Is A Repeat C-Section Easier The Second Time Around?

If you've previously had a C-section birth you may be wondering, "is a repeat C-section is easier the second time around." Despite that fact that vaginal birth after cesarean, or VBAC, is possible and growing in popularity among doctors and pregnant women, many choose to go the C-section route for a multitude of reasons. Chief among them being familiarity and safety. But is it really an easier option?

Despite the heated controversy of VBAC versus repeated C-section, studies are showing that a repeated C-section may be safer for both the mother and the baby, according to Fox News. The biggest fear most women face when deciding between a VBAC or repeat C-section is the risk of uterine rupture during a VBAC. However, according to the American Pregnancy Association, the risk is less than one percent, so it shouldn't be a deciding factor. Ultimately, the choice is up to the pregnant woman and her doctor, but for many women, knowing what to expect, since they've been through the C-section process once before, makes the fear of delivery less daunting.

If you've already decided to go the repeated C-section route, your recovery should be similar to the first time around. The risks, however, do increase slightly with each C-section. According to Mayo Clinic, your risk of bladder infection and bleeding goes up slightly with each C-section. Additionally, experts haven't yet determined how many C-sections is safe for a woman.

Aside from the recovery, which takes up to a few weeks after the procedure, you'll have another child at home to care for, meaning you'll have less time to relax and focus on recovery like with your first C-section. To help with the daily tasks, many moms enlist the help of their partner or friends to make their recovery a bit easier.

Although there are risks and benefits to repeated C-section, ultimately it's a choice each woman must make for herself and her child, along with the help of her OB-GYN. Childbirth, no matter the method, is never a piece of cake, but equipped with the knowledge of what to expect and a few extra hands to help out, a repeated C-section will give you exactly the same outcome: a beautiful, healthy baby.