QuestionHello. I have had 2 c-section with 2 pregnancies. During my 2nd c-section my doctor told me that my uterine lining was so thin, like half the size of normal uterines, i do not really know what this means but she said that it would be risky to have a 3rd pregnancy as she feared a spontaneous rupture, which again I do not really understand. i do want to have another baby and even a fourth if possible but need to study the risks involved as I am afraid. would you pls explain what i can do to have a successful 3rd pregnancy without any rupture, or how i can strengthen or check my uterine condition before i conceive?
Thank you.
sincerely, nora
AnswerTo the best of my knowledge, there is no way to check the strength of your scar prior to pregnancy. However, I can tell you that it is very, very normal to have an extremely thin uterus at term. Many women have been told this, and have gone on to have perfectly normal pregnancies and even to VBAC. Even after 2 c-sections, your risk of uterine rupture is still extremely low, less than 1%, and the risk of complications associated with a uterine rupture are even lower, around 0.05%.
There is a test that is commonly done in Europe to check the thickness of a previous c-section scar. The test is done by ultrasound during the second trimester of pregnancy. The thicker your scar, the lower your risk of rupture, with scars over a certain thickness having almost 0 chance of rupturing even during a vaginal delivery. However, this test does require a skilled ultrasound technician who is familiar with the technique, which is difficult to find in the United States.
I would highly recommend you seek out a second (or even a third) opinion from another doctor before making any final decisions on your family size.
