Anyone successful scheduling a CSection for 38 Weeks?

[MissingCoffeeandWine]

HI all, hoping you can help me. I’m 22 weeks pregnant, due (my second) late May 2021. I had a consultants appointment this morning that I found hard, she was rushed and didn’t listen to any of my questions/worries.

I had my daughter in December 2019. My waters broke naturally at 37 weeks, 3+ days of labour, failed induction, EMCS asI failed to dilate past 7cm. Midwives supporting me felt it was an “odd presentation” and connected it (potentially) to scar tissue failing to stretch (I’ve had lots of previous cervical treatment for CIN cells). It made me sad, but made sense to me. Baba was born safely, but needed time in NICU un-expectedly.

This time around, I was considering an ELCS. The consultant pushed hard for VBAC. I was told that they will not schedule an ELCS prior to 39 weeks at all. I understand that it is better for baby, but have a family history of late loss (including babies born sleeping at term) and of preterm labour. With my previous pregnancy, they wanted to induce me at 38 weeks and didn’t want me going any further (different hospital but they were insistent, hence I was induced). I had a sweep at 37 weeks! So I am totally confused as to why barely a year later, they are now saying its safer to wait and (likely) be an emergency patient?

I’m so confused. I know its better for pregnancies to be as close to due as possible, but how come I needed a plan to deliver early last time, but not this time? When if anything, its now confirmed, that I am likely to give birth prior to 39 weeks. Why would they prefer me to be an emergency, than a planned section? It makes no sense to me to wait - given my particular circumstances.

I asked and just got old “thats not how we do it”.

From reading NICE guidelines - it seems I can request that a date be scheduled at 38 weeks. Has anyone achieved this? Who did you have to involve?

@MissingCoffeeandWine Can I ask how you got on with this?

Had an elective booked for my first at 39 + 1, there were medical reasons for this, I'm a type 1 diabetic but despite this baby was very small which was causing some worries about whether she would cope with a vb. On balance of risks I opted for the elcs. Early labour started spontaneously at 38+4 but I didn't realise as I wasn't in pain, while I was in for monitoring they noted elevated fetal heart rate normally only seen in labour and the belly bands were registering contractions. As I wasn't in pain they took this to be an error and sent me home. The next morning I was back in at 6cm and taken for my cs.

My problem this time round is that I need a cs as the increased ocular pressure during the second stage of labour could cost me the sight in my left eye but I now live 3 hours away from the hospital. I can't go into labour and risk getting to the hospital too late this time round.

I also have the worry of the increased risks to baby going over 38 weeks as a diabetic. I didn't really question it last time but now it jars that the medical advice is to be induced at 38 weeks to lower the risk of still birth but seemingly that doesn't count if you are to have a section. Why are they willing to risk my baby's life just because I need a section?

Planning making a request for 38 weeks and just hoping you had some success with this. Not the exact same circumstances but similar as there is an increased risk to baby at 39 weeks.