3rd C-section: What you need to know

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrics & Gynecology - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital

A cesarean section is a major surgery on the mother's lower abdomen and uterus to remove the baby. The healing process of cesarean scar scars depends on the health of the woman and usually only 3 months after giving birth is completely healed. However, this scar is closely related to the next pregnancy and childbirth. In particular, when giving birth by cesarean section for the third time, the possible risks increase even more.

If the mother wants to have a third cesarean section, she should have a thorough consultation with an obstetrician and pay attention to the pregnancy interval between cesarean births, which should be 3-5 years for the mother's body to recover. completely to be able to complete the pregnancy in the best way.
At this time, the doctor will appoint a cesarean section without waiting for other signs because the mother's body at this time is at risk of unwanted damage if the birth is normal. However, the cesarean section at this time needs to be done very carefully and closely follow all the progress of the body to ensure a safe labor process for both mother and baby.
When determining the fetus is mature - that is, when the fetus is about 38-39 weeks old, the doctors will perform a cesarean section (in case the fetus may experience complications of prematurity such as respiratory failure, membrane disease, etc.). in...); unless there are signs of labor before this point. Note that mothers should go to the doctor earlier at 37.5 weeks pregnant for better monitoring and counseling as well as preparation for the cesarean section.

The more the cesarean section later, the more likely the risks that the mother faces and the more severe. When the 3rd cesarean section, the mother will face the following dangers:
Cracking, rupture of the uterus: This is the most dangerous risk in the 3rd cesarean section. Because in the previous 2 births, on the mother's cervix there was a cesarean section scar. This is where the uterine muscles become weakest, so when the uterus contracts, the cesarean scar is at risk of bursting and cracking, leading to uterine rupture, which is a direct threat to the life of both women. mother and fetus. The risk of cesarean section scarring is higher when the pregnancy interval between the 2nd and 3rd caesarean section is shorter (less than 18 months). Intestinal adhesions: The more times mothers have cesarean sections, the higher the chance of the intestines sticking to the abdominal wall, bladder, and intestines. Placental abnormalities: The cesarean section scar on the uterus increases the likelihood that the mother will experience placental abnormalities such as placenta previa, placenta previa, etc., so it requires direct doctors to practice. Currently, the cesarean section requires skillful management of these abnormalities, especially the placenta, an extremely dangerous complication that can affect the organs around the uterus (bladder, intestines, ...), easily lead to complications of postpartum hemorrhage, hysterectomy. Infection: Not only that, the mother is also at risk of infection of the cesarean section in the uterus, on the abdominal wall, even near the bladder, so the hospital stay and treatment are prolonged. 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. Not only that, during pregnancy and labor, the mother must use more antibiotics, pain relievers will also affect the body's milk production.

The interval between 2 consecutive cesarean sections should be 3-5 years: This period is long enough for the cesarean scar to heal. Limiting the risk of cracking, breaking the incision when the pregnant belly is larger and reducing placental abnormalities.
Choose the time indicated for early cesarean section (about 37 to 38.5 weeks): The 3rd cesarean section should not wait for the water to break, and at the same time should not wait until the due date. Ideally, when the fetus is 37 - 38.5 weeks, the mother should ask the doctor to intervene to appoint an early cesarean section. This will reduce the risk of unfortunate complications that may occur.
Careful periodic antenatal check-up: The 3rd cesarean section is prone to placental complications, so mothers need to have regular and careful antenatal check-ups to detect early and promptly handle abnormalities.
Longer postpartum break: The 3rd cesarean section makes the mother lose more energy than the previous 2 births. So mom needs more time to rest.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of qualified doctors Regular check-up, early detection of abnormalities Maternity package helps to facilitate the process. birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care