How bad are tubals??

[AnneCan]

So, I'm obviously still pregnant, but I KNOW, 100% this is our last baby. I've been really thinking about permenent options, and I want DH and I to both be fixed. I never want to be surprised in the future. My sister had HG with her first two, and then 7 years later had a surprise baby. This will not be me!

DH's part is pretty straight forward, but we have to find him a doctor, etc.

I had a c-section with DD because she was breech, but I'm hoping my OB will let me try for a VBAC this time (I'll find out in a couple weeks). If I do end up with another c-section, I want my tubes tied during the procedure. If I get my VBAC, I'd have to get the tubal after.

I'm just wondering if you could give me some feedback on what it's like doing a tubal afterwards?

They make you wait a while after birth right? how long?
How was the procedure? Painful?
How was the recovery? How long were you "out"?
Any complications?
Any other thoughts?

I'm not keen on another surgery (that's why I want the VBAC to start with), but I'm way more un-keen on going through another pregnancy...

Thanks for any feedback!

[SarahD]

My OB did the tubal the day after I gave birth. Delivery on Sat. Surgery on Sun. Went home on Mon. Recovery was a little more difficult than the first birth, but I'd never had a C-section. It is easier to do in the days following because you are still 'big' and there is better access to the tubes. It's also nice to do recovery once, and not one time for the birth and a second time for surgery. I wasn't gone longer than he needed to be fed, maybe 4 hours? I didn't have any complications. It's also nice because the scar goes down as your belly does, and it's barely visible below my bellybutton. Was around four inches then, about an inch now. I was very happy with how my surgery turned out. But that may have been because labor, delivery, and surgery are nothing compared to HG?

[AnneCan]

Thanks for the info...I actually didn't know you could get them done right away ...I thought you had to wait. But then again, if I was going to have surgery the day after birth, I guess it makes as much sense to just do the repeat c-section too. HHmmmm I'll have to see what my OB says I guess.

[aaronsmommy]

You can do them during the first 2 days after you have the baby, or you have to wait at least 6 weeks. Some places won't do them right after. 4 inches would be a GIANT incision for a tubal. Usually it is about 3cm, barely more than an inch, so it is certainly less than a csection.

If you wait the 6 weeks, you can have either a laparoscopic tubal, or an Essure. You don't have any incisions with an Essure (there are a few threads on it here if you search).

[AnneCan]

Thanks Aimee, I'll have to check that out. It might be a good option if DH gets a V too. I've read it being mentioned but haven't looked into it.

[SarahD]

Hmm...maybe I am remembering wrong. And 4 inches does sound big... But I know it was much bigger than now, and now it is about the 3cm like you said.

My doc said he didn't usually do them the day after when it was just a second child, but he was completely supportive of my decision to not go through HG again and believed I wouldn't change my mind. So far so good!

[Natalie]

I seem to recall from way back when that a tubal during a c-section has a slightly higher failure rate.

Aimee - feel free to debunk this if I have got it wrong

[AnneCan]

I hate those words together "Failure Rate".....ugh, quiver. Interesting. I finally see my OB on the 7th of Feb, so I plan on talking to her about it then. We'll see what she recommends.

I talked to DH last night for the first time about permanent birth control. He seemed a little confused as to why we'd both get fixed, but I was like "there is no way I'm getting pregnant again"...end of story. He was AOK with it, but wants to wait until after the baby is born to even inquire into a vasectomy. I'm kindof annoyed, because I know some docs that will do a vasectomy right after baby is born, and others wait. I was hoping for an immediate one (since that means 3 months after baby is born, plus the time it takes to 'clear' things out. That's like 6 months before we're 'safe').

[aaronsmommy]

Depends on exactly how they do the tubal, there are lots of different techniques for the csection tubals, after delivery tubals, or the after 6 weeks after the baby ones. The most common csection ones have a slightly higher failure rate than a couple of the after 6 weeks types (but not all). They are all pretty similar though.

The Essure has a lower failure rate than any of those others. There are very, very few failures with it.

[AnneCan]

So, the other day, I looked into the Essure here in Alberta, and apparantly it's FDA approved but not covered at all...I read a wide range of costs, from $ 1500-$6000, and our private health insurance doesn't cover it. We won't be able to do that after this pregnancy with all the med costs and me being off work for months. I still plan on asking my doc about my options though, since she may know more than what I'm reading on the internet. Maybe she knows a way around that cost, or maybe things have recently been approved under our health care system. Thanks for the info though, it's good to know these things before I meet with my OB.

[vcase]

I agree, thanks for the information. Good to know I am not the only one considering permanent birth control and am still pregnant.Been thinking about it since before I ever even made it to the second trimester lol. I didnt realize they could do it while I was in the hospital. At first I was hesitant to go through surgery because I have cysts that will mean I have to take something to control them anyway. However, I can't do this again and I am scared to death I will be one of those people who go in for the tubal and find out I am pregnant again...

[vcase]

Just found out my dr wont do a tubal until 6 weeks post baby....I'm thinking about begging in all honesty....maybe he will make an exception...

[AnneCan]

I haven't had a chance to ask my OB about it yet myself. 6 weeks is not so great to have to wait, but if it's more effective than getting it done right away, it's worth it in the long run. I just read a post yesterday from a women who got pregnant after a failed tubal. Again, this will NOT be me.....I will abstain as long as I have to....

[lovemytannerman]

I had my tubal right after my c/s. I had to sign some papers 60 days prior to my delivery date and they did it right after he was born.

I had a c/s so it didn't add to my usual recovery time.

My son is 14 mo and I don't regret it one bit. I love him to pieces and he is the light of my life but I never, ever want to be pregnant again. I had the stomach flu a while back and it reminded me of exactly how horrible I felt and no way do I ever want to do that again!

[AnneCan]

Good to hear the c-section tubal wasn't any big deal....

I met with my OB a couple weeks ago, and she agreed that if I end up with a c-section, she could tie my tubes. Then I got all worried that I'd completely regret doing something permanent right away. I then thought maybe I would get an IUD and then DH would get a V in the following 6 months.

Well...that's all changed again, since my sister told me that she made the exact same plan, and it was her IUD that failed when she had her surprise pregnancy (a bad HG pregnancy), and because her husband never did go for his V. Now I'm (sanely) back to thinking that me and DH need permanent and immediate birth control!

[gremlinsmummy]

I'm already booked in to get a tubal at 6 weeks postpartum. Here in AU they prefer to do it laproscopically which suits me. DH is refusing a vasectomy and while part of me thinks it's the least he should do given what I've had to endure, the part of me that knows I physically cannot do this again knows I need to do something about it coz he never will.

[AnneCan]

I'm not sure if my OB does laproscopic tubals or not, that is something I should ask her, because part of my decision for an IUD is that I don't want any more invasive procedures done. I was thinking I'd get an IUD (to make sure this baby is ok before doing anything permanent), and then wait until Essure is approved through gov't here (procedures approved but it's not yet covered where I live). In the meantime, DH is still getting a V after 6 months too! No surprises for us! In general, I think it's unfair for DH's to say no to V's after we go through hell for our babies...