When to have an elective c-section

[Kizza2]

To anyone who has had an elective c-section-

1. how did u go about choosing the date?
2. when does the OBGYN start discussing it?
3. is the date chosen by the parents, the doctor or a compromise of both- e.g. does the doctor say- "right, i have these days available, choose one"??

We are due December 28th, but the baby will be taken out before that but we are conflicted about the date-

we want it to be as far away from December 14th- thats my dads birthday and for the rest of the babies life he/she will have my dad crowbar himself into any celebrations which we dont want

We dont want- December 4th, 9th or 15th or 18th (family birthdays) and not the 8th- 8 is considered very unlikely and we are not keen on 7th (know some not so nice people born on that day).

we were told by the midwife that they can take baby out any time after 36 weeks which leaves 30th Nov and first week of December available- which is great but if the baby is doing ok, then is it better to wait till 37 weeks?

we are very conflicted, as wonderful as December is, it is very popular.

39 weeks for me. That was the day before my own birthday, so they said I could have it the day after. I requested to have my baby on the original date as I just wanted her out!

Surely a birthday is a birthday, and if you were having a natural birth you would have no choice at all. If the child has to share a birthday then what is the problem in that?

Unless for medical reasons, I would not have a section before 39 weeks due to risk to my baby.

hi thanks everyone for your responses.

Just to add, my son was born at 27 and he is very healthy, no complications and although he is a little small, he is doing great. Being born early isnt always a bad thing- it saved both our lives and we havent had any long term problems as a result. But i understand its different for everyone.

happywheezer- thank you for your response, think 22nd is a weekend (i considered the day myself) and i dont think my doctor will like to come in then :)

dietcokeandwine- I was able to choose which day in the week DS2 was delivered by elective section, our hospital just uses a big diary to book them in

i hope thats what happens with us- provided nothing goes wrong and we make it to 36 weeks- i hope this is the approach they have.

Guess if it doesnt come on xmas day- its luck of the draw, hope it works out well for us

ps- as for baby sharing the birthday with my dad- it will be great, if he was a nice man, but sadly he isnt and i couldnt share my childs birthday with someone like him.

I am sure people can relate- imagine the most precious wonderful thing in your life being born on the same day as someone you dislike so much?

I can't relate to the birthdays thing at all I'm afraid - if a baby was born on the birthday of someone horrible, to me the good thoughts (baby's birth) would help wipe out the bad thoughts (memories of someone awful) so it would actually be a good thing.

I had a ELCS booked at a London hospital. After a meeting with a consultant I was told to go to the booking in desk, the lady looked at the dates available and said to me...any day you like in week x or week y, what day would you prefer? I decided on a particular date in week x and they booked me in for that day.

I went into spontaneous labour 3 weeks before my pre-booked ELCS so in the end it wasn't up to me. Even when you have the best laid plans, nature dictates what will happen, so I wouldn't worry too much about dates.

I am an elective c section. At Wigan they don't carry out these at weekends. Is what my consultant said. He is due on the 28th of October which is A Sunday. I am thinking I will get given the week before. If it is on my birthday it would be really special. But if you go down the natural route the baby decides when they arr coming. That is how I see the c-section, if the date given is meant to be that date then it is special. But your waters could go and change things. I'm just looking forward to meeting my little one.

Hi ladies

Can you advise me on how do I go about getting an appointment with a consultant to discuss that I am contemplating an elective CS?

The midwives have told me to wait till my week 34 appointment to discuss my birth plan but I dont want to stress about it bw now(week 26) and then.

Thanks