“So, every patient is different and every case is unique. However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Each repeat C-section is generally more complicated than the last. However, research hasn't established the exact number of repeat C-sections considered safe. Women who have multiple repeat cesarean deliveries are at increased risk of: Problems with the placenta.
“There are some people who have had six or seven C-sections without any issues, and others with only one C-section whose next pregnancy is associated with a very difficult problem such as placenta accreta spectrum disorder, or a horrible adhesions (things stuck together),” he says.
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections you can have. But the more caesareans you have, the longer each operation will take and the higher your risk of serious complications becomes. You will have scar tissue where your wounds have healed after each operation.
Getting Pregnant After C-Sections
The good news: If you've had multiple C-sections you're just as likely to conceive as women who gave birth vaginally. Doctors recommend you wait at least six weeks after a C-section before having sex and generally encourage using birth control until six to 18 months postpartum.
However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Your History of VBAC or C-Section
However, most medical societies don't recommend VBAC for those who've had two or more C-sections. That's because the risk of uterine rupture—a tearing in a past C-section scar or uterine muscles that can be life-threatening to the parent or baby—rises with each surgery.
Women who've given birth by caesarean section (C-section) usually have the option to deliver their next baby vaginally. But if your doctor thinks there are health concerns or risks with a VBAC, they may recommend an elective caesarean.
Background: Trial of vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) is considered acceptable after one caesarean section (CS), however, women wishing to have trial after two CS are generally not allowed or counselled appropriately of efficacy and complications.
In general, you should wait at least 6 months before getting pregnant again after a C-section. That's the bare minimum needed; some experts suggest it's better to wait 12 to 15 months, while others say 18 to 24 months.
Kristina House (USA) has given birth to 11 children (six girls and five boys) all by Caesarean section between 15 May 1979 and 20 November 1998.
Conclusion: The higher order (5-9) repeat caesarean sections carry no specific additional risk for the mother or the baby when compared with the lower order (3 or 4) repeat caesarean sections.
While C-sections can be life-saving, the procedures carry risks like infection, excessive bleeding, damage to reproductive organs and blood clots.
Each time a C-section is done, the risk of having a complication increases, such as the risk of injury to the bladder and intestines. Plus, there is always scarring that occurs with surgery, which can make having it a second, third, or fourth time a lot trickier.
In some situations, a C-section is not only preferable but mandatory—situations involving conditions like placenta previa, in which going into labor would precipitate life-threatening hemorrhaging, or cord prolapse, which can cause the death of a baby if a C-section is not performed in a manner of minutes.
Giving birth to your baby vaginally after several caesareans (VBAC) is possible. If you've had a vaginal delivery before, particularly a VBAC, your chance of having a successful vaginal birth is very good. A previous VBAC means that your chances of success may be as high as 85 per cent to 90 per cent.
Many health care providers won't offer VBAC if you've had more than two prior C-sections. When did you last give birth? The risk of uterine rupture is higher if you attempt VBAC less than 18 months after your previous delivery.
There is a very high risk that your scar could rupture (burst open or tear) when you try to have a vaginal birth, which could cause great harm to you and your baby. You'll need to have a C-section again.
Types of C-section incisions
The first is through the skin of your lower abdomen, about an inch or two above your pubic hair line. The second is into the uterus, which is where the doctor will reach in to deliver your baby. The type of cut on your abdomen may not be the same as the one on your uterus.
A little-known complication of caesarean sections is causing infertility in a small minority of women worldwide. Experts say the evidence is now strong enough that women should be routinely warned of the risk if they have the procedure, or are considering it.
In 2020, 37% of all women giving birth in Australia had a caesarean section (AIHW 2022). The increasing rates of caesarean sections may be influenced by several maternal and clinical factors and medico legal concerns, however, the reasons for the steep rise remain unexplained.
A new study shows that a C-section can lead to complications should you find yourself back on the operation table later in life. Surgical complications cover a range of things that can go wrong during an operation. For example, damage to organs, infection, the need to re-operate, or bleeding during the operation.
Answering the question of whether the second cesarean section is more painful, the answer is: Usually no more pain depending on the condition of the old incision with little or no adhesion, and the surgical technique, and pain relief of the doctors.
Compared with primary cesarean delivery, repeat cesarean delivery could be associated with additional risks. Uterine rupture is one of the most catastrophic complications of pregnancy and can also present as an asymptomatic scar dehiscence.