"You can survive this. Talk to others that have"

krazy8516 posted 9/14/2013 12:37 PM

I had an emergency C-section 2 years ago to deliver my daughter. I know that I would like to have another baby someday (preferably 2 more), but I was reading something this week that bothered me. I found a statistic that said 1 in 3 women who have a C-section for at least one of their births experience difficulty getting pregnant again. It usually has something to do with the scar tissue making the uterus un-inhabitable for a fetus. I also read that it can be overcome without surgery or medication using something called the Wurn technique (fancy massage for your abdomen).

I don't even know if this is something that will affect me, but now that I've read it I can't get it out of my head. With everything I've been through lately, I don't think I could handle infertility also.

Anybody deal with this and is willing to discuss it? You can send me a PM if you'd rather not make your story public.

Mandilwen posted 9/14/2013 16:46 PM

That statistic sounds a little far out there to me. I never had a c-section, but two of my friends that had emergency ones in their first pregnancy are about to deliver their second baby. My aunt had c-sections for both her children. With the rate of elective c-sections nowadays, I wouldn't buy into the 1out of 3 stat.

I can follow the logic about the uterus and scarring and such, but if those were the real odds, elective ones wouldn't be so "normal" you know?

ETA: I know it's hard, because my former self did it a lot, but try not to borrow worry! You can figure out a way to cross that bridge when you come to it.

[This message edited by Mandilwen at 4:50 PM, September 14th (Saturday)]

Aubrie posted 9/14/2013 17:06 PM

My husband's aunt had 4 children, all via C-section. Never had a fertility issue with any of them. There's about 2-3 years between each child.

My sister had her son via C-section. She's had 2 more pregnancies since then. Sadly she miscarried both. (There are infertility issues on both sides of our family.) Her doctor's only advice after the birth of my nephew was to wait a year before TTC so her body can heal and adjust. (But that's kind of standard advice for anyone.)

I know it's hard, because my former self did it a lot, but try not to borrow worry! You can figure out a way to cross that bridge when you come to it.

I agree. I had many girly problems as a teenager and it was this unspoken fear with me and my parents that when the time finally came, I would be fighting an infertility battle just like several of my aunts and uncles. Turns out, wasn't the case at all. We joke that my husband just looks at me and I get pregnant.

Try not to worry krazy8516.

LovesLaboursLost posted 9/14/2013 20:25 PM

I had infertility issues with first baby (finally conceived via IVF) and delivered by C-section. Got pregnant by accident 2 years later. Still scratching my head.
I understand the worry you're having...try not to buy trouble though. I don't think it'll be an issue. ((krazy))

misskirby posted 9/14/2013 21:09 PM

I had my first baby via C-section, and then did actually experience infertility. Mine wasn't related to the C-section though. But we tried for a lot of years to have another baby, and eventually were informed that we'd need to do IVF. We did, and now have a beautiful little girl.

If you do happen to experience infertility (though I agree that the 1/3 seems rather high, I hadn't heard that), there are many, many resources and support groups out there. It is not fun, or easy, but IF it happens, then you can deal with it. I'd say until you know one way or another, worrying about it won't help. And yes, I know being told that doesn't make the worry go away!

Jrazz posted 9/14/2013 21:17 PM

I've not been through that, but I DO read things in magazines and on the internet that make me mortally scared.

I have to do positive self-talk to shake it, but it works.

"Just because it happened to someone doesn't mean it's going to happen to me/DD/someone I love"

Lots of crazy things may befall us in our lives, but we can't sit and what-if our lives away. I am great at handing out this advice and TERRIBLE at taking it. (I just looked up toddler symptoms for autism because DD3 wasn't making eye contact at dinner. Anyone who's met her will tell you I'm ridic for doing that)

Big hugs to you. You are likely going to get pregnant again when you want to, and you are likely going to have a healthy pregnancy.

(((k8516)))

[This message edited by Jrazz at 9:18 PM, September 14th (Saturday)]

purplejacket4 posted 9/14/2013 22:35 PM

Yeah, that's not true. Believe me if it was it would be on CNN and USA today. AND OB docs would be trying to lower their section rates.

Dr. PJ4

krazy8516 posted 9/15/2013 15:38 PM

Thanks everyone for you feedback (and for attempting to make me feel better).

I will try not to worry about it until if/ when I am faced with it. I guess just lately I am feeling like the whole world is against me, and it wouldn't surprise me if my uterus was too.

Lalagirl posted 9/16/2013 15:11 PM

That statistic sounds a little far out there to me.

I was thinking the same thing. Did you fall upon this statistic from a Wurn technique ad? If so...there ya go.

There is always a slight risk with subsequent post C-section pregnancies. I had infertility issues with #1, my C-section baby, then got pregnant with #2 two and 1/2 years later and birthed her vaginally (VBAC)...no issues whatsoever.

JanaGreen posted 9/16/2013 15:48 PM

I worry a lot about secondary infertility (for no real reason) and this is exactly what I was going to say:

try not to buy trouble though

That's what I tell myself when I start freaking out. If you do have trouble conceiving when the time comes, you can look into options. Until then, it does you no good to stress out. ((HUGS))

krazy8516 posted 9/16/2013 16:42 PM

Did you fall upon this statistic from a Wurn technique ad?

Actually, initially I did not. And I read it again on a different site after I started doing some research. I believe the accurate statistic was "1 in 3 women who've had a C-section do not conceive another child." But out of that 1/3, 60% of those women choose not to have another baby.

I'll have to see if I can find a link.

I'm trying to relax, per everyone's advise. It does me no good to worry about it before it's a problem. Thanks.

GabyBaby posted 9/16/2013 17:35 PM

I know a number of women (family and friends) who had C-sections. All of them have gone on to have more children and never mentioned that getting pregnant again was a problem.

In fact, one friend in particular has only to get within a 5 foot range of her husband and she seems to get pregnant instantly.

krazy8516 posted 9/16/2013 22:24 PM

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/12/c-sections-cause-infertility-emotional.html

This is where I first read the statistic. It prompted me to do more research, and I saw it at least 2 more times.

Re-reading the article throws me into panic again. Someone needs to disable my Google...

Lalagirl posted 9/17/2013 07:46 AM

Someone needs to disable my Google

I know, right? I guilty of using Dr. Google on occasion too.

tushnurse posted 9/17/2013 07:59 AM

Go with what PJ (our in house Dr).
I have to wholeheartedly agree. OB's are more than happy to do Csections for reasons that are somewhat questionable especially now when it's been proven that VBAC is also very safe except for certain circumstances.

Try not to worry about what the future holds, there are all kinds of ways to make sure you have another baby. I have heard the opposite thing too. That people that had trouble getting pregnant the first time were "Surprised" by the second pregnancy, after having Csections.

sad12008 posted 9/17/2013 08:05 AM

Don't worry, k8516 -- if my anecdotal experience is any indication, you need to watch out, because having a C-section may actually INCREASE your fertility!

It felt like it took forever to conceive DD; however, all it seemed to take was a sly look from my H for me to find myself pregnant again just as I felt like I was getting everything back in control (body, schedule, life...).

Never ever ever research health stuff on the web. One of my favorite cartoons is one of those e-cards (someone posted it here on SI quite a while ago). It shows a guy....Oh, heck, might as well just share the thing here: