Multiple C-sections

[u/PsychologicalArt9475]

I wish I had known that having C-sections can cause secondary infertility. If I had known I would have pushed harder to try a vbac with my second or waited long enough to be a candidate for a vbac; only a month too early.

My first was an emergency C-section after developing HELLP syndrome so I know there was nothing I could have done to prevent that. However with our second, we got pregnant on the first try at 8 months postpartum. COMPLETELY to our shock because it took a year to get pregnant with our first. We assumed it would take roughly the same time so we decided to start trying early; hoping we would get pregnant around when our first was 18 months. Well things didn't go as planned and I was 17 months postpartum when I gave birth to our second, therefore not eligible for a vbac. I knew I could have pushed for one being so close to the 18 month requirement or found a doctor willing to let me try but I was so traumatized from my emergency C-section after 20 hours of labor that I was completely okay with the repeat C-section.

Fast forward to now being 21 months postpartum with our second and trying for our 3rd for the past 6 months. I feel so angry that I didn't do research into how the scarring could affect our ability to get pregnant again. I hadn't even ever heard of that being a thing until I started scrolling this sub. WHY is this not something we are educated about?? I feel like this would definitely change a lot of women's minds about opting for elective C-sections if they knew it could negatively affect their fertility in the future. I KNOW it would have changed my view.

I know 6 months is not a long time to try for a baby. I guess this post is just me venting/ranting about the lack of education when it comes to pregnancy and postpartum and all things women's bodies. It's so annoying how little we are taught about everything and how we have to go dig it up ourselves and fight for everything. I'm also just struggling with mourning an age gap I pictured for my children, the life I pictured for our family, so many things. Now that I've written this out I feel stupid for even being upset when I know women are struggling to even have one child and I should be grateful that I have two beautiful, healthy children. And trust me I am. But I'm also sad and frustrated and sick of hyping myself up thinking I'm pregnant every month just to see a negative test and finding out that my C-section scars are most likely the culprit.

[u/CrazyBusCrazyBus]

It's a possibility, but until you have testing done just know that this is far from the only explanation for why it might be taking longer to get pregnant this time around. If you are concerned, speak to your doctor for sure but try to keep an open mind as to the possible causes. Sometimes there is a physical or hormonal issue that can be corrected, but often it's as simple as the odds (annoyingly) not being in our favor 

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/CrazyBusCrazyBus]

I needed to hear this, thank you

[u/rsc99]

Gently, if it took a year to get pregnant with your first, it doesnt seem completely surprising that it would take six months for a third. It’s a roll of the dice each time, unfortunately! Infertility is a relatively rare complication of a very common surgical procedure. If youre concerned I would find a RE and ask for a saline sonogram!

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/rsc99]

You're right, it's just so frustrating to face the reality of trying and failing to get pregnant. I naively got my hopes up with how easily we got pregnant the second time that we would get lucky again🤦🏻‍♀️

[u/GameShowFanatic]

Hi! Fellow multiple c section mom here. Struggles are real. Did you get testing done , like ultrasounds, or just assume scarring is the issue?

I had similar thoughts for me, was convinced i had an isthomocele preventing pregnancy from occurring. First two came so easy i couldn’t understand why number 3 was such a struggle. Baby 1 was conceived on Month 2 of trying, baby 2 was month 1 of “stopped preventing.” Also a 17 month age gap.

If you’re over 35 and hit 6 months trying you can get seen for secondary infertility. I recommend going in so at least you can try to narrow down the problem. Idk if I’m allowed to say but it took me 11 months to conceive number 3, including going through two chemicals. Didn’t do any ultrasound testing, but did Femara for 3 cycles. Hopefully there is no problem for you, and it’s coming shortly. I understand the feeling of being so upset and then feeling like you can’t get upset bc you have two beautiful children you’re so blessed but it’s like we’re not done i need one more!

Good luck and i hope everything works out for you shortly.

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/GameShowFanatic]

Congratulations on baby #3 and thank you for your comment! I haven't gotten testing done yet since we just moved overseas to a country with a very different healthcare system than the US so I'm not really sure how to go about it yet. Hoping to figure it out soon🙏🏻

[u/CreativeJudgment3529]

I think the issue is that a doctor can’t educate you on something they don’t actually know themselves

[u/Fine-Psychology6894]

I’ve had 4 c sections. It’s something I worry about too as I TTC baby 5.

