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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...To ask when you would do elec. c-section, if you could choose any date?

63 replies

sklflknsflsdf · 08/08/2019 21:25

Let's say you're due date is August 30th, and you had 100% control over when to do the section, when would you pick, to give best health chances to baby but to avoid an emergency c-section?

I heard some people even wait until labour starts, but that seems risky! but it's so hard to find information on this online.

OP posts:

RowingMermaid · 08/08/2019 22:30

They chose 39 weeks, I knew when I conceived (was doing urine ovulation tests) and their dates were out by 3 days so I actually gave birth 10 days early. Ds2 was covered in vernix caseosa.

My ELCS was booked super early ie at 20 week scan, I had EMCS for Ds1. So I had plenty of time to arrange childcare etc and could have changed the date if there had been a problem.

I would go for the 39 week option.

fairislecable · 08/08/2019 22:33

I know an obstetrician who chose to have an elective at 38 weeks as the best timing for the baby.

Shelley54 · 08/08/2019 22:34

I picked 38+5 and it was a Tuesday. Any weekend overhang is dealt with, I was out on the Wednesday, the consultant advised against having steroids for lung development because it was only two days outside guidance. I went in at 8, baby born by 10, only person on the list that day.

My first was a Sunday evening at 42+1 and I wouldn’t recommend that to anyone.

Teddybear45 · 08/08/2019 22:37

I would choose 38 or 39 weeks as that is when the majority of planned c-sections are recommended. After 39 weeks your chances of complications / stillbirth increase.

Owlbert · 08/08/2019 22:39

I would maybe go between 38 weeks but on a Friday (or Thursday if it's before next March) because if you return to work and work Mon to Fri you are guarenteed their first 2 birthdays off!

DeadButDelicious · 08/08/2019 22:48

I had mine bang on 38 weeks. DD was measuring a touch small, my mental health was suffering the closer I got to my due date (I really, really didn't want to go to into labour) my kidneys were agony and it was just better all round to get her out. I had steroid injections to help her lungs but she was absolutely fine, no issues, healthy as anything.

Kanga83 · 08/08/2019 22:51

I had an elective following a horrid emergency c sec and was told it had to be 39 weeks, on a Friday. I would have liked 37 weeks if I could have but obviously understand why due to lung maturity and not on a Friday as mine was scheduled for as the weekend was junior staffing plus dr strike which made for a great experience.

Haworthia · 08/08/2019 22:53

I would have opted for bang on 39 weeks, but we didn’t want him to be born on the 13th (and we’re not even superstitious!) so went for 39+1.

I don’t think missing out on an extra couple of days’ cooking matters at 39 weeks.

JaceLancs · 08/08/2019 22:57

Had 2 elective Caesarians
I had DD at 38 weeks (due to DH fixed holidays) in the days before paternity leave
DS at 35 weeks as he wasn’t growing and concern over placenta problems
Both fine and ok weights 6.7 and 6.5 respectively

welshweasel · 08/08/2019 23:05

35 weeks for DS1 as growth poor. 38+1 with DS2 as worked well for DH and limited chance of spontaneous labour.

NCBabyBoy · 08/08/2019 23:09

I had DS by ELCS at 38+4. The consultant didn't want me to go into labour as he was footling breech, and I was super excited he was coming 10 days early. He was big but in retrospect I think he was not ready (he was very poorly for the first 10 days of his life), so based on that I would try to negotiate a date closer to 40 or even 41 weeks should I need another ELCS. I wouldn't go against medical advice, but I would certainly ask questions. DS's weight was a complete red herring, I really feel he wasn't ready.

Chocolate35 · 08/08/2019 23:14

I’ve had two and both times I chose “the earliest day it’s considered safe”. 38 weeks with my first, 39 with my second.

CatFaceCats · 08/08/2019 23:17

I got to choose my date - it was the last week of Feb running into March. I chose the 1st March as we live in Scotland and the school cut off is end of Feb. Little sod came 2 weeks early anyway! (I still deferred his school start though)

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 08/08/2019 23:20

Hey OP

if your mum, your mums mum, sister etc gave birth BEFORE 40w then I’d advise you have your section “early” - so 39+0.

If you come from a family of late gestators, please get to 40w at least.

As a mother of two children who’ve had to arrive before 40w and I have a family history of late arrivals, their lungs weren’t ready and it made for a few scary days.

Maternal obstetric history is a decent indicator of likelihood of you “going late” or not.

Make your choice based on this.

User3468793 · 08/08/2019 23:28

I would choose exactly 39 weeks. My ELCS was scheduled on 38+3 because it was just before Christmas and they didn't have enough staff over the holidays. Baby was perfectly healthy, though I do wish I could have left her inside for a bit longer.

