Tubes Tied After Vaginal Birth?

Updated on August 29, 2011
E.K. asks from Kalamazoo, MI
15 answers

I am having my 2nd baby in a few months and we dont want any more. I got medicaid for this pregnancy since our insurance coverage is limited so they will pay in full to tie my tubes. Most girls I know had this done after a c-section, I dont know anyone who had it done directly after a v**inal delivery. I am worried about a longer recovery time and about being put under anestesia (spelling?) while I have a newborn I need to be breastfeeding. I had my dd naturally so its likely i wont need a c-section this time. Anyone had a tubal right after a v** delivery? how was your recovery time affected, when did they do it, and what did the procedure involve? What we originally planned was for my husband to have a vasectomy after this child but we would have to pay for that out of pocket, the tubal would be free. TIA

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

REALLY look into the studies that looking into side effects of a tubal before you get one. They can last until menopause. The side effects being looked into include

- Mood changes (irritation to rage, depression, and constant "pms-ing" being the most common. Some others include 'atypical bipolarity' -aka doesn't respond to meds, mood swings, etc.)
- Personality changes (mostly linked to mood changes)
- Loss of sex drive
- Odor issues (v**inal, mostly)
- Weight gain
- Early onset menopause
- and several others

For decades the mostly male medical cannon dismissed these as "stressed out new moms", "women's issues/imagination/just 'part' of being a woman", impossible since the ovaries stayed in place, etc. Well, as more and more women have joined the field around the world... most western countries have started studying the "imaginary" side effects of tubals. To the best of my knowledge, those studies are not complete yet (although some are in the peer review process, easily looked up on any peer review database). Prelim findings are that these effects continue until menopause (part of why these studies got funding in the first place... WHY would x,y,z happen immediately following a tubal and last until the massive hormone shift of menopause UNLESS they get the tubal reversed? IS something going on?, as well as the massive *anecdotal* evidence of these doctors -female AND male- relatives who have had tubals, and female researchers themselves).

Something isn't "free" if it's going to affect you for 20-40 years. TRUE; you can take antidepressants, mood stablizers, hormones, etc. But if you have other options that are AS EFFECTIVE as a tubal (vasectomy, copper IUD), why run the risk?

2 moms found this helpful

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E.A.

answers from Erie on

My doctor wouldn't do mine until 4 weeks postpartum. I had my MIL come and stay with me for 2 days. I went in the morning and was done by noon. I was told that by the time I woke up, the anesthesia had been flushed out of my system and it was safe to breastfeed. I had a sore belly for about 3 days, but that's it. Mostly my MIL helped me with holding the baby and taking care of the other three kids, too. They cut, banded, AND cauterized my tubes, they even showed me the pics when I went in for my check up after the surgery.

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R.M.

answers from Topeka on

I had my tubes tied after my 3rd child...but that was back in 1983 so I am sure things have changed a LOT since then!! I breastfed exclusively and the only issue I remember dealing with was needing a pillow to protect my incision side from baby for a few days. The incision is microscopic...in fact it is right next to my belly button and cannot be seen at all.
Talk with a Breastfeeding advocate about what meds are alright for you to be put under with when you are going to be breastfeeding...I am sure there are things that are perfectly safe.
By the way...mine was done 24 hours after a v**inal delivery and didn't even lengthen my stay in the hosptial.
Congratulations on the new little one!!!

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A.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I had mine tied right after my youngest son was born. He was born at 5 pm on friday and they came to get me for the surgery at 10am saturday. I had a spinal block so wasn't fully put under, they went in through my belly button and I was sore the rest of the day on saturday. Was a little tender on sunday, but went home sunday with no issues aside from the tenderness. Monday I was up and going as usual and was nursing too.

Good luck with it all :) I love having my tubes tied.

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V.C.

answers from Dallas on

I had mine immediately after my second son was born. I had no problems the the things you mentioned. But it did cause some hormonal issues which I cleared up with supplements.

