Uterine Scarring & Pregnancy Risks: Understanding Your Options

Question
i am 27 and have three children. the first and third by c section and the second was vaginal. during the birth of my third child my dr saw excessive scar tissue surrounding my uterus and after removing the bulk of it said my uterus was abnormally thin for a full term pregnancy. he suggested that i have my tubes tied to avoid possible complications from uterine rupture if i were to become pregnant again. i would like to know if this would be the only form of treatment and how would i get a second opinion for such a diagnosis?

Answer
Unfortunately, it is hard to get a second opinion of a condition tht was noticed at the time of surgery. Often, when performing a cesarean section, we notice a very thin walled uterus or a pronounced thinning at the site of the previous uterine incision (scar). At times there is even a "window{" where we can see the baby right through the uterine wall (very, very thin). In cases such as these, we often recommend that the patient do not become pregnant again because of the risk of uterine perforation or rupture. Certainly, one can achieve this with the many methods of birth control that are available. However, the method with the most effective results is, of course, tubal ligation or permanent sterilization. I would suggest that you obtain a copy of the "operative report" which may or may not describe the "thinness" of the uterine wall. Good luck.