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Childbirth

Anyone know anything about natural birth after a laparotomy?

18 replies

Piffle · 09/10/2006 16:11

Briefly
2 natural fast easy births. 94 and 02

then emergency laparotomy due to ruptured ectopic in nov 04.
Am now pregnant due march 07, was asking for homebirth which was initially ok'd by consultant (same one who did the EP srugery as it happens)
Now there is a note on my file to query vaginal birth after laparotomy, let alone homebirth
Help!!! this matters to me a WHOLE lot

OP posts:

Report

elliedragon · 09/10/2006 16:21

I had a ectopic and tupe removed and am now pregnant again. The birthing unit where I am registered to give birth have never queried the operation/ectopic and as it is only midwife led they don't let you give birth if there is any sign of a problem. I am assuming that it isn't a problem. Who has told you about your file?

spook · 09/10/2006 16:22

Hi Piffle. Just bumping this for you.
Haven't got an answer for you I'm afraid but am very interested in responses having just had the same thing.
Hope you get what you want.

Piffle · 09/10/2006 16:29

did you both have the full laparotomy? Mine was very fast and they literally had to cut em open and dash. Was in agony for 5 weeks afterwards.
Have big scar, bigger than c section scar.
Am quite anxious about this...
I have put it up on the ectopic trust site too but no replies all day

OP posts:

elliedragon · 09/10/2006 16:35

I haven't got a large scar, just three incisions, so it sounds as if I had a different procedure to you. If your consultant hasn't said it is a problem, he must be the best person to know about it. I thought that if you had had a previous c section it is possible to have a natural birth. Do you know if that is the case as it must be similar scaring to that? I'm sure it will be ok. When are you due?

spook · 09/10/2006 16:39

Same here Piffle. 3 scars but definately alot of pain afterwards.
Maybe the pressure on the scar would be too much?? But can't really see it being that different to a VBAC

Piffle · 09/10/2006 16:42

i mentioned that and wsa told that how my laparotomy differed from c section is it goes a layer beyond so to speak. I had two scars, one in bely buton one huge one on pubic line
I also had problems afterwards with ovarian adhesions and needed further surgery to put my ovary back in the right place.
Ok so looks like time is on my side then.
I'm tryign to decide if it is reasonable grounds for refusing homebirth or not...
I hoe not

OP posts:

Piffle · 09/10/2006 16:43

due march btw

OP posts:

elliedragon · 09/10/2006 16:50

Same as me. Are you experiencing any pain around the scars for stretching as I wondered if I would, nothing as yet but I haven't expanded much?

I hope you get an answer from the other site, there must be someone in the same position.

cadbury · 09/10/2006 16:57

can I confirm - is a laparotomy the horizontal one or vertical, like a zip?

sugarfLeewhileyoustillcan · 09/10/2006 17:04

Can be either Cadbury,laparotomy just means surgical incision into the abdomen.

When you have a vbac the concern is due to the uterine scar,not the abdominal one that you can see.For a ruptured ectopic they would have been operating on your Fallopian tubes not cutting into your uterus.Hope that helps Piffle?

spook · 09/10/2006 17:06

So basically-having had a section and an ectopic I'm jiggered??

Piffle · 09/10/2006 17:07

yes thats right, mine was horizontal.
The issue they said was with muscle repair?
I am 16 weeks now and no probs, I would expect any muscle repair issues would be evident during the pregnancy so it seems a red herring for using it to dissuadfe from a VB
Hopefull ythus, they are talking through holes in their bottoms

OP posts:

cadbury · 09/10/2006 17:08

thanks

i had an up and down one between dd and ds for a big ovarian cyst removal. had ds (who is on my lap howling like a banshee) 2 years later. had no problems with the scar - all stretched along with the rest of me.

sugarfLeewhileyoustillcan · 09/10/2006 17:10

I suspect they are arse covering,yes.
The risk of uterine rupture is tiny,the risk of your entire abdomen splitting must be miniscule.

Someone with more birthin'babies knowledge will be a long shortly to tell you more than I can I'm sure.

Piffle · 09/10/2006 17:12

Thank you so much for that!
Am not due to see consultant for another 4 weeks - going as I am for an interference free pregnancy.
Will ask up about it then, FWIW my consultant is very hippy like and pro home birth so fingers crossed.

OP posts:

mears · 09/10/2006 17:13

Can't think why your laparotomy scar should be a problem Piffle.

Piffle · 09/10/2006 17:15

even better news, thx mears, hope your hols were lovely!

OP posts:

aaronsmummy · 09/10/2006 17:35

Piffle I had my lap done summer 1997 and gave birth naturally Jan 1999. A complicated birth but nothing to do with the lap, just shoulder dystocia. Don't be pressured into a section - i was with no.3 and am still struggling with it 15 months later.

Flip

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