Timing a planned ELCS

[Stardustshaper]

For a number of medical reasons, I have no choice but to have a ELCS for DC2.

How close did you schedule your ELCS to your EDD?

I would ideally like to have baby stay in and come out when ready, but know that ELCS are scheduled from 39 weeks.

My DS1 arrived 5 days post my EDD. Any chances that second baby will also tend to be late?

I really don't want to run my medical risks of going into labour early and not even having time for an EMCS due to a precipitous first birth, but don't want to bring baby out unnecessarily early.

Mine was booked for 39+1 but I went into labour at 38+4. My first was born at 40+6 so going early was a bit of a shock!

Gosh. I wonder how common it is to go into labour early with a second pregnancy. I hope all went well for you, bar the initial shock of an early start.

My c section is booked for when I'm exactly 39 weeks (in just under 3 weeks time). With ds1 my back waters broke at 38+5 and then he came at 39+1. If my waters go early or I start contracting they will bring my c section forward.
The date of my c section was totally decided by the hospital, I had no choice when mine would be. I'm already measuring ahead of my dates.

I'm surprised my consultant hasn't been as firm about the earlier date for me. Fingers crossed your baby holds on for the scheduled date, bluehearted.

I think this depends a lot on your hospital, consultant and how far ahead they give you a date. I got mine agreed early (11 wks) so the diary was empty which gave me more say on dates. I also wanted it as close to 40 wks as possible as had been 8 days over with DC1, so was booked for 39+6 by hospital dates and 39+2 by mine. However others I know that have had theirs booked later or at other hospitals have had no say in the date at all.

All of my careful planning fell to pieces anyway when they contacted me 2 wks before my scheduled date to say the theatre was now closed that day and every other day in the week around it was full up! I ended up being shoe- horned in at 40+0 by my dates which was fine by me.

Theatre closing? Wasn't expecting that. So you truly did have your baby on your EDD!

I was booked for 39+3 but my waters broke a week early. This time I am booked for 38+3. I think they aim for week 39 ideally, but it may depend on other considerations.

My first ELCS (second c-section) was carried out at 39 weeks exactly, by scan dates. Except that I thought that I was only 38 weeks (my due date was put forward a week at my 12 week scan), and DC2 was so sleepy and hard to feed that I still think that I was probably right. This time round my date was also put forward a week at my scan, so I've booked my c-section for 39+5 (38+6 by my dates) - and even then only because the hospital will only schedule C-sections for Monday-Thursday - I would have waited another day or two.

When I received the somewhat shocking news I was expecting dd, all my consultant would say regarding dates was 'well we will not allow this to go on more than 37 weeks'.

Then he offered to deliver her on ds's birthday (earlier) as he thought I might like the benefit of joint birthday parties. (No way)
Then a conference in Leeds came up so he thought he might delay me by a day. (We had a Frank Discussion)
So dd was due on 7 Dec and was delivered on 15 Nov. A little small at 5lb 13 but rather feisty.

DD2 was booked in for 39 + 4

I wanted to change it coz it was our wedding anniversary, but they couldn't as it was their only available slot.

The NICE guidelines say a baby born by ELCS should stay in at least 39 wks (unless there is another issue). So expect a date very close to this (which fits in with hospital). I had DD1 at 38+5, DD2 at 39+2 and DD3 is going to be born on 38+6. They are fully developed by this time so coming out a few days earlier than they might naturally have done won't make a jot of difference so you are worrying unnecessarily Also you are unlikely to get much of a say.