How long after due date should I be given an ELCS?

[HappyAsEyeAm]

I had an EMCS with the birth of DC1 four years ago due to failure to progress and foetal distress. I am trying a VBAC this time, and the consultant has wrotten in my notes "ELCS if no spontaneous labour 40+14" which I take to mean that they will want me to go to 42 weeks before I have an ELCS. The consultant has said that I am not to be induced if I do not go into labour naturally.

I am nearly 39 weeks now, and I am not happy about having to 'wait' until 42 weeks before an ELCS is performed.

But is what the consultant says normal/standard? And how would I go about changing it now? I am not due to see the consultant again.

They can still give you sweeps leading up to and after your due date and you can have your waters broken/have the drip. It's just the pessaries they can't give you if you've had a previous section.

Good luck!

I was in a similar situation, had emcs three and a half years ago for the same reasons. My second baby is now 7 weeks old. You cannot be induced after a cs as it can put undue pressure on scare (I believe that is the reason) and 42 weeks is the norm to let a pregnancy stretch to. You will go in and be monitored as soon as you hit 40 weeks and if there are any signs that you or baby are struggling then they will review plan.
My baby was 10 days late but I was very keen on avoiding another csection. Because I randomly got high blood pressure week 39, they didn't want me to wait until 42 weeks and I had the cs booked for saturday. I went into labour naturally on Friday but ended up having another emcs anyway!
There are lots of things you can do to hurry it along if you go past 40 weeks, i had a couple of sweeps which I am convinced got me going.
Can you arrange another appointment with your consultant to go over all options? Or speak to a midwife?
I have rambled on but to answer your question, what you have been told is what I was told :)

I was induced after a c-section

Thanks for the replies and advice - I have made an appointment with the community midwife for this afternoon, so hopefully I will be more informed after that.

I was in exactly your position with DS2 and they would have let me go to 40+14; as it was ELCS was scheduled for 40+11, as no slots available after that. The date was booked in consultation with my consultant so you might be able to negotiate an earlier one. I was happy to wait as DS1 went to 40+14 so I wanted to give myself the best chance of going into labour naturally.

I also had two sweeps and went into labour after the second one - DS was born four hours before the ELCS was scheduled!

I found that different consultants at the same hospital wanted me to do different things - one would only let me get to +7 days and then induce but I went with the second one I saw who said +14 days and definitely no induction. It can be very confusing as all hospitals/consultants/MWs may tell you different things.

Good luck!