Elective section on a bank holiday weekend?

[Hannah2025]

Hi everyone,

Bit of a random one really! I guess I’m just looking for some words of wisdom from those who have been through it.

I am currently 36+1, going in for an elective c section at 39w. I know I won’t get my date until 38w, but I’m starting to get a bit anxious about the whole date situation.

My 39th week falls on May bank holiday weekend. I turn 39w on the Friday (23rd) then of course we have a long weekend including bank holiday Monday which I assume knocks out the 24,25,26?

Do hospitals perform elective c sections on Fridays? I am worried I’m going to be getting way too close to my due date with the bank holidays etc.

Any advice is appreciated!

I had this, my 39w fell on the bank holiday itself so the hospital wasn't doing electives and I was booked in for the day after.

If your days falls on the Friday you should get the Friday as it's a normal working day

My ELCS was on a Friday, also the day I turned 39 weeks. In my case, it was because I was having a specific consultant and she only did surgery on a Friday. The only thing to watch for is that it can be more difficult to get discharged at the weekend but I had an awesome midwife who charged round getting everything signed so that I could go home on the Saturday.

I was in this position last year with DD2. 39w was on Easter weekend and I ended up not getting booked in until 39+5 due to the backlog built up due to the bank hols. DD2 came spontaneously before then (c section was for breech position and she actually turned herself the day before I went into labour so I delivered naturally).

Because I was booked for so late, I was told to go to the hospital at the first sign of any contractions or waters breaking so that if I needed the section, I could be fit around the emergency list. You should be able to get a Friday as hoped and at least you are the right side of the bank hol, but if not, they should give you pretty strict instructions about what to do if you go into labour earlier than your planned date. Is it your first baby? They usually take a while anyway so you would have plenty of time to get to the hospital.

It varies from hospital to hospital.
move worked places who do electives mon- Thurs only and none on Fridays and other places who do them Monday to Saturday.
Best idea is to ask your midwife.
Depending on the reason for your section will alter there advice about risks of going into labour etc

This.

Usually my (large) trust runs Monday to Friday only, excluding bank holidays. But demand has become far higher than capacity, so extra lists are being run on some weekends and all bank holidays lately.

It'll also depend on why you're having a C-section. If there's medical reasons they'd probably try to fit you in on the Friday. If it's maternal request, then they'd go for the Tuesday onwards.

Naturally if your waters go, or you go into a labour, you can have an emergency C-section any day of the week.

Thanks everyone! This is really useful info. I am having an elected so no medical reason. I was really hoping I’d go in on the Friday when I turn 39w, but going by the comments maybe I will be a lot closer to my due date than I’m hoping for. I should get my date next week at 38w, just an anxious wait until then!

When I went for my placenta scan at 32 (I had low lying placenta which has moved) I was told I was measuring a day ahead of what I was, so going off that I actually turn 39w on the Thursday, not the Friday. Could this change things at all even though they’ve not updated it in my notes?