This is a post from Jennifer Leibert of The Adventures with the Leiberts
I know, I know. You must think I am crazy. Like most people do when they find out that all 5 of my babies were born via C-Section.
I want to give you hope that even if you have had a C-section, this doesn’t mean you can not have the large family you dreamed of.
I want to first answer the questions I get from others.
Why?
Isn’t that dangerous?
I thought you could only have 2 C-Sections?
The answer to all of these questions is a one word answer “Faith”!
But I will give you more then that.
Why did I have so many C-Sections?
Well I didn’t want to have C-sections, it just kind of happened. When our first child, now 16, decided to come, she was breech. My husband and I were young and uneducated about birth, so we just did what the doctor said. If I knew then what I know now, I would have said no and tried to have a breech natural birth.
So I had my first C-section and was handed a beautiful baby girl. Then after many days of recovery, along with an allergic reaction to the epidural (that was fun), I was all better. I decided that if we were able to have more children I would have a VBAC. I had 3 miscarriages and thought we were never going to have this big family.
I fell pregnant again and this time we made it to full term, Praise the Lord! My doctor and I talked about a VBAC and we agreed to go for it. I went into labor and all things were going okay until I had a weird pain that I had a bad feeling about. I called my doctor and told him there was something wrong. He trusted my judgment when the nurses all thought I was crazy. But I knew God was telling me something was wrong. I am so glad He did because when they took me into the OR for the C-section my doctor opened me up and right then my uterus ruptured. If we would not have listened to my feeling (promptings), my son and I could both be gone. That was my 2nd C-section.
After my 2nd C-section we knew we would have all of our babies this way. My doctor did say that I wouldn’t be able to have a large family – maybe just 1 more baby. Well I proved him wrong. I started seeing a different doctor and she was amazing and has never told me I couldn’t have more children. During each C-section, everyone there has been amazed at how well I have healed. I ask during each surgery, “can I have more?” and they always say “YES!”
Isn’t it dangerous?
When someone asks me this I usually say “I trust God with my life no matter what”. Some people just don’t like this answer, but it gives me a chance to share Jesus *smile*.
I really do trust God with my life. I also know that there is a place for medical professionals. All of the doctors that have done one of my C-sections can not believe how well I have healed. During my surgeries when they say something along the lines of “Wow, I can’t believe you have had ?# of C-sections,” I know it is because of the power of God’s healing hands.
Now to answer the question, Is it dangerous? I will say yes and no. All surgery comes with risks, and for us that risk is minimal compared to the beautiful blessings that God has given us. I do have the backing of doctors that say “keep going.” *smile*
I thought you could only have 2 C-sections?
Oh if I could only tell you have many times I have been asked this.
My own mother even said this to me.
The reasons why nowadays we can have more C-section is because of the way they do the incision. They used to do them up and down (my mother had one this way) and now side to side. I am not sure the technical terms of why this made the difference but it did.
My whole reason for writing on this is to give you ladies hope that you can still have that large family if you so desire. I know at first after my first child I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to have the large family we wanted. Through prayers and faith, we have 5 beautiful blessings. I do hope that we will be blessed with more children. That is in God’s hands.
UPDATE – Sense writing this post, Jennifer has given birth once again, via her 6th C-section.
*The information in this post is not meant to replace medical or professional advice. Please consult your doctor with any healthcare or medical decisions.