Pregnancy is undoubtedly a wonderful time in the life of every woman, but it does not always go well. According to medical statistics, every year more and more girls cannot give birth on their own, so they need surgical help. Particularly difficult is the third cesarean section after 2 cesarean sections.
With it, a great risk to the health of the future mother and her baby is created, and the likelihood of developing various serious complications, among which there is even internal uterine bleeding and death, is also increased. However, this does not stop women, and they refuse to have an abortion, preferring to give birth again. Let's see how dangerous this is and what the consequences of such a decision can be.
Possible complications of the operation
This aspect is worth exploring in the first place. After cesarean, not only do scars remain on the woman’s reproductive organ, but many structural changes occur that can be asymptomatic for a long time. In place of the seams, scars are formed, which are seals of the connective tissue. Unlike muscles, they are not elastic and do not stretch. As a result of this, during the third pregnancy, the uterus does not increase in size as the fetus grows, which negatively affects its development. But this is far from all that the third cesarean section is dangerous. It can lead to the following:
- impaired functioning of the internal organs of the pelvis;
- anemia;
- incomplete patency of the fallopian tube;
- damage to the walls of the intestine;
- endometriosis;
- improper fixation of the embryonic organ;
- delay or stop the development of the embryo;
- fetoplacental insufficiency;
- baby oxygen starvation;
- bleeding
- intestinal hypotension;
- acute blockage of blood vessels;
- slow contraction of the uterus;
- sepsis;
- the development of purulent infections;
- insolvency scar.
If a woman is planning a third cesarean section, the third pregnancy is also dangerous because it creates a great threat of uterine rupture, this can lead to the death of the patient. With a similar problem, the chances of saving the baby are practically zero, so the doctors try by all possible means to save the mother’s life. But even despite the high level of development of modern medicine, this is far from always possible.
Contraindications for surgery
This aspect should be given special significance. The third cesarean section after 2 cesarean is a very risky step, so doctors go to it only for lack of another way. Before the procedure, patients should undergo a full examination for the presence of any serious pathologies. These include:
- cancerous tumors;
- autoimmune and chronic diseases;
- pathologies of infectious etiology, proceeding in acute form.
If any of the above problems is present, surgery to remove the child is strictly prohibited. In addition, doctors take into account the health status of women. The thing is that the uterus after caesarean section becomes less elastic, so it may not be able to stretch to the right size. As a result of this, the fetus stops developing and it has various serious pathologies. Therefore, throughout the pregnancy, the expectant mother will have to constantly visit the doctor.
Dates
Doctors determine the time of surgery individually for each patient. This takes into account not only the clinical picture of the patient, but also the features of the previous operation. How long is the third caesarean section most safe? If the first procedure was carried out at 38–39 weeks of gestation, then the next procedure is prescribed 10–14 days earlier. As a rule, doctors prefer not to delay too much, since any delay increases the risk of serious complications. The issue of reducing the term may arise if the following problems exist:
- complete closure of the internal pharynx by the placenta;
- pelvic presentation of the fetus;
- suspicion of a seam divergence;
- uterine bleeding;
- worsening condition of a woman;
- multiple pregnancy;
- diagnosis of HIV or dangerous infectious diseases;
- the appearance of a threat to the health and life of the woman in childbirth.
In the vast majority of cases, if they do the third cesarean, the third child is born premature and weak, but he still has vitality. Therefore, after the operation, it is placed in a special incubator, in which it will remain until it reaches the desired body weight.
Examination before surgery
Let's dwell on this in more detail. In order for the cesarean section to go well, a woman should regularly visit the hospital for an ultrasound scan. With its help, the attending physician can assess the condition of the uterine scar and the growth of the genital organ. In the second trimester, bearing a fetus, examination is recommended at least twice a month. As the birth is approaching, an ultrasound scan must be done every 10 days. But here it all depends on many factors. Doctors when observing expectant mothers take into account the following nuances:
- clinical picture of the patient;
- age;
- uterus fixation site;
- features of the course of pregnancy;
- the presence of concomitant diseases.
If a girl has any health problems, then the risks increase. Therefore, doctors are much more likely to prescribe appointments for pregnant women, in order to prescribe timely treatment if necessary and increase the chances of a successful delivery.
Features of the operation
So what do you need to know about this? If the expectant mother needs a third cesarean, reviews of qualified specialists will be given at the end of the article, then she will be placed in stationary care a few weeks before the expected date. The following events are assigned:
- comprehensive examination;
- colon cleansing.
If you have any health problems or threats to life, emergency hospitalization is carried out, and the timing of the operation is postponed. The uterus after cesarean section is already damaged and has scars, so as not to injure it even more, surgeons make an incision in the same place as last time. Particular attention is paid to blood coagulability, since the reproductive organ contracts worse, creating a threat of internal bleeding.