Did you get a HSG and a saline ultrasound of your uterus? They would be able to look at your scar and your lining to see if implantation is possible

I think also each person regarding a c section is so different. My mom had 6 c sections in the 80s and 90s. My grandma had 5 in the 50s and 60s. My friends mom had 8 c sections starting in her 20s and ending in her 40s. I say this that to share that from my experience I’ve seen it possible to conceive multiple pregnancies

But it is VERY frustrating doing all of this after a c section. There’s so much more to be scared of.

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/Fine-Psychology6894]

Wow I thought women couldn't have more than 3 or 4 C-sections, that amazing that you know so many women who have had so many successful pregnancies and C-sections! I guess my C-sections are just the easiest thing to blame our fertility struggles on this time around but to be honest my body has been so out of whack since I stopped breastfeeding around 10 months PP that there could probably be other things hormonally going on too. It's just hard to think that if my cycles are regular and I'm confirming ovulation with OPKs and BBT that there could be something else other than my C-section scars. But women's bodies are so complex I guess you never know until you get a work-up done🫠

[u/Fine-Psychology6894 → u/PsychologicalArt9475]

Yeah I think it could be a lot of different things.

My fertility doctor, really isn’t sure if she wants to help me get pregnant because she’s scared of the risk but my OB said I’m good to go for 1 more.

I would ask for a saline HSG to rule out any internal issues

[u/BexclamationPoint]

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[u/AstronautNo5595]

I hear you. Simply can’t believe women don’t get more information about this major abdominal surgery.

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/AstronautNo5595]

Like it's so "routine" that it's almost just completely overlooked as being a MAJOR surgery. I guess I'm guilty of that too thinking women have C-sections all the time so it's really not that big of a deal when the reality is it IS a big deal.

[u/AstronautNo5595 → u/PsychologicalArt9475]

Totally.

[u/LBJJ2324]

Feel like I could have written this myself! I got pregnant first month trying with both of my kids it’s now 10 months and nothing, it’s heartbreaking. I can feel the scar tissue, Drs are saying it’s there but it shouldn’t stop pregnancy, I just feel something is wrong my cycles are off and I just don’t feel fertile. All my tests have come back great and about to start letrezole but yeh feeling just sad

[u/Visual-Ad-2676]

I’m sorry you feel all of this anxiety, but there was nothing you could control in this situation. First C section you had due to medical reasons that you couldn’t predict, and second time you got pregnant on the first time! Which is really rare, I mean very few people get pregnant on the first time , who would expect that?! So in both cases c section could not be avoided. In very rare instances c sections cause fertility issues, so please don’t jump to this conclusion. Getting pregnant is all about chances, and it’s normal to try for a year. For your peace of mind you can get checked by OB or take ovulation tests. All the best!

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/Visual-Ad-2676]

Thank you that makes me feel better🫶🏻

[u/Informal-Basket2397]

Because OBs are surgeons at the end of the day. They’d rather deal with the known of surgery than the unpredictability (and liability) of VBAC. I heard someone say this about the system in England, and I think it applies to the US too (though not sure where you’re based) “the health care system [related to birth] is liability based, not evidence based.” Ask me why I’m so jaded 🤪 the VBAC Link is a great resource for anyone looking to educate themselves about it

They never seem to mention risks about RCS but are happy to fear monger about VBAC, even though ACOG supports VBAC. My midwife team this pregnancy is much better

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/Informal-Basket2397]

That's so crazy to think about! They would rather push for a major abdominal surgery than to push for women to do what our bodies were naturally made to do.

[u/Informal-Basket2397 → u/PsychologicalArt9475]

Indeed. It sounds like you’re trying for your third, there are plenty of women in my VBAC groups who have had successful VBA2C if you can find a supportive provider. Good luck 💛

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/Informal-Basket2397]

Thank you! I do really want to try for a VBAC for baby #3 but have been so discouraged in my research that it's harder after multiple C-sections and hard to find an OB willing to try a TOLA2C.

[u/Informal-Basket2397 → u/PsychologicalArt9475]

Do you have access to any midwife groups near you? I switched from an OB 5 minutes down the road to a very VBAC friendly midwife group an hour away (they’re still part of a big university hospital system). In my experience and from what I’ve read, midwives are usually more supportive of physiological birth practices like VBAC (even after multiple c sections)