What date was your elective c section?

[snowitall]

Due august, so obviously very very early days but we have been trying for a while and I am very excited and already planning like a lunatic! If this pregnancy sticks, I will book an elective c-section. I have read enough mumsnet threads on this topic to feel strongly about this now.

I have read that c-sections will be scheduled “week 39” but wondering what that means in practice. So, I wondered if you could share what your due date was and what was your elective c-section date? And did you get a choice of dates or just given the date? If you went private did you get more choice about dates?

I know it sounds silly but one of the dates near my due date is my grandmas birthday and I would love to have same birthday for DC but sure how realistic that is!

Can I just offer a different view on the date - I was born on my nanas birthday - which was great and lovely until my nana died when I was a teenager. My birthday is now a reminder that she's not here anymore

Yeah I was worried when I heard too, but (nhs nurse haha so dealt with many a strike recently) be reassured there will always be cover, just sometimes longer waits.

In terms of choosing I actually was given the option. I suppose that could be trust dependent, but as with everything when that time comes there's absolutely no harm in asking. In my trust a different consultant performed the sections each day, I was under one but another carried mine out (for a number of reasons). Just ask, and be prepared to have the same conversation over and over again 🙄

Mine was supposed to be 39+4 but it didn’t happen on that day as they were so overwhelmed with emergencies from the weekend. Was brought back in on 39+6 and I’m fairly certain DS was going to come naturally that day if I didn’t have the CS, things just felt funny

@ProvenceWhipped I’m sorry 💜 my grandma is no longer alive so it’s more of the special connection to her for me with the same date that I’m after. Although admittedly this would feel more special if it happened randomly than me having to engineer it!

I hope that one day your birthday just reminds you of the love you shared with your nana, I think sharing a birthday is really beautiful x (especially as presumably yours was just luck!)

@Shf oh wow that’s cutting it fine!

@nurseshiv okay fingers crossed! I’m likely to be Guy & :
St Thomas in London as live close to there.

@trying29 that’s interesting that September is busiest month! Means everyone conceiving over Xmas holidays!

I was given a choice between Friday in week 39 or Tuesday, just at the start of week 40. I went for the Tuesday, because the Friday was the 13th and it felt a bit unlucky!

It will be the date closest to 39 weeks on which your consultant and team ( or possibly their consultant cover if it is holiday season) have an operating list.I don't think you can justify asking the nhs for a bespoke service beyond that. That all depends on everything going well of course.

@yikesanotherbooboo thank you! If we are NHS I wouldn’t expect a choice of date, but was wondering about the private experience too.

Mine was years ago now on 38/40 exactly( common practice then) .No choice given.Baby was born very floppy and immature seeming when compared to my babies born by SVD on their due day.

Mine was at 39+1 - I booked it at around 34 weeks and was given a choice of 3 or 4 dates (the date I chose was a Monday, think I could choose any day from Mon-Thurs which is when they do elective C sections at my hospital, 2 slots per day).

In the private sector you can probably track down a consultant who operates on the particular day and you could ask their secretary. As you are in central London you have options.

I think mine was booked for 38+2 when I was about 6.5 months pregnant with my DTs. I was given a choice of dates, during that week.

I had a surprise elcs at 36+5.

39+1 for DC1 and 39+2 for DC2
Where I am they don't book them in until a week or two before to make sure everyone who needs one can get one (you may not find out you are high risk until quite late on!).

Bang on week 39.

My reason for an elective was tokophobia, which was exacerbating my chronic and (during pregnancy) severe anxiety and depression.

For that reason, they asked and then were very helpful in accommodating my requested date - which was basically as soon as poss in week 39, to minimise the risk of going into labour.

My sister is due next month. She’s been told she’ll be told in week 36 or 37 and will most likely be booked in for the start of week 39.

My ELCS was booked for week 39 exactly and I was told the date at my 36 week appointment.

They wouldn’t confirm any earlier than that.

I would also hesitate to opt for an ELCS on the basis of MN threads though

Ahh then that would be a lovely link for you to your grandma who is no longer here!❤️ It was just luck on my part as I was earlier than expected lol x

39+4 for me. Meant to be 39+2 but they fucked up my medication so they concluded it would’ve been too risky to do it as planned. So came back two days later to have my baby.

I would just remember that there's only so much control you can have over all of this, so your expectations are realistic. Even with a booked c-section you can go into early and fast labour, and may not get the date or birth you have planned.

@LittleBrownBaby totally! And I imagine women who had complications or emcs are rolling their eyes skyward at me and the idea you could plan things like this. I was just curious if it was standard to get to “pick a date” within the week or if you really just get what you’re given. The answer seems to be not usually, but sometimes!

@snowitall I’ve had 2 elcs at st thomas’. Are you under consultant care? My consultant booked them in whilst I was in the room, but I didn’t get a choice on dates.

I hope you get the birth you want. My planned EMC was at 38 weeks

Booked for exactly 39 weeks (Christmas baby which limited things)

Born at exactly 37 weeks the old fashioned way 😆