I don't want my dd to be the youngest in school!

[Boggler]

I really don't know what to do I am 20wks and my due date varies between 10th September ( based on lmp), 5 September (based on private consultants measurements and NT scan) to 31 August ( based on a nhs dating scan). No real surprises with the different dates except I've got several fibroids and one is very low down almost blocking my cervix as a result my NHS consultant has agreed to perform an elcs to avoid haemorrhaging and or obstructed birth. But if he does elcs it will be at 39 wks based on my 'official' due date of 31 August. This would effectively make my child the youngest in the school year with all the disadvantages that brings! Should I go with this or try for a natural birth which could be very problematic? I'm tempted to go naturally and have emcs if anything looks untoward or am I taking unnecessary risks?

I am [shocked] at all the responses here, mainly because they are exactely the opposite of anyting you can read on the Primary School board where a lot of parents worry because their child is an 'august baby' and is struggling/immature/can not read....

OP you are talking about one day. Instead of planning a natural birth with all the very serious issues there are, can you not have a chat with the consultant and say 'Yes I want a ECS but on the 1st Sept rather than the 31st'

With a bit of luck, he actually proposed the 31st thinking you would rather have an august baby (childcare cost) or very simply because that's the day it came to on his diary.

Just talk to your consultant!

Peppa, read the thread, or indeed read the OP properly. We are not talking about a single day, if we were then it wouldn't even be an issue.

tbf when reading the op it does sound like her op date would be the 31st its only if you go over it carefully that she means the week of the 31st, but depending on her dates she may not be due till the 5th of the 10th, i still think she has nothing to loose by at least asking the consultant.

It's quick a tricky situation, depending on the date they arrive they will either be just five or just 4. Although being an august baby has it's negative so does being born in september, i know with my niece (she was born on the 1st of september), she always got things before everyone else, was emotional ready, so she kind of just stagnated for the whole of nursery/reception. Both months have both disadvantages/advantages, so i would let nature take its course - all the august baby's and september baby's are all at the same level now at my sons nursery, nursery class helps prepare all children for school. The main thing is that they arrive safely, and research has found that any differences or slower development in children has completely equaled out by age 7. So i don't think you have to worry too much, just make sure they arrive safely.
Congratulations by the way.

The other thing to mention here, which no one has yet I don't think, but lots of authorities are looking at increasing the number and shortening the length of terms in a school year, and there is a current green paper circulating to all schools and authorities asking them to give some consideration to bringing back phased entry, ie Easter Xmas and September and if this goes through then surely it wouldn't be an issue anyway?

As it is, children are not legally obliged to be on roll at a school until the term following their 5th birthday, however the reality to this is that most children are enrolled well before this and most also start attending the EYFS or reception at some point after turning 4.

My dd2 will be 4 and a couple of days old when she starts in reception in sept 2013, and I'm certain she'll be ready for it and will enjoy it!

"whenver you have an elective you run the risk that you will be bumped down the list because of emergancies for whatever reason"

Yes, quite.

So someone stupid cunt manufacturing an "emergency" outs other women at risk.

There aren't endless resources.

If you know you will definitely be needing a section and you deliberately wait until you go into labour before demanding it, you are needlessly wastin resources and putting limited resources meant to deal with actual, unforeseeable emergencies under pressure. Which puts other women and their babies at risk.

But as long as she felt "entitled" and had done her research that it was open to her to take the piss out of public resources to achieve her own selfish ends.

If she wanted to do this, she should have gone private.

Unspeakable, unjustifiable selfishness. I hate that I have to share the world with people so utterly unconcerned about the effects their behaviour has on other people.

Vile. Like people who take "important" phone calls on their mobile whilst driving.

My dd-i-l was born on 31st August and is an academic high flyer as well as a super mother,wife and daughter [and dd-i-l of course].

You're over thinking this op

I wouldn't give this a moment's thought. Safety is the only thing that matters here. My DS was due on 4 Sept but was born two weeks early on the advice of my drs (I had raised ALT which can cause problems although mine was pretty much under control but just not worth the risk). I could have held on but chose not to. So he's 20 Aug. I know he'll be the youngest in the class and I know he will be a bit behind for a couple of years (my DD is October so I know what a difference it makes) but seriously, it does not matter a jot.
Teachers are used to dealing with this. And I agree with all the other posters - I bet the OP will be begging to get it over and done with by then! I cried tears of joy when the drs told me they were scheduling me in two weeks early.

Plus OP I think you are overthinking this at this point. I was told on the Thursday that I would get a slot for CS on the Monday but in the end it didn't happen till the following Thursday. I needed a CS but I wasnt "an emergency" so got bumped. All bets are off until the baby's actually here.

I was born in late August as my mother was induced due to PE. I loved being the youngest in the school, feeling 'special' for any reason is great! 35 years later I have an MA and academically did well throughout. I can honestly say that the only problem was being turned away from the pub when all my friends had ID. Bloody annoying that.