Tubal ligation questions...
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Tubal ligation questions...
| Thu, 10-14-2004 - 2:09am |
Greetings,
I'm hoping I have the correct board for these questions..
I'm currently pregnant with my third child. My husband and I have decided this is enough for our family. I'm wondering if anyone has gone through tubal ligation? I've been doing some research, I've yet to ask my own doctor about it. The only information I've found is a little frightening.
I'm wondering what the procedure involves. I'll want to have it done when the baby is born, so there won't be two hospital stays within a short period of time. The information I've read says it involves a small cut, near the navel, about 2" in length. Does anyone know, or has gone through, a way that doesn't involve cutting me open?!? My first was near 11 pounds at birth, even still, I avoided a c-section like the plague because I'm scared of surgery and all it could entail.. infections, extended bleeding, etc.
I'm hoping I have the correct board for these questions..
I'm currently pregnant with my third child. My husband and I have decided this is enough for our family. I'm wondering if anyone has gone through tubal ligation? I've been doing some research, I've yet to ask my own doctor about it. The only information I've found is a little frightening.
I'm wondering what the procedure involves. I'll want to have it done when the baby is born, so there won't be two hospital stays within a short period of time. The information I've read says it involves a small cut, near the navel, about 2" in length. Does anyone know, or has gone through, a way that doesn't involve cutting me open?!? My first was near 11 pounds at birth, even still, I avoided a c-section like the plague because I'm scared of surgery and all it could entail.. infections, extended bleeding, etc.
So if anyone could help with this information at all, it would be greatly appreciated.
~Debbera

I too have avoided surgery like the plague...and my biggest baby was 11#13oz (born unmed vaginally)...so I'm willing to *suffer*...lol!!
Anyway, we have 6 kids from age 1-21 (I am 44), and we too want to be done. I originally scheduled a TL this past summer, but cancelled because though it is NOT a difficult surgery...very routine, we couldn't accept even the small risk of complications in our life right now (my husband is in a new tenure track position *equates to probation* at Univ of AR). I carry too much load of home stuff to chance me having any laid up time. Also, because I am obese it raises the risk factor as it is more difficult to lift the abdomen with the gas when it is heavy, therefore increasing the difficulty of visualizing internal structures safely/clearly.
Not sure if these random thoughts helped you. Maybe you would be able to consider a different method that is *easy* and OK for nursing moms like the IUD. I understand it can be inserted within hours of childbirth. I have decided to check it out myself. I have heard (from my docs) that doing a TL like weeks to months after childbirth is a better option (it's done as outpatient surgery you know.) I have seen studies that suggest the body is more likely to try to heal from the TL while it is recovering from birth...guess it may depend on the type you have...but apparently it may raise the potential for failure.
Best wishes,
Sandy
The procedure was a very simple outpatient procedure. I was given a little light anesthesia before being knocked out. There are 2 incisions, a 1/2" one at the edge of my navel which you can't see at all, and a lateral one near the top of the pubic hair (they shaved off the top 1/2" of hair to make the incision, so you can't see that either - I think it was 1-2" wide). My OB doesn't tie or cut tubes, she burns them with an electrical current. The post-op recovery was quick. I was slightly nauseous from the anesthesia for a couple of hours, and my abdomen was all puffed out for a few days. My OB likes to do the procedure on a Thursday, so you have 3 days post-surgery before going back to work. The scars healed quickly. The operation is effective for birth control after you have your next period.
I would caution you on a few things. First, think of TL as something *permanent*, not something that can ever be changed. Too many women think, "Oh, there's surgery to reverse it later if I need to." Those surgeries are rarely successful. Second, I personally think it is a bad idea to make any decisions about future children when you're hormonally influenced, i.e. pregnant, post-partum, or breastfeeding. I don't know about you, but I haven't always been entirely rational during those times, and you should be rational when making a decision that affects the rest of your life. Third, find out from your doctor what procedure she uses when doing a TL and then ask her questions - don't rely on the internet. Finally, don't schedule your TL for when you're delivering your baby "because they're already in there." It's a separate procedure, and it is easy to recover from. The convenience of doing it while you're already in the hospital is a very small thing when weighed against the possibility of having made the wrong decision because you were hormonal and the reality of how simple the procedure is and how easy to recover from later.
Kelly
http://www.essure.com/
Kelly
After he gave me the alternative spill, he told me what the TL right after delivery would entail. He said he would do the surgery the day after delivery because my uterus would still be around my belly button. He would make a very small incision in my belly button and cut sections out of my tubes. He said as far as TLs go having one right after delivery was the easiest and less evasive. I would have to stay in the hospital another 24 hours (two full days total with delivery and surgery), and recovery would involve maybe a little more pain or uncomfortable feeling during the next week or so. He didn't think it would be much more than regular recovery from delivering a baby.
I hope this helps. I dread the thought of surgery, but this seemed less evasive and easier on me because I will have my mother, my grandmother and MIL taking care of household things for the first couple weeks after having our second. It just seems like the right thing for my husband and I.
Sherry