Anesthesia is selected taking into account the patient's state of health and the presence of concomitant diseases. The safest is considered spinal-epidural anesthesia, so it is most often prescribed. After the operation, the woman should stay in intensive care until her health and state of health are normalized. As a rule, this takes several days, but each case is individual.
When can I have a baby after the previous cop
It must be remembered that any operation does not go away without certain health consequences. This is especially true for cesarean section. Therefore, if you plan to have another child, you need to take this very seriously. Doctors recommend that women do not take such desperate steps, assuring that it is better to do sterilization altogether. However, the fair sex does not cease to be interested in the question of when it is possible to become pregnant after the second cesarean.
In order for the body to fully recover after surgery, it takes at least two and a half years. Therefore, it is not recommended to have a baby earlier in the same way as after 6 years from the moment of cesarean. These terms are set by doctors for a reason. It takes about 27–28 months to form a scar. If pregnancy occurs earlier, there is a risk of seam divergence. Rupture of the uterus can result not only in the death of the fetus, but also in the death of the mother.
If you have had 2 cesarean, the third birth can be very difficult. The likelihood of developing various serious complications is also high. To reduce risks, you should follow these precautions throughout your pregnancy:
- Have sex, always using reliable contraceptives.
- Periodically check up at the hospital to make sure the seams are intact.
- Check with your doctor for future pregnancy and get treatment if necessary.
If you seriously approach the issue and adhere to all the recommendations of qualified specialists, then the chances of successfully making and giving birth to a baby are pretty high.
What to look for
If you have a third cesarean section after 2 cesarean, then you should regularly visit a doctor and do an ultrasound. Before planning a pregnancy, it is very important to make sure that the sutures are tightened and a scar has formed in their place. You will also need to be under the constant supervision of a doctor throughout the entire period of gestation. The following symptoms are cause for concern:
- a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdominal region;
- cramping and pain;
- dizziness;
- unpredictable jumps in blood pressure;
- vaginal discharge mixed with blood.
All these symptoms can indicate a divergence of the seam, which poses a great threat to the health and life of a woman. Therefore, with their manifestation, you must immediately contact the clinic.
Preparation for surgery
Let's dwell on this in more detail. According to the doctors, the third cesarean after two should begin with planning. It is very important even before surgery to calculate all the possible risks and take measures to minimize them. Categorically prohibited:
- abortions
- curettage;
- uterine surgery.
After the completion of the rehabilitation period, it is necessary to be examined by a gynecologist. He will direct you to ultrasound, hysteroscopy and contrast hysterography. Based on the test results, the doctor will compile a clinical picture of the patient’s health status and decide what to do next.
How long does recovery after surgery take?
As has been repeatedly noted previously, the third cesarean section after 2 cesarean sections is a very serious operation involving many risks. Therefore, it is difficult to say how long rehabilitation will take. It all depends on the woman’s age, how successfully the intervention last time went, what diseases she has, and much more.
Doctors release patients home after a few days, provided that they feel good, and there is no intrauterine bleeding and infection. But in order for a dense scar to form at the seam site, it takes several years. However, there are no specific tips or methods that would speed up the recovery process. It all depends solely on the characteristics of the body and the state of human health. The only thing that depends only on you is compliance with all the doctor’s prescriptions and regular examinations.
Doctors' opinion on the third cesarean section
Reviews about the third cesarean section among doctors are mixed. However, all doctors are more attentive to women who have undergone surgical intervention several times during childbirth. This is primarily due to the high risks and dangers of the operation.
The uterus belongs to the group of internal organs, poorly tolerating any mechanical impact. With the bearing of the fetus, its size increases 500 times. Scars formed at the site of sutures reduce the elasticity of soft tissues, which is fraught with certain consequences. No doctor, no matter how experienced and qualified he can be, can guarantee that throughout the entire period of pregnancy the genital organ does not burst. The gap in most cases ends in death, and it is not possible to save a person. Therefore, it is not surprising that doctors are very reluctant to take on problem patients, because they do not want to take on additional responsibility.
To reduce the risk of ruptures and possible complications before the onset of labor, women need to avoid additional physical exertion: do not lift weights, abandon sports training. Even intimacy may be undesirable if the doctor determines any abnormalities in the structure of the scar.
Conclusion
Expectant mothers must take their health very seriously and protect themselves as much as possible from all the negative. This is especially true of women in childbirth, who have a second or third cesarean section. To reduce the likelihood of complications, it is necessary to exclude or at least reduce physical activity, try not to freeze and constantly undergo a routine examination by a gynecologist. In this case, even after repeated cesarean chances of a normal birth are quite high. Take care of yourself and your unborn child.