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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Elective section at 38 weeks

7 replies

Tumsout · 15/05/2019 22:05

Hello, I’m currently 33 weeks with gestational diabetes and have just had a growth scan. They said baby is on 95th centile and approx 5lb10 already. I am now planned to have elective csection at 38+4. I had emergency section with first baby nearly six years ago but no GD. Does anyone have any similar birth experiences they can share please. I’m concerned about baby with being delivered early and also the added complications diabetes can bring.
Thanks in advance for any response x

OP posts:
GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 15/05/2019 22:10

I didn’t have gd but my first was delivered at 38.5 in a planned section due to my own back issues.
No problems at all , baby was 8.5lbs .
Now they wait until after 39 weeks for a planned section if possible, my second was delivered at 39.4, again no issues.
A friend of mine who had gd recently had a planned section at 38.5 and all was good with herself and baby too

PaintBySticker · 15/05/2019 22:14

In my first pregnancy I was diagnosed with GD late at 34 weeks. I then had growth scans at 36 and 38 weeks and the 38 week scan showed concerns with blood flow to the placenta. I was advised to be induced but the induction failed and I had a caesarean - so it wasn’t exactly elective but it wasn’t exactly an emergency either, I was never in labour.

Baby normal weight. He did have issues with low blood sugar after he was born. My advice (and what I did with my second son) was to feed, feed, feed - keep the baby with you, on you and at the breast all the time. My first son had formula to help his blood sugar and that wasn’t needed for my second - although it’s worth saying that the GD was diagnosed early the second time and I had good blood sugar control with diet so that would have helped too.

Good luck.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 15/05/2019 22:20

38+4 should be fine. I don't think they let any routine elective c-section go above 39 weeks now do they? so 38+4 wouldn't even be considered early.

I had my 2nd child by elective c-section at 39 weeks. He was a robust 8lb15oz!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and I'm sure you will be well looked after now they know about your GD. Do you now have specialist care/any extra appointments?

BasilBooBoo · 15/05/2019 22:21

Hi.

I had a planned section at 37.6, it was a lovely experience and baby was absolutely fine.

Good luck with your new baby.

speedyhedgehog · 15/05/2019 22:25

All mine were born by section, first one at 40.2, second elective at 39w exactly, the last three are triplets so it was always going to be a section, they were born 34.4, because of blood flow and growth concerns for one of them. He was the smallest and had to stay in the nicu for a while, but they all did really well. Other two came home with me. I never had GD so can't comment on that.

Tumsout · 15/05/2019 22:27

Thank you all for replies feel a bit better hearing other people’s stories. Can’t help but fear the worst! Have another growth scan at 36 weeks and meet the doctor and diabetic team again. Also have my routine midwife appointments as well. Managing the diabetes with diet and checking sugars 4 times a day. Hopefully sugars will stay controlled until the section..

OP posts:
incogneto · 15/05/2019 22:30

I had a CS at 38+3. Baby was on 95th for all my growth scans but was born and weighed only 7lb 5. He was tiny and everyone was surprised because they thought he'd be huge.

Forgot to mention I also had GD but it caused no complications after birth for me or baby.

Good luck OP Thanks

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