Query about elcs date

[Tea1Sugar]

Well, to be honest, I still haven't been given one and that's half the battle. Consultant said he'd book me in at my 34w appt which I know isn't uncommon, but why?

I'm a teacher and school are keen to know my maternity leave date so they can arrange cover for my class, write to the parents about my leave date etc.

I'm only 22+5 so won't be able to give a fixed date for ages. My understanding is that most elcs happen at 38/39 weeks? So should I just say I'll aim to stay at work until 37? Or is there a way of being booked in earlier so I know for sure? I understand work's concern, there are 30young kids they need to prepare, 4 of whom are autistic so need a rigid time scale (as rigid as an unpredictable baby's birth can be!).

Wwyd?

There's nothing you can do until you have a date. I worked in education when I had my elcs. I was constantly asked for a date. I have them my officially due date with information that they could have my section date as soon as I had it and I would be finishing on the Friday the week before my elcs.

As it was, I finished on the Friday, went away for the bank holiday with DH and DS and had DD on the Tuesday.

You can get your date at any random time, this will be my 3rd elcs and the one where my date was given at 20 weeks. The last two weren't given until I was in the last trimester (past 30 weeks) but that's because I wasn't sure whether I was going down the elcs route - is it 100% certain they know you definitely want this option?

Also it is usually 1 week before you are booked in.

Can you not start your mat leave a certain date before your due date (2weeks for example) so the school can be informed. You would have to do this with a natural birth anyway

Sorry typo, elcs is usually booked a week before your Due Date at 39 weeks.

Yeh 100% having it, consultant has already agreed and written it in my notes on the front cover.

I might ask the MW at my 28 wk appt. This is dc2 but first section so I don't think I get a 32wk appt.

For now I'll go on the idea that elcs will be at 39weeks so will work til 37+3.

Hi tea

I'm 23 weeks, so your due date must be around mid april. I'm a teacher too. I think the best thing for you is to decide when to start your mat leave, irrespective of you having a date for your elcs. Our last day of term is 4th April (I think), would that week be OK for you to start mat leave? You could have your 2 weeks at Easter and then start mat leave on the first day of the summer term. That's what I did with dd1. You know how schools like to arrange contracts from half term to half term, tho they'll do what's in your best interests.

I don't think you'll have a date for your elcs for a while, although I have mine already as I'm expecting twins and dd1 was an emcs. I have been really vague with my school about when I'll actually start mat leave, I have asked that they employ someone from feb half term just in case (I'm a hod in a secondary school and I have two Y11 classes).

Don't feel pressurised to give a specific date yet, you only have to tell them 11 weeks before you go (I think). If they're so keen, invite them to call the consultant to help nail down a date :)

I had an elcs in feb this year. The guidelines now state 39 weeks for one, so unless there's a problem it won't be done before you hit that 39 week mark. My trust were so strict on this I had to fight them to deliver at 38 + 6 and I did have a problem (discovered I had a heart condition that the pregnancy was exacerbating)
I told work I would start mat leave the Monday of my 38th week so I knew I'd have at least a week off before elcs . As it happens diagnosis of heart condition meant I was signed of sick from 35 weeks so it was by the by.
If you we're planning on finishing at 37 weeks you'll be fine, the consultant won't book you in for elcs before that. Of course if you go into labour earlier than that naturally there's not much you can do about notice for work

My consultant agreed to it but refused to do the paperwork till 37 weeks and without the paperwork the hospital midwife wouldn't book me in so I got my date at 37 weeks and delivered on 39+1 (I chose the +1 to be midweek).

Sorry if I am being dense, but why do you need to know the exact date of your section to finalise your mat leave start date? Obviously if you were planning a vaginal delivery you wouldn't know? It doesn't sound like you are planning on working up to the date of the section, so can't you just pick a date some time you feel comfortable with before about 39 weeks and go with that?

Feel like I'm missing something, so sorry if that's a daft question.

Why do you need to give them the specific date of your ellscs. You wouldn't be able to give them a specific date if you were going to wait for labour to start if not going down the section route.
The LSCS will not be before 39 weeks as that is now policy unless indications to do it sooner such as preeclampsia, IUGR diabetes etc. you surely aren't planning to work right up till the date of CS? I think you would struggle. Most people start leave by 37 weeks. I had 2 weeks annual leave starting at 37 weeks with my mat leave planned to start on the day of my planned CS at 39 weeks.
Had dd at 38 weeks after only 1 week of annual leave so that wasn't the best planning.
Just decide a date to start leave. They have to be happy with that, it doesn't have to be set in stone either as birth is so Unpredictable.
I understand you feel you need to have a firm plan but don't let this be all consuming, you have to try and go with the flow when it comes to having dc's.

I'd book your maternity leave to start at about 36/37wks. Your section should not take place before 39wk unless have any medical competitions or go into labour early.

My caesarean was booked at 20wks. I fully expect to get a phone call in two weeks telling me the date has been changed. A friend was called 2 days before with them trying to move it.

Each health trust is different, annoying but you'll just have to wait and keep asking for the date.

I was a teacher and I didn't have my elcs confirmed until around 34 weeks. I was due middle of July and was booked in at exactly 39 weeks.

I started my maternity leave in June half term.