The Maximum Number Of Caesarean Sections You Can Have

Have you had a cesarean section before, or do you even know someone that’s had CS in the past? Do you know that there’s no specific number of caesarean sections that you can have? Now, there is no maximum to the number of sections you can have. That’s the topic we are going to be discussing today, so why do we say that you should not have more than a few numbers of it?

What is cesarean section? As we all know, cesarean section is a common procedure that is performed on pregnant women, and the aim is actually to deliver the baby whenever it cannot be delivered through the vagina. As I’ve said, there is no maximum number of cesarean sections you can have, but the truth of the matter is, the more cesarean sections a patient has undergone, the higher the risk that this patient is exposed to.

In some environments, patients have had up to like 11 cesarean sections, even 10 or 12. I have some senior colleagues who have performed up to 10 cesarean sections on a particular patient before. But in our environment, you hardly see people go beyond the 5th cesarean section. 

By the time a patient is going for the 3rd or 4th cesarean section, that patient is already at high risk in our environment. Why? Our environment is peculiar, and sometimes it’s challenging to access certain resources like blood transfusions.

 Sometimes, patients may not even find donors for blood transfusions.

So, in essence, getting blood in our environment is not that easy. Because of these reasons, we advise that in our environment, there should be a limit to the number of cesarean sections one should have. But still, nobody can categorically say, “Don’t have more than four,” or, “Don’t have more than five.” We can only advise that by the time you are having the fourth cesarean section, you have to be very sure that you have not written a letter to death. Apart from bleeding, complications from repeat cesarean sections can occur, and getting blood is not always a simple solution.

In some environments, the more cesarean sections you have, the higher the risk of complications. Apart from the issue of blood transfusion, there’s a condition called severe adhesion. After multiple cesarean sections, getting to the baby may be very difficult, as many fibrotic changes may have occurred.

Additionally, conditions like placenta previa, where the placenta covers the cervix, become more common with an increased number of cesarean sections. 

These complications can result in excessive blood loss and life-threatening situations. Sometimes, the uterus can even rupture, leading to uterine rupture, even when the woman is not in labor.

This is why obstetricians may recommend limiting cesarean sections to about three or four. There isn’t a specific number, but due to the complications associated with repeat cesarean sections, it’s advisable to limit them. If you or someone you know has had a cesarean section in the past, it’s advisable to limit the number of cesarean sections to just about three, with a maximum of four.

In conclusion, I’m Dr. Adeniran, your consultant obstetrician and gynecologist. Kindly like, share, and subscribe to my channel. Your support allows us to reach more people and help them learn about their health. Thank you for joining me.