at some point – particularly adopting an older child or a child with special needs – a child who doesn’t have a long list of parents waiting to adopt him or her, and who really needs a loving family. I don’t know if this is something that you are or will be called to do, but it is something that you could consider.
 
Now here is where I have a problem with the Church’s position about not using birth control. You have an obvious medical impediment to having anymore children. I would also question why a hysterectomy would be wrong in a case like this. As long as you have one remaining ovary you would probably not even have hormonal replacement needs, though I know a doctor would have to determine that.

Certainly, you should speak to your pastor. I can’t find fault with not having more children in a case like this as you do need to be here for your children. I just can’t believe that you would be expected to be abstinent the rest of your “fertile” years. This part is just not right in my eyes.

I do wish you luck, and pray that your health remains good. My mom had to stop having children after my sister was born due to the risk of death. I think this needs to be taken into consideration when women are faced with such a risk. God be with your family.
 
Cricket2 said:
Now here is where I have a problem with the Church’s position about not using birth control. You have an obvious medical impediment to having anymore children. I would also question why a hysterectomy would be wrong in a case like this. As long as you have one remaining ovary you would probably not even have hormonal replacement needs, though I know a doctor would have to determine that.

Certainly, you should speak to your pastor. I can’t find fault with not having more children in a case like this as you do need to be here for your children. I just can’t believe that you would be expected to be abstinent the rest of your “fertile” years. This part is just not right in my eyes.

I do wish you luck, and pray that your health remains good. My mom had to stop having children after my sister was born due to the risk of death. I think this needs to be taken into consideration when women are faced with such a risk. God be with your family.
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I have similar views about the teachings about birth control. The teachings emphasize the need for procreation, but do not address the needs of people who have already been born.
 
Cricket2 said:
Now here is where I have a problem with the Church’s position about not using birth control. You have an obvious medical impediment to having anymore children. I would also question why a hysterectomy would be wrong in a case like this. As long as you have one remaining ovary you would probably not even have hormonal replacement needs, though I know a doctor would have to determine that.

Certainly, you should speak to your pastor. I can’t find fault with not having more children in a case like this as you do need to be here for your children. I just can’t believe that you would be expected to be abstinent the rest of your “fertile” years. This part is just not right in my eyes.

I do wish you luck, and pray that your health remains good. My mom had to stop having children after my sister was born due to the risk of death. I think this needs to be taken into consideration when women are faced with such a risk. God be with your family.
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I agree with you that this is a hard situation (as I said in my previous post, I’m in a similar situation myself). But I think it is more accurate to say that life is hard than to say that the church’s teaching is hard. I think that the teaching basically boils down to this: If you have a good reason not to conceive a child, then don’t engage in the activity that is designed specifically for the purpose of conceiving a child. (Or at least don’t do so at a time when conception is likely to occur.) That makes a lot of sense to me, even if it isn’t always easy. And for most couples in this situation, complete abstinence for the rest of their fertile years is not necessary, because NFP is usually a viable option.
 
Bookcat said:
I suggest contacting the Paul VI Institute popepaulvi.com/ And they train doctors all over the country. They can work even to get rid of your endometriosis…and their method of NFP is likely better than many. And they can find remedies for things that other doctors do not. Please contact them!
Click to expand...
If you want to pursue this option, you can go to this web site to find a doctor who is trained in the methods mentioned above:

fertilitycare.org/

Just go to the site, click on “Find a Medical Consultant” on the left side of the page, and then navigate to your area and state to find a listing of doctors.
 
PaulGH said:
I agree with you that this is a hard situation (as I said in my previous post, I’m in a similar situation myself). But I think it is more accurate to say that life is hard than to say that the church’s teaching is hard. I think that the teaching basically boils down to this: If you have a good reason not to conceive a child, then don’t engage in the activity that is designed specifically for the purpose of conceiving a child. (Or at least don’t do so at a time when conception is likely to occur.) That makes a lot of sense to me, even if it isn’t always easy. And for most couples in this situation, complete abstinence for the rest of their fertile years is not necessary, because NFP is usually a viable option.
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Why must a couple attempt to be procreative when conception of a child could end the life of the mother? Whose life is valued more, that of the mother who is currently living, or a life which does not currently exist? Why must a married couple choose between ceasing unitive sexual activity or continuing with potentially fatal sexual activity?
 
I would call my Diocese and ask who is the most pro-life Gynecologist they can recommend. Then, go and as his or her opinion regarding a hysterectomy or other possible treatments/options as well as NFP.
Then sufficiently armed with this and your prior medical info and learned opinions, speak to your Confessor about it as a couple.
**Follow his advice. **
I will pray for you.
Peace.
 
PaulGH said:
If you want to pursue this option, you can go to this web site to find a doctor who is trained in the methods mentioned above:

fertilitycare.org/

Just go to the site, click on “Find a Medical Consultant” on the left side of the page, and then navigate to your area and state to find a listing of doctors.
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and one can contact them directly too. Go right to doctor Hildgers perhaps even.
 
Thinking10 said:
Why must a couple attempt to be procreative when conception of a child could end the life of the mother? Whose life is valued more, that of the mother who is currently living, or a life which does not currently exist? Why must a married couple choose between ceasing unitive sexual activity or continuing with potentially fatal sexual activity?
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This is not a matter of whose life is more valued.
We have the choice to walk in God’s grace or not. There are times when it’s very difficult or inconvenient, and certainly over the centuries people have been murdered because of the faith that the Catholic professed. Catholics have been thrown to the lions, sawed in two, ridiculed, rejected, lost their job, thrown into jail. I am grateful that I haven’t been tested to this degree but I have made some very difficult choices to remain in God’s grace.

To put your trust in a contraceptive, which has been known to fail and result in pregnancy, is foolish from a secular view point, from someone who does not believe in God. To recommend use of contraceptives to a Catholic is a serious mistake. Contraception will not save them from the risk they are trying to avoid. To keep putting this option in front of them to tempt them is asking them to flirt with disaster.
 
Thinking10 said:
Why must a married couple choose between ceasing unitive sexual activity
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“In the conjugal act it is not licit to separate the unitive aspect from the procreative aspect, because both the one and the other pertain to the intimate truth of the conjugal act. The one is activated together with the other and in a certain sense the one by means of the other. Therefore, in such a case the conjugal act, deprived of its interior truth because it is artificially deprived of its procreative capacity, ceases also to be an act of love.”

~ Bl. Pope John Paul II General Audience, August 22, 1984
 
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