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M.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

I had mine done the day after I had my youngest. At the hospital I was at they don't do general anesthesia right after birth. They did the epidural type, and went thru the belly button. Next to impossible to see the scar and I still went home the following day. Otherwise you had to wait six weeks to do the under general anesthesia. Then you would have a recovery again. Hope this helps.

M.

A.G.

answers from Houston on

check with your medicaid about getting esure....there's no cutting and much less pain, plus i hear its more permanent.

I was considering it but my husband thinks he should get a vasectomy instead, This is the third child i am having and he believes i have sacrificed enough pain.

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M.W.

answers from Detroit on

You will have to pump and dump for 24 hours after anesthia. Thay will make breastfeeding tough. However it is not a tough recovery.

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H.H.

answers from Washington DC on

My sister just had her fourth and final baby in July and she had a tubal afterward. Because her daughter was born "after hours" they did the tubal the following day, which normally they do it right after the baby is born if you're already numb from a epidural or are ready for the operation. She is breastfeeding and they made her "pump and dump" for her feeding right after the procedure because of anesthesia in the breastmilk, but this is something I would ask the lactation consultant about when you go in the hospital, as well as, your doctor to be sure the baby is safe. In addition, my sister has had problems since having the tubal. Two days after being released she was readmitted because she got an infection in one of her fallopian tubes, she was in the hospital for 3 days and because she was the admitted party her daughter couldn't stay with her unless there was an adult with her to take care of her (ie my sister wasn't allowed to be the one taking care of her). She still has some unexplained pain on the side that she had the infection, but doc's can't find what the problem is. Something to think about and I hope that it all goes well. Good Luck!

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

talk to your dr. and explain the insurance issue. be sure to mention the insurance issue. my dr. wouldn't do mine til 6 weeks post.

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S.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Call your hospital and find out how they do their tubals. I had mine done after my c-section, but if I had delivered v**inally then they would have done it the day after I delivered through laproscopic surgery.

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

You will have more complications due to hormone cycles not being as they should be than he would to have a vasectomy. They aren't that expensive plus they are in and out lunch time appt types of procedures - yours will require full anesthesia, a night (at least 1 night) in the hospital.

Most health departments offer free or very lowered cost vasectomies thru private Drs.

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D.H.

answers from Detroit on

At our hospital, we usually will do a tubal the day after delivery. If you have an epidural, they can leave the epidural in (but not running), then dose the epidural for your tubal. We also leave the IV in until afterwards. They will do just a small (maybe 1-2 inches) incision at your belly button. The uterus is higher than women that go in at a later date, so they can reach it from there. Afterwards, you go to recovery, then back to your room. We usually end up give 1 or 2 doses of Demerol (or something similar) then back to just the Tylenol #3 and motrin. You will have more cramping than with your first. You can stay an extra day at the hospital, too.
The staff can watch the baby while you have it done, or your husband can stay in your room and watch. One or two feedings of formula shouldn't interfere with nursing. As your hospital if they have Haberman bottles, or some special feeder for breast feeding babies.
hope that helps some!
D. (OB nurse)

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B.C.

answers from Tampa on

I had my scheduled, but changed my mind the day of my c-section. Whatever decision you will make, will be the best for you. My Aunt, who is a nurse talked me out of it. She told me that due to the surgery, aging of the reproductive system kicks in much quicker ( manapouse and aging)

My friend had it done after with her 3rd c-section, she said it was just bit more of discomfort but no pain. Breastfeding went ok.

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

I had mine done the day after my third child was born in 1988. I had her v**inally and they did the laproscopic right under the belly button. There is now a barely visible scar no wider than my thumb nail. The only pain I remember was after I woke up. They gave me something for it once during the day and one pain shot that night, the only other pain I had was in my right shoulder from the gas they used to pump up my belly for the procedure. I was able to breastfeed the whole time and as far as hormonal changes afterwards, I didn't notice any. If you have any other questions I can answer for you let me know. Congrats on your new arrival and blessings to the rest of your family.

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