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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How close to due date can you have an elective c-section?

30 replies

ThomasinaLivesHere · 19/06/2023 17:44

I’m interested in hearing from those who’ve had elective c-sections - did you get options on dates or just given a date and if you could choose was it possible to be a day or two before the c-section or did they require you to be a week before? Thank you.

OP posts:
ohfook · 19/06/2023 17:46

I could choose my own date but it had to be a week before my due date give or take a day or two.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 19/06/2023 17:51

I wanted as early as possible* but more than one friend of mine were allowed to book late week 39 and early week 40ish.

*and I still went into labour beforehand

Doje · 19/06/2023 17:53

I hedged my bets hoping for a VBAC but at 41 and a bit weeks it was all set to be another (probably failed) induction and I then requested a c-section which they did a couple of days later.

Crumbcatcher · 19/06/2023 17:55

There was nothing available until 40+1 so I was booked in then, but went into labour before that so had emcs.

peaches19 · 19/06/2023 17:56

I got to choose from a few available dates and had my ELCS at 40 weeks. I was lucky I didn't go into labour but my previous baby was overdue so I took a chance.

Bellabon · 19/06/2023 17:57

Mine was 5 days before my due date

DanceMumTaxi · 19/06/2023 18:03

I didn’t get a choice. It was 5 days before my due date.

Totallyconfusedperson · 19/06/2023 18:08

39+4 for me

TakeMe2Insanity · 19/06/2023 18:09

Due to the hospital’s policy of not doing electives over the xmas period my DC date was 36+6. Also no dates until the end of January hence I took the only slot available.

FlounderingFruitcake · 19/06/2023 18:09

They usually aim for 39 weeks and if that’s a weekend or they’re busy you might get a few days later. It won’t normally be any earlier than that unless there’s a medical reason to get baby out early. Mine were 38+6 and 39+0.

CatRatSplat · 19/06/2023 18:09

I negotiated mine 🤣, said I wouldn't be there on the day I was given as I didn't want baby born so close to 1st child's bday. As I hadn't gone into labour with first (emergency c) I had to promise I would always have a driver with me for the last 2 weeks as bubs was breach to get me there asap and was given a date a bit later.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 19/06/2023 18:09

39 weeks is standard. They wanted to perform my ELCS AT 36 due to 'small growth' he was born at 36+5 at 6lb 3. Hardly small!!

Slothmomma · 19/06/2023 18:15

I was booked in for 39 weeks with mine

Parkandpicnic · 19/06/2023 18:17

Usually after 39 weeks as the majority of women don’t go into labour before then and better outcomes for babies than being delivered before then

Original poster
ThomasinaLivesHere · 19/06/2023 18:53

Thanks so much for replies. Also realise I mistyped.
It should say: if you could choose was it possible to be a day or two before the due date or did they require you to be a week before?

OP posts:
Original poster
ThomasinaLivesHere · 19/06/2023 19:00

It’s interesting to see the variety of replies. I guess I’ll just have to be patient and see what happens.

OP posts:
Parkandpicnic · 19/06/2023 19:08

ThomasinaLivesHere · 19/06/2023 18:53

Thanks so much for replies. Also realise I mistyped.
It should say: if you could choose was it possible to be a day or two before the due date or did they require you to be a week before?

No very much doubt they will insist it to be a week before if you’re wanting it to be a day or 2 before. They basically want baby to come as close as possible to due date (if no other risk factors advising earlier delivery) but obviously after 39 weeks risk of going into labour significantly increases so they want to avoid an emergency caesarean if you go into labour as safer for you both if planned caesarean. However if you asked to deliver at e.g. 39+6 they would just discuss this with you and as long as you were ok with it then book you for this date. Here they aim for 39+3 but obviously postpone for Christmas day or if very busy so it isn’t a huge deal.

Novella12 · 19/06/2023 19:16

Mine was booked for 40 weeks exactly. I went into labour at 39+1 so had to move it forward

Parkandpicnic · 19/06/2023 19:20

P.s. just to say also, they will only have planned CS lists on certain days, it might be Monday- Friday for a huge city hospital or sometimes just Mondays, Wednesday and Friday at other hospitals plus a limited number of slots a day so that will also influence which date they can offer

bettyboo40 · 19/06/2023 19:29

Mine was on my due date! They must have been very busy. I actually went into labour and ended up having an emergency c-section.

mondaytosunday · 19/06/2023 19:47

The first option was the day before my stepsons birthday so they let me move it a few days. It was t elective - it was on sixties recommendation. But they seemed a little bit flexible. As it happens waters broke at 37 weeks so dates went out the window!

ScatteredShattered · 19/06/2023 20:14

I booked for 39+5 and on that day it was moved to 39+6 as they were busy.

ThePoint678 · 19/06/2023 20:22

Booked for 39 weeks but could choose the exact date for the 10 days between 38+4ish to nearly 40. Ended up going into labour at 36+4 and had elective instead. I preferred that as I felt comforted that he was ready to be born that day regardless of my choices (and he was massive so probably good he didn’t cook for longer).

oliveroses · 19/06/2023 23:07

39 + 6 as they were too busy to do it earlier but went into early labour the night before.

Midnightpony · 19/06/2023 23:09

CatRatSplat · 19/06/2023 18:09

I negotiated mine 🤣, said I wouldn't be there on the day I was given as I didn't want baby born so close to 1st child's bday. As I hadn't gone into labour with first (emergency c) I had to promise I would always have a driver with me for the last 2 weeks as bubs was breach to get me there asap and was given a date a bit later.

@CatRatSplat
How close was the original date to your DC1 birthday?
And how many days apart did they end up being born?