Christmas baby

[emma2201]

Hi everyone I'm will due around estimated 31st december 2025 I will have a scheduled 2nd c section how early or close to christmas will my date be . I already have a 4 year old so don't want to miss christmas and b in hospital.

Congrats! I believe most trusts do them at 38 or 39 weeks, so possibly w/c 22nd or w/c 15th? I don’t think you’ll have much say on the actual date though I’m afraid.

Elective c sections are usually done at 39 weeks so that would be about 24th December. However, if you develop any complications in the pregnancy then it would be done at 37 weeks (or sooner if it’s an extreme emergency). So that’d be around 10th December.

I was due 4/1 but had a planned c section on Xmas eve at 37.5 weeks. I didn’t get a choice in the date.

The aim would be 39 weeks. With bank holidays and the weekend this limits you to 24th, 29th, and 30th as dates. There would be some potential to have it in your 38th week instead, but I would think they'd aim to do it on the 29th/30th. But if they choose 24th there's not going to be much choice about it I'm afraid.

I'm really hoping not week of christmas 😕 well see near the time if I can go wc 15th

You’d be 37w5d then. Whilst that is full term, 39 weeks is far better in terms of preventing breathing issues for the baby. That extra week and a half of development is important. Don’t you have someone to help you over Christmas?

I’m having a c section too so I’m not shaming. However, c sections already have an increased risk of breathing issues for the baby so you should really go with medical advice on when to have the section. A week or two does make a big difference. I hope I can hang on until 39 weeks.

I think they generally try not to do it before 39 weeks unless medically necessary because there is a risk to baby doing it too early. They will have reduced staff around the Holidays though so they won't want to be booking them in during Christmas either.

I was induced 23rd ended up with Emcs early hours of Christmas morning, if I had the time again I would have been happy with cs on 22nd/23rd, I was home on 26th just over 24hrs later so would have been home before Christmas Day with my then 2yo ds but hindsight is a wonderful thing

Just to add we celebrated and hosted Christmas on 27th and he was non the wiser. Best Christmas we have ever had I could put my feet up and was so special, so doesn’t have to be the end of the world

I wouldn’t try to push for 38 wks if there isn’t a medical reason. As someone else pointed out, there is an increased risk of breathing issues, albeit temporary, pre 39 weeks. With our third baby I had to have a C section at 38 weeks for medical reasons, we were warned that this could happen, and it did. It’s called Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn, and he spent 48 hours in NICU with it. In our case waiting longer came with more serious risks, so it was worth it. But I wouldn’t choose it for non medical reasons.

I have a friend whose baby was born by c section on 23 December. They celebrated Christmas with their eldest on the 26th, and she was none the wiser.

I had DC2 on 23rd. Came home on Christmas Eve. Being in hospital over Christmas would have been fine if it worked out that way. Are there other family members around to entertain your DC1 if you are in?