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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Elective C-Cection .. when?

28 replies

MummyPiggy87 · 04/05/2015 21:25

Hi, after my first pregnancy ending in a bad labour and having a csection im now electing for a c-section with this second baby, but have to wait quite a few weeks before going down to speak to the doctor about it, I just wondered how many weeks roughly they do it? I heard 39 weeks but that can't be right?! I could go into labour before then?!

OP posts:
AbbeyRoadCrossing · 04/05/2015 21:27

Yes 39 weeks as it's best for baby to be almost full term. If you go into labour before then it's an emergency section

Purpleball · 04/05/2015 21:28

Some trusts it's later still. My SiL was 39+4 from memory. I think it depends on the reason for the ELCS too.

cathpip · 04/05/2015 21:28

Yep, they will section you in your 39th week.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 04/05/2015 21:28

Although if you have a history of pre term birth they might do it slightly earlier. When was your first born?

Original poster
MummyPiggy87 · 04/05/2015 21:31

Really, wow! I'm shocked it that late. But yes totally understand it's better for baby. Thank you everyone

OP posts:
meglet · 04/05/2015 21:31

39 weeks.

I had a broken cervix and was told that if I go into labour early, before the ELCS at 39 weeks, to call the hospital before I left and they'd prepare for a semi - EMCS there and then.

trilbydoll · 04/05/2015 21:32

Mine is booked for 39w. Consultant said if I went into labour just go into hospital and they would do the section then.

I was 2w overdue with dc1 and tbh would prefer the section later. I think I take a long time to grow babies and I'm worried about feeding not working out because the baby isn't quite ready.

Racheyg · 04/05/2015 21:55

I had a emcs at 38 weeks with ds1 21 months ago. I am 36 1/2 weeks pregnant with ds2 and booked for a csection at 39+4 I hope to go into labour before and try Vbac.

JammyGeorge · 04/05/2015 22:32

I had an elective section at 38 + 4 with ds2. The guideline was that you should be 39 + weeks but the dates fell over a weekend and a day he wasn't working so he pulled it back by 3 days. I had a horrific birth with ds1 and would of been in bits worrying about going into labour. I think a lot depends on your consultant and the circumstances. I was told that if I went into labour early I would just need to ring them and they would do a section straight away.

CactusAnnie · 04/05/2015 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Tranquilitybaby · 04/05/2015 23:16

From 39 weeks to allow the lungs to be fully matured.

Fattycow · 05/05/2015 00:09

It is 39 weeks here as well.

Number3cometome · 05/05/2015 10:43

Depends on the reason!

DS was born by EMCS due to eclampsia (seizures) at exactly 40 weeks (went in to labour 39+5)

My second baby was a c-section at 38 weeks (ELCS)

This baby I want at 39+2 (I know, fussy cow) but my Consultant is trying to push me for a week earlier (38 weeks) I have said I am not happy with this as I am certain my dates are a week out.

39 is better, but the safety of mother and baby has to be considered.

Jackiebrambles · 05/05/2015 10:47

I'm opting for an ELCS this time too and my hospital does them at 39 weeks too.

Owllady · 05/05/2015 10:50

When I had my middle child 13 years ago it was 38 weeks on the dot
7 years ago I had my third by elective on my due date and the argument was if I went into Labour I could go to the hospital and they would get me into surgery anyway.
I really wouldn't worry :)

cuphat · 05/05/2015 10:54

I was given a choice between 39 weeks and 39+4 this time. The gap is due to the fact that they don't do ELCS on a weekend or bank holiday. I've gone for 39+4 so I hope I don't go into labour before then. I had my last baby at 39+3 by section; again I was offered that or 39 weeks because of the weekend.

Original poster
MummyPiggy87 · 05/05/2015 11:35

rach what's a Vbac?

Thanks for sharing everyone,
I had no idea how important it was to get as close to due date as possible! It's put my mind at ease that if I do go into labour early I won't not be able to have a csec.
I can now see why its 39 weeks + it does make a lot of sense.
cactus With my 1st I went into labour at 40+1 and was in labour for 32 hours I tried pushing, they tried forceps but he still wasn't coming out and his heartbeat started to fall which is why I had the emcs. I know this might not happen again but I just don't want to take the risk as I really thought I was going to lose him at one point, when he came out he wasn't breathing and needed help.
Thanks again and good luck to all those due to have theirs.Flowers

OP posts:
shitebag · 05/05/2015 11:43

I had an EMCS with DS at 40+6 after the labour failed to progress and his heart rate dropped pretty drastically.

I had a semi-ELCS with DD at 39+5, I had initially wanted a vaginal birth but she was transverse for pretty much the whole of the third trimester wouldn't budge so they pushed for a CS and I agreed to it unless I went into labour beforehand hence why it was booked so late on.

Jackiebrambles · 05/05/2015 11:49

VBAC - vaginal birth after caesarean.

Racheyg · 05/05/2015 20:13

Mummy, jackie has mentioned what a vbac is. I totally understand your concerns, I really dont want assisted delivery hence the trying for Vbac but may have a Csection.

Hope all goes well with your pregnancy. xx

geekymommy · 05/05/2015 20:37

I'm in the US and going to be having a planned C section with this pregnancy, after an ugly emergency C section with DD. (She also wasn't breathing and needed help when she came out. She is going to be 3 in August and is fine.) They told me they will do it at 39 weeks unless something happens that would make them want to do it earlier.

HappyAsASandboy · 05/05/2015 21:06

I have had two ELCSs.

First at 38+1 (twins)
Second at 40+2 (singleton)

IMO there is no harm in setting the date v close to 40 weeks (or even after, to avoid weekends/fit with consultant diary etc) as they will almost certainly section you if you go into labour earlier than booked date. Gives your baby the longest gestation possible :)

40 weeks is an average gestation. 50% go longer than that, so you've a 50/50 chance of reaching a section date scheduled for 40 weeks ish ....

WidowWadman · 05/05/2015 22:41

39+0 was the earliest I could book for child 2 (unless there had been other reasons making earlier delivery necessary), child 1 was born by EMCS at 38+4, but that made no difference. If I would have gone into labour earlier than the booked date it would have been another EMCS, but all went as planned.

Original poster
MummyPiggy87 · 05/05/2015 23:15

Thank you for sharing sorry to hear the geekymommy I hope this one goes well for you.
Thanks for your replies

OP posts:
Dildals · 06/05/2015 10:34

My first baby came at 29 weeks and still the guidance is to do the ELCS this time round at 39 weeks. The consultant is happy to do it earlier if my anxiety is so bad that it's basically outweighing the benefits of waiting longer.

I had the steroids too in my first pregnancy (since she was coming at 29 weeks), they warned me that they were painful, but I didn't really find them that painful. Probably differs per person.

Anyway. Just keep that baby cooking as long as you can.

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