How Many C-sections Can You Have?

Updated on January 12, 2010
A.G. asks from Ogden, UT
9 answers

I had my first child as a c-section, due to assumptions that the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck (heart beat kept dropping below 60 for a couple of hours). She is almost 17 months and we are trying for baby #2. My mother had a baby in c-section and then the next was a vaginal birth. I know it can be done, but my OB told me that if you have a vaginal birth you put pressure on the baby and if you have a c-section you put pressure on yourself. I would always choose to protect my baby over me. But I missed having a vaginal birth because I didn't get my girl till 1.5 hours after they took her (my husband was with her the whole time, which was good). I prefer having it vaginal but I don't want to put pressure on the baby so I am leaning more towards the c-section. We also want to have 3-4 children and if I do opt to have a c-section does anyone know how many c-sections you can have? Does having a vaginal birth after a c-section happen often or do most not even try to have it vaginally?

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D.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

A.,
I don't have my degree in Ob/Gyn...but I know for sure you can have VBAC after a C-section...and in your case your babies aren't SO close together so you're playing it safe. Maybe your Dr. is being lazy and wants to schedule you :o) Now,if you were to have gotten pg 6-8-10 weeks (early after giving birth, Britney Spears lol) after having your c-section you would most likely have to have another c-section. I'd do more research on that if I were you..unless you have medical conditions that require you to have a c-section, you'll be fine. My friend has had 5 children all c-section..planning to have 2 more. She has to have a c-section b/c her hips/birth canal is too narrow to birth her big babies. Again...I'm only a voice, giving my opinion

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A.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

i have never had a c-section but 5 of my sister-in -laws have out of the five 2 have had v-bac and they were fine. only one other one has had more then one child who hasn't had a V-bac. So i guess 2 out of three have done it and its been fine.i think it depends on your situation but i know its possible and its worth a try. nothing against your ob im sure that whoever it is is great,. however sometimes i think that doctors try to play the "its better for your baby card" when its really easier and more convenient for them to just do a c-section. Again, it depends on your situation but i would research more and at least try it. C-section is major surgery and its harder to recover from and if you want more babies it will be better to have a vaginal birth. i think on the amount of babies you can have depends on how well you heal. some people can have more then others. Anyways, i wish you luck and hope that you can have a V-bac its certainly possible many women have done it. i hope your ob is willing to at least give it a try. just remember its YOUR choice to at least try.

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M.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

well here is a subject i can relate too. i am 31 yrs old and have 5 kids the 1st was a c-section due to breech baby and almost 10 pds, 2nd baby was a v-bac (vaginal birth after c-section)3rd baby was a C-section due to transverse breech 4th was a c-section regular position (5th was a c-section again. i have had 4 C-sections i have had the experience of each birth and i prefer C-sections. by my 4th one i was up and walking around as if nothing happened. they get easier as you have them .(well in my case i am a old pro) my doctor advised me not to have anymore. that 6 was the limit (but since i had a hysterectomy that will not be a problem . if there is anything else i can help you with feel free to ask. i hope this helps you out in some way,.

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L.L.

answers from Dallas on

I had 2 boys by c-section my first son was premature the same thing happened to my son as your first daughter so they rushed me in for an emergency c-section. my second son I picked to also have a c-section because it's the easiest way to go I think plus my doctor said it would be easier on me and the baby if i had another c-section because I already had one. I am on my 3 pregnancy now and I will also go for a c-section there is no limit to how many c-section u can have. Most people I know once they have a c-section stick with it because vaginal is way to hard. I would stick with c-section everything will work out fine I had no problems and the next day or two I was up on my feet ready to go I would never pick anything else so easy.
Thanks L. Dallas Texas

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C.Y.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I was told you can up to four. I just had my second by c-section. Both children were c-section. My dr. told me with my risks it was better. I have had several friends go on to have a VBAC with two or more. I think the decisions should ultimitly be yours. You should be fine delivering vaginally, I couldn't becausemy first one my plancenta ruptered we almost lost her and me. Do what you think is best in your heart, I do wish I could deliver vaginally I think that would be a wonderful experience. I do know with a planned c-section things do run much smoother than an emergancy c-section. If you want to xperience a vaginal delivery than do it.

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R.P.

answers from Salt Lake City on

A.,
I had to have a c-section with my son (after 5 hours of pushing they finaly decided that he was stuck). Right now we are trying for our next one and I know that I would like to try again for a vaginal birth. My mom accually had a c-section for my brother, and VBAC's for both me and my sister, so I know that it is possible! Let me know how it goes!
R.

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L.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Before I had my first by c-section my doctor told me that his sister had 11 c-sections with no trouble afterward. My mom had four, but had to have her tubes tied after the last one because the surgeries weakened her uterus too much to sustain another pregnancy. I'm trying to get pregnant with my second, too, and I'm having a bit of trouble finding a doctor who will even consider letting me try a vaginal birth. Apparantly, there's a slightly higher risk of problems with a VBAC as compared to a normal vaginal birth so many doctors don't want to shoulder that responsibility and risk malpractice suits and higher insurance premiums. It seems to me that if billions of babies across the ages have been born vaginally, it can't be that bad for the baby. There's pressure put on them either way, it's just shorter with a c-section.

Perhaps we can conquer this problem at the same time and share our findings. It seems like we're in the same situation. Here's my email if your interested: ____@____.com luck.

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J.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

As per your question to how many c-sections you can have, I'd suggest consulting your Dr. However my friend had all 6 of her children c-section, she couldn’t deliver vaginally. In my own feelings about pressure on the baby, I have a feeling God knew what he was doing when our bodies were made to deliver vaginally, It may put pressure on the baby, and maybe someday, medical technology will prove that vaginal birth is not worth it and all women will deliver c-section, however, to me, I wouldn’t worry about it, maybe I'm ignorant, but I think any problems we have as the human race was not due to the pressure we felt during birth (lol). I actually think it was one of the most spiritual events of a life time as a woman, along with the pregnancy, nursing and being a mom, so I recommend it if its possible for you.
Best of luck to you and your new (hopefully soon to be) baby.
Either way, I think you'll do fine

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S.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Are you kidding? My first was a c-section and the two after were both vaginal and there is no way I would ever choose to have major surgery over the vaginal birth. You will feel so much better and your recovery time is sooooo much shorter. Remember that you will now have another child at home to care for as well as the newborn and yourself. The pampering goes way down after the first baby and you will be expected to do a lot more the second time around. You will be sacrificing yourself for your children the entire rest of your life, so give yourself a break while you still can.

And remember, your doctor gets paid a LOT more money for a c-section over the vaginal, both by you and by your insurance company, so don't let him/her pressure you into something you don't want to do. You are in charge, not the doctor.

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