How long before EDD is Caesarean booked?

[Heregoeseverything]

Hi,

I'm having a C-section but it will be a while before a date is in the diary. Does anyone know when C-sections are usually booked relative to the EDD? I know they say "not before week 39", but is there a standard or usual approach to setting a date?

Thanks!

[mrsmonkey14]

1 week before usually, ie at 39 wks - late enough that baby’s lungs sufficiently developed, but early enough you’re not too likely to go into spontaneous labour

[Zampa]

My consultant suggested scheduling mine for exactly 39 weeks but for one thing and another I had it at 39+4. A couple of friends were also 39+4.

[jimijack]

39 weeks.....but then you never know what is going to happen.
Mine was booked for 39, ended up at 37 weeks quite unexpectedly.

[jimijack]

Oooh should add it was all absolutely fine and a lovely experience, calm, exciting, planned and just brilliant, xxx

[Heregoeseverything]

Thanks all, this is helpful. I had been thinking it would be the week before the EDD and then realised that "week 39" is actually the week before that and wondered if I'd got my wires crossed. Looks like I may still have a July baby... just!

[GaryWilmotsTeeth]

just echoing what others have said.
DS was an unstable lie, so the hospital wanted him out as soon as I hit 39 weeks, because they really didn't want my waters to go. it would have been done at exactly 39 weeks but that was a Sunday, so scheduled for 39+1. Which I was glad about because the Sunday was DD's 2nd birthday and I wanted them to have different birthdays.
As it happened, it ended up on 39+2 because they were trying to see if they could keep DS in one position long enough to allow for a VBAC, but he had other plans.

[BirdieBeeBella]

My first c-sec was scheduled in the November for 12 days before my January EDD. My second was scheduled on 7th January for the 20th January 5 days before EDD.

[TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag]

I’m booked for 39+1. They said that as soon as I hit 39 weeks they would go ahead ASAP

[Lules]

Usually the earliest day after 39 weeks available, bearing in mind not a weekend, and they may only do them on certain days (only mon, wed, thurs in mine) and even if it’s booked you may get bumped if there are emergencies/too many women in labour. But if it needs to be done quickly you’ll be slotted in.

[tried20names]

My first section was booked for 40+1, which I thought was cutting it a bit fine. I have just been given a date for my second and it's 38+5

[ChocolateButton15]

I'm booked for 39+4, think they just aim to do it at some point in the 39th week.

[Heregoeseverything]

@tried That certainly is cutting it fine!

I'm a bit surprised they leave it so late, there must surely be a real risk of going into labour... I arrived 2 weeks early! I have heard some horror stories of medical staff trying to "strongly encourage" mothers who were intended to have a C-section to have a natural labour if they do go into labour in the meantime... that would be my nightmare, there are reasons for having the C-section!

[DuggeeHugs]

My date was booked in at 35 weeks for delivery at 38+6. The reason was that my consultant prefers Thursday deliveries.

[canthavethenameiwant]

I was booked in at 16 weeks for 39+1 in June

[pullthecracker]

Heregoeseverything you were right with what you first thought, it is the week before your EDD, when you are 39 weeks.

[Hmmalittlefishy]

Yes week before with mine so was exactly 39 weeks. Our hospital only does 2 days so you are booked in for one of those. Obviously with a bit of leeway for time of emergencies come in
I asked what would happen if I went into labour and was told at first signs to ring the hospital for advice and explain it was meant to be a planned section. I assume they then bring you in as an emergency c section but at early stages of labour?

[bluechameleon]

Mine is booked for 39+5.

[Heregoeseverything]

@Hmmalittlefishy I assume so, but I'd much rather a planned to an emergency Caesarean! And as I say I've heard stories of medical professionals then saying, "Well you're in labour now, you don't want an emergency Caesarean do you, why don't you just push?"

[beckieperk]

Mine was booked in week 38 for 39+6. Meaning Ds2 was born the day before his due date.

[FlurkenSchnit]

Mine was booked for 39+2 in a meeting at 34 weeks. I was a bit worried about going into labour as dc3 came at 38+5 and dc4 was massive (10lb 15.5oz!!) But they refused any earlier than 39 weeks due to the increased likelihood of breathing difficulties.

[ObiJuanKenobi]

Emergency sections aren't always awful OP, I had one with my dtwins and I found it very positive - though I appreciate this is not always the case.

Best of luck to you

[Heregoeseverything]

Thanks @Obi ! I would still rather an emergency Caesarean over a vaginal birth... but risk of complications increases and it just sounds significantly less peaceful!

[scaredofthecity]

There's different classes of emergency CS, and if you were in the early stages of labour and came for an emcs the experience would be almost exactly the same as a planned. An emcs where the baby is in distress and needs to be born asap is a very different experience.

[Heregoeseverything]

That's reassuring, thank you @ObiJuanKenobi and @scaredofthecity !