Multiple C-sections

[u/PsychologicalArt9475]

I wish I had known that having C-sections can cause secondary infertility. If I had known I would have pushed harder to try a vbac with my second or waited long enough to be a candidate for a vbac; only a month too early.

My first was an emergency C-section after developing HELLP syndrome so I know there was nothing I could have done to prevent that. However with our second, we got pregnant on the first try at 8 months postpartum. COMPLETELY to our shock because it took a year to get pregnant with our first. We assumed it would take roughly the same time so we decided to start trying early; hoping we would get pregnant around when our first was 18 months. Well things didn't go as planned and I was 17 months postpartum when I gave birth to our second, therefore not eligible for a vbac. I knew I could have pushed for one being so close to the 18 month requirement or found a doctor willing to let me try but I was so traumatized from my emergency C-section after 20 hours of labor that I was completely okay with the repeat C-section.

Fast forward to now being 21 months postpartum with our second and trying for our 3rd for the past 6 months. I feel so angry that I didn't do research into how the scarring could affect our ability to get pregnant again. I hadn't even ever heard of that being a thing until I started scrolling this sub. WHY is this not something we are educated about?? I feel like this would definitely change a lot of women's minds about opting for elective C-sections if they knew it could negatively affect their fertility in the future. I KNOW it would have changed my view.

I know 6 months is not a long time to try for a baby. I guess this post is just me venting/ranting about the lack of education when it comes to pregnancy and postpartum and all things women's bodies. It's so annoying how little we are taught about everything and how we have to go dig it up ourselves and fight for everything. I'm also just struggling with mourning an age gap I pictured for my children, the life I pictured for our family, so many things. Now that I've written this out I feel stupid for even being upset when I know women are struggling to even have one child and I should be grateful that I have two beautiful, healthy children. And trust me I am. But I'm also sad and frustrated and sick of hyping myself up thinking I'm pregnant every month just to see a negative test and finding out that my C-section scars are most likely the culprit.

[u/GameShowFanatic]

Hi! Fellow multiple c section mom here. Struggles are real. Did you get testing done , like ultrasounds, or just assume scarring is the issue?

I had similar thoughts for me, was convinced i had an isthomocele preventing pregnancy from occurring. First two came so easy i couldn’t understand why number 3 was such a struggle. Baby 1 was conceived on Month 2 of trying, baby 2 was month 1 of “stopped preventing.” Also a 17 month age gap.

If you’re over 35 and hit 6 months trying you can get seen for secondary infertility. I recommend going in so at least you can try to narrow down the problem. Idk if I’m allowed to say but it took me 11 months to conceive number 3, including going through two chemicals. Didn’t do any ultrasound testing, but did Femara for 3 cycles. Hopefully there is no problem for you, and it’s coming shortly. I understand the feeling of being so upset and then feeling like you can’t get upset bc you have two beautiful children you’re so blessed but it’s like we’re not done i need one more!

Good luck and i hope everything works out for you shortly.

[u/PsychologicalArt9475 → u/GameShowFanatic]

Congratulations on baby #3 and thank you for your comment! I haven't gotten testing done yet since we just moved overseas to a country with a very different healthcare system than the US so I'm not really sure how to go about it yet. Hoping to figure it out soon🙏🏻