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.
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's also no set rule when it comes to the number of C-sections you can have. "I have performed a woman's sixth C-section with virtually no complications or difficulties, and I have performed second cesarean sections with many adhesions and potential complications," says Jason S.
For years, women who'd had a C-section were encouraged to skip vaginal deliveries altogether and schedule C-sections for all future births. But now, a vaginal birth after cesarean (or VBAC) is considered a safe option for many women and their babies.
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.
Slow recovery ability: Due to having had 2 previous births by cesarean section, in this 3rd time, the mother's body is much weaker, the ability to recover is slow, and her ability to endure a lot of pain is also worse.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.
“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.”
There's usually no limit to the number of caesarean sections that you can have. But the more you have, the longer each operation will take, and the higher your risk of complications becomes (Biler et al 2017, RCOG 2016).
However, it's not for everyone. For example, the more C-sections you have, the more likely you are to have a uterine rupture. With each C-section, there's a higher chance of scar tissue buildup, heavy bleeding, and problems with the placenta.
In the United States in 2021, the rate of primary cesarean deliveries was 22.3 per 100 live births to women who have not had a previous cesarean delivery, or of all live births.
The overall cesarean delivery rate in the United States increased 60% from 1996 to 2009, from 20.7% to 32.9% (1). From 2009 to 2019, the cesarean delivery rate generally declined, reaching 31.7% in 2019 (2) before increasing in 2020 (31.8%) and 2021 (32.1%) (3).
Getting pregnant after a c-section
It's important to give your body time to recover before you start trying to get pregnant again. You will need to wait at least 6 months but your doctor or midwife may advise you to wait for 12–18 months. The longer you leave your scar to heal, the stronger it will be.
Women can reproduce for about half of their lifetime and can only give birth about once every year or so. So it makes sense that women can only have a fraction as many children as men. One study estimated a woman can have around 15 pregnancies in a lifetime.
Women who give birth via C-section have an increased risk of issues with subsequent pregnancies, including the risk of the incision scar tearing open during a later pregnancy or labor (uterine rupture), placenta previa (the growth of the placenta low in the uterus, blocking the cervix), placenta accreta, placenta ...
Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching. Four of the five remaining layers are stitched with a single layer of stitching, but one layer is not restitched as it heals better – with no buckling and reduced chance of scar tissue developing, without restitiching.
If you've already had a cesarean birth (also called c-section), you may be able to have your next baby vaginally. This is called a vaginal birth after cesarean (also called VBAC). Cesarean birth is surgery in which your baby is born through a cut that your health care provider makes in your belly and uterus.
A woman who had planned to deliver her baby naturally was heartbroken when an emergency cesarean section left her newborn needing 13 stitches on her face. Reazjhana Williams went to Denver Health in Colorado last week to deliver her baby, Kyanni Williams, and told WGNTV she was given a pill to speed up her labor.
Getting up and walking around once you are home will help you heal faster and can help prevent blood clots. You should be able to do most of your regular activities in 4 to 8 weeks.
Even though labor and vaginal birth can be hard work, they are generally easier on a woman's body than a cesarean. Recovery after vaginal birth is usually shorter and less painful than after a C-section, and allows the woman to spend more time with her baby.