Recently, Simony gave birth to Antony, her fourth child! Simony is the mother of Ryan, Aisha, and Pietra, and for all her deliveries she underwent a C-section. Antony was born on October 25th at Pró Matre in São Paulo and weighed 3455.00 grams. The baby had to be born almost 1 month earlier than expected because Simony developed a more serious case of high blood pressure toward the end of her pregnancy. Dr. Albertina Duarte, the doctor who assisted Simony in all her previous pregnancies, said this was the first time she experienced high blood pressure, and when there was no other option, they had to perform the delivery due to the risk of eclampsia1. In an interview with the EGO website, the doctor caring for the singer said that although her blood pressure was high, right after the delivery she was given a dose of medication that quickly stabilized it.
But 4 C-sections? I always heard that the maximum number of C-sections is 3 and that more than that could be dangerous. But what is the truth behind this story, is it dangerous or not? Well, according to doctors the risk of a 4th C-section, or even a fourth pregnancy after 3 C-sections, is that the incisions from previous surgeries can rupture if there is severe labor or even with the natural growth of the uterus during pregnancy. That’s why after 3 C-sections, the doctor has to pay close attention to any sign of labor2. Normally, precautions begin during prenatal care. Doctors usually order ultrasounds to monitor the scars from previous C-sections, and it’s also recommended that the mother avoid heavy lifting and report any unusual pain or symptoms to her doctor.
For the delivery, there is a specific place for the incision, with very little difference—just a few millimeters from one to the other—so one cut may be over the other, making the scar a sensitive spot and prone to ruptures. There are also cases where adhesions of the uterine walls can occur. The placenta needs to attach to the walls of the uterus, and in some cases, this can “injure” the uterus. It is said that with each C-section a woman undergoes, recovery can become more difficult and also more painful. This was my experience: my first delivery recovery was great, the second C-section recovery was a bit slower, and the third time was very painful for several days. Of course, as always, we should remember that every case is unique. Everything can also depend on the healing ability of the mother. Medical follow-up is crucial in cases of 4 consecutive C-sections or with short intervals between them. With good prenatal care, any risks are considerably reduced, as seen in Simony’s case, where at the slightest warning sign, her obstetrician opted for delivery.
With regard to high blood pressure, the dangerous issue is pre-eclampsia. The body releases enzymes that can cause the blood pressure to rise too high, possibly leading to a fatal situation from this condition, which affects 1 in every 100 pregnant women worldwide3. The doctor monitors this during pregnancy, and even after delivery it can persist for up to 40 days. Learn more about this topic here. In any case, your doctor will keep a close watch and should perform tests often to check if there is any risk.
See Also: Signs of Labor
Photos: Instagram Sonia Abrão
