If you have an ELCS which week do you have it?

[TheFutureSupremeRulersMum]

I had a EMCS with my first and expecting to have an ELCS if I am lucky enough to have a second child. My first waited until 42 weeks to arrive.

If you have an ELCS can you ask them when to have it or do they basically tell you it will be on such and such a day?

I recently had dd, she was due on a wed and they booked me in for exactly 39 weeks. She thenarrived at 38+6 because they had a complex case booked in for the original date and moved it back a day. They said they normally book in for 39 weeks minimum

Depends on the reason.

I was the same as you - EMCS at 42+3. Placenta had degraded, DD was suffering from oxygen deprivation, basically her head was too big and there was no way she was going to come out (>98th centile head, 7lbs4oz!).

A a result the obstetrician for DS monitored the pregnancy carefully and decided to do the ELCS at 38w to avoid any chance of a repeat. He was growing well (8lbs9) and had already had steroids to mature his lungs after I went into PTL at 24w, which they'd managed to stop, so the ob was convinced that this was the best time for him to be born.

However, I know others who've had ELCS scheduled for 37w or 41w for medical reasons.

HTH!

anytime from about 38 weeks, i was offered with dc2 and dc3. dc2 i wanted to go into labour naturally so he came at 42 weeks. dc3 they pretty much gave me the diary and said pick a date from 38 weeks on. i went for 39+ a couple of days, iirc. it's definitely one to discuss with the doc and agree on rather than one that's set in stone. research it and work out what you'd like to do and then go with that.

NeatFreak - can I ask whereabouts in the country you are? I'm wondering if there are different policies for different places.

Wingding DD was nearly 9lb when born after a failed induction but other than that no issues with pregnancy or anything.

Sorry, by 'any chance of a repeat', the ob meant both of the head being stuck and compressed (as with DD, who needed a year of physio) and also of the placenta disintegrating; she was concerned that the nutrient/oxygen flow would be diminishing at 39w in this particular pregnancy, based on data from both pregnancies. Not necessarily an issue for anyone else.

Guidelines have changed recently and unless there is a reason it won't be done earlier than 39 weeks.

You generally get told a day. But if you have a specific day in that week you'd like it on or would like to avoid there's no harm in asking if it could be that day.

My hospital won't schedule an ELCS before 39weeks unless there's a medical need to go early. I know a couple of woman who've had them on their due date. Ask your consultant.

39 weeks here. They gave me a date at 36 weeks, leaving plenty of time to sort childcare!

Late enough that the lungs are mature, but early enough to reduce the risk of going into labour.

Generally 39 weeks to avoid problems with lung maturity.

I had DS2 at 37 weeks because I went into labour but his lungs hadn't matured properly and so he spent a week in NICU.

DD was at just under 39 weeks by ELCS.

I found it quite amusing how the consultant got out a big book and wrote my name on the relevant date rather than on a computer.

The ob did say to me that usual policy is to schedule around 39w, unless there was good reason for earlier or later. Later would be if you wanted a chance of VBAC, but needed a backstop date due to being overdue (obvs this was a situation we discussed; I was quite keen on VBAC if possible, but after the whole PTL scare and then the scans showing that the placenta was starting to disintegrate slightly faster than average, I told the ob to do whatever she thought best to ensure lowest risk for DS and to disregard any of my earlier opinions). In the VBAC scenario we initially discussed, the ob had said we would book for 41w0 or earlier if the date fell on a weekend/was unavail.

I had my ELCS 5yrs ago and was told they schedule them for 39 weeks. Any earlier and there was an increased risk to SCBU.

[embarrassed] I forgot the third - and MAIN! - reason for earlier ELCS wasn't the placenta, though that was an issue, but oligohydramnios (loss of amniotic fluid) - there was

When I had DD1 ELCS were scheduled at 38 weeks. I had placenta praevia so had a CS booked. I negotiated to 37+4 as I wouldn't have a section on my birthday.

With DD2, they had changed the guidelines to 39 weeks, but I had severe complications and when they asked when i wanted my section, I said 37 weeks and they agreed immediately.

Wingding it sounds like you went through a lot! I hope your DD is well now. Thank you for sharing your experiences.

I had an ELCS for DD because she was breech. They booked the date and it was one day before my due date so she was 39+6. She was born on 1st March in the leap year. The consultant was looking in the diary when to book me in and said 'I can't possibly do it on 29th Feb, it wouldn't be fair on your baby'!

First ELCS nearly 9 years ago. They said then that guidelines were not to book in before 39 weeks unless medical reasons to do differently. I had to stay in hospital for 2 weeks prior to my ELCS in case I went into early labour and they needed to do a crash CS, but they would not schedule it earlier.

Second ELCS 5 years ago done at 39+4, but only because I changed my mind about VBAC at 39 weeks so they booked me in on the closest available day.

37 weeks.