What if Baby comes early - can I still have elcs?

[discobeaver]

I have a cs planned but now I am worried in case I go into labour early - can I still have the section? This worry started when a substitute consultant said the cs
would be at 39 not 38 weeks. Last baby was 38 weeks and 8.5 pounds because of my diabetes so now I am worried that at 39 weeks I am more likely to go into labour naturally and also have a whopping great baby.
Would they still do a c section if the baby came at an unsceduled time do you think? I have my 20 week appt I. A couple of weks so will ask then, but getting unreasonably concerned ATM! Thanks

I went into labour at 37 weeks with ds3 and was still sectioned as planned.

Was put in my notes as an emergency section but it is still possible .

I've had two electives and was told both times that if I went in to labour early, I should contact the hospital straight away and they'd perform the sections. I still worried though!

Ooh thanks that makes me feel better! My concern is going into labour at stupid o clock, and the anaesthetist not being there or just no one really aware that I had a section planned and saying " you will have to have a vb" . Irrational I know but that's the scenario playing out in my head. I am going to try and get it planned for 38 weeks if I can

I had a cs with dd at 38 weeks, and booked my cs with ds for 39 weeks. At 37 weeks, I started to contract and went into hospital to be checked. I was found to be 1cm dilated, and they gave me the choice of either staying in to be monitored, and if I progressed, having the cs, or going home and trying a VBAC. I opted to go home, mainly because I wasn't mentally prepared to stay in hospital I think. I ended up having ds in quite dramatic fashion, with a rather unexpected VBAC.

So, yes, I could have stayed in hispital and had my cs. By the time I actually went into labour, I was screaaaaaaaaming at the mw, 'I WANT MY SECTIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!' He was delivered 25 minutes later.

I'm not entirely sure if this post is helpful or not...

When I phones to say I was contracting I made sure they understood I was to be sectioned and was told to go in straight away. The staff were fantastic and once they discovered I was dilating I was in theatre quickly. Contractions started at 4.30am, went to hospital at 6.00am and ds was here at 7.17am.

Try not to worry, an anaesthetist is on call at all times.

Interesting thread. This is my worry also. Will have ELCS at 39 weeks but keep thinking DS will arrive earlier.

i had elcs's with both my DC due to a severe fear of childbirth and this was a big fear of mine, going into labour early. but as others have said, you just need to contact the hospital asap if it does happen and they will get you in for an emergency section straight away.

good luck with the birth! x

I am having a section at 39 weeks (in 12 days!) and was told that if I went into labour earlier than this that I would still get my section so do not worry!

It is annoying when they schedule you for 39 weeks and you know you are unlikely to get that far! My consultant is trying to do the same, and I've yet to get past 37 weeks.. and in fact had PTL with DC2 at 34 weeks.

However yes, you will still get a section. Just not quite as relaxed as it might have been and probably at a far more inconvenient time - on the plus side at least you will know baby is ready I guess!

If only this thread had popped up yesterday - I had a funny time of it and had what can only be described as a painful braxton hicks (it felt like a contraction from what I remember of DS1's labour) so was panicking about going into labour at 33 weeks and having to give birth when I had a c-section booked (should have been the least of my worries!)....thankfully at an appointment today they reassured me that I would just have to call, come in and they'd do a section. I worried about it all of yesterday, but not now.

Thanks all for your replies, you have made me feel a lot better!

I think you can. I was pencilled in for a cs at 39 weeks but asked my consultant what would happen if I went into labour he said just get to the hospital straight away and they would do the cs.

2 of my friends went into labour before their planned cs and were quickly whisked into theatre for a cs.

It's definitely possible. I actually asked my MW if, in the eventuality if me needing a section because baby won't turn, I can wait until labour starts spontaneously and if I still need a section have it at any time. She said that's perfectly possible because there's always people on call although obviously it's better for their scheduling if it's planned! But I'd rather avoid the section and hoping baby will turn so I'm the reverse!

I love my MW sometimes, she's complicit in all sorts of non-standard things that I want.