I did have a slight panic 3 days before my section because I thought I was going into labour (constant braxton hicks, nausea, period cramps) however that thankfully stopped on its own and I made it to the op date.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 08/08/2019 23:29

I should mention that my DS was born at 39w with breathing problems.

DD was born at 37+ with severe lung issues and ended up in NICU for 4 days.

I’m not trying to shit you up but just investigate your family’s stuff first.

maccaroni · 08/08/2019 23:32

I’ve had 2 elective sections both were at 39 +5

PossiblyPFB · 08/08/2019 23:34

I was booked in early on for 39+1 ELCS (b/c of an android pelvis) which was a Saturday in mid January (and incidentally my dad’s 70th birthday), but after arriving and not eating overnight etc, being checked and gown’d up and put on a hospital bed literally ready to wheel in mid-morning, we were told the NICU was unexpectedly full and they’d cancelled any ELCS as if on the off chance DD needed any additional treatment she’d have to be bluelighted 40 miles away and separated from me, and so we were bumped to 39+6 which was the Wednesday after. They did say that if I’d gone into labour naturally I could of course come straight in.

As it happens I didn’t go into labour and she was still pretty vernix coated so would likely have been a late one- we knew her dates exactly as she was an ivf baby. I’m so glad I knew about my Android pelvis as my baby was likely to be late and at 39+6 was a completely average weight. She’s have been impossible to get out at that weight or any other naturally and so the ELCS was lifesaving for both of us.

It was a bit frustrating at the time to be turned away on the day we thought we’d be bringing home our baby, but we sympathised with the families dealing with poorly babies and were fine with our lot. In retrospect I’m glad she has her own special birthday which wasn’t shared with a family member, although I was sad at the time that I couldn’t give my dad that ‘gift’ !

In comparison my DB and SIL had a 30-weeker by EMCS due to a number of unexpected life limiting health factors affecting SIL and therefore baby and that was the right time for both of them to have a safe delivery. They are now doing well.

So to answer your question OP, I’d say so long as they are healthy, leave them in as long as physically possible! Dates, times, school years are irrelevant in comparison to safe births and healthy babies/parents.

Stravapalava · 08/08/2019 23:37

I was booked in for mine at 39 weeks exactly. Baby was breech and my oldest came at 40+2 so they didn't want to take any chances. I'd say any time in in 39th week would be fine.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 08/08/2019 23:51

Dates, times, school years are irrelevant in comparison to safe births and healthy babies/parents

This so much. I wouldn’t wish the 4 days I had on anyone and wouldn’t give a toss if it had altered her chances at school if I could’ve kept her in longer.

Even the 9 hours DS was in NICU then discharged was enough to send me doo pally for months after it was so scary.

MountainPeakGeek · 08/08/2019 23:54

My best friend at the time was a hospital doctor and advised me to pick a Monday or Tuesday if possible (others have explained why.)

DC2 would've been 38+6 on the Monday and they said not before 39 weeks, so Tuesday it was...

I was measuring big for dates and was gutted I couldn't pick the 38+6 birthdate because that was 03/03/03. DC2 Ended up being 9lbs 4oz so I'm sure it would have been fine.

Spanglybangles · 09/08/2019 00:02

My due date was 3rd July I think, consultant opened her diary and asked what date I’d like. She initially suggested 30th June but I opted for 1st July as no July birthdays in mine or OH’s families.

Northernsoulgirl45 · 09/08/2019 00:35

39 Weeks exactly.

Fatted · 09/08/2019 00:55

IIRC mine was booked in for bang on 39 weeks.

As it turned out I had him at 38 weeks. I ended up in hospital with pre-eclampsia and bells palsy at 37 weeks (Sunday). My blood pressure remained high until the Wednesday when I was offered the choice of having him on that Friday (at 38 weeks) or spending another week in hospital to wait for my original booking. I decided to have it that week rather than waiting.

He was 8.5lbs so a decent weight. I'd had two days worth of steroid injections and steroid tablets for my bells palsy. He did need oxygen at birth and had to go to neonatal while I got stitched up. But he was back in with me half an hour later. Longest half an hour of my life.

It does all depend on why you're having a section and what history there is for you or your family. I didn't go into labour with eldest and I had pre-eclampsia with him at 41 weeks. I was told I'd probably end up with pre-eclampsia with my youngest and earlier second time, so I was more worried about that than going into labour naturally.

TwistyTop · 09/08/2019 01:17

39 weeks. Although it depends - is it your first baby? If not and you went into labour particularly early or late in the past then that would affect the decision.

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