Can I request being booking in for my section before my 36 week app?

[Sideofthelake]

I now don’t see the consultant until I am 36 weeks ( I’m 29 weeks now )
I presume my section will be booked then but I’m wondering if it’s possible to book it in sooner ?
I am struggling with prenatal depression, anxiety and just over all stress, I really want to know a date so I can organise my little boy as I am a single parent

I am under the enhanced midwife team but unsure who’s best to contact

Probably not.

Where I work we won’t book them earlier because if we did we’d just have to change the date nearer the time. As emergencies/semi emergencies take priority. Even now when a consultant rings labour ward to say he’s got a woman with high bp, reduced growth, etc that needs a section in the next 48 hours.....sometimes I have to ring up one of the electives and postpone them the day before to make space and it never goes down well. If we booked everyone’s sections early midwives would spend a lot of time rearranging them and upsetting women.

You’ll get at least 3 weeks notice as it won’t be before 39 weeks.

Oh god yeah I didn’t think of the emergencies.
Is it the same at all trusts where they don’t do before 39 weeks? That falls on a Saturday for me so wondering if they’d do the Friday

I have ptsd and my consultant booked mine at 32 weeks for mental health reasons. Not that I'm the best example because dd arrived before my planned section time did. It's worth asking though, they can only say no.

Thankyou that’s reassuring ! Did they book you in for 39 weeks ?
Did you ask them at 32 weeks for a date or did they suggest sorting it then ?

National NICE guidelines are to not do an elective prior to 39 weeks as the risk of respiratory distress syndrome for the baby is significantly increased. So it would normally be first available slot after you’ve turned 39 weeks.

Consultant brought it up. She knew I was really anxious about the whole thing and thought I'd be happier knowing an end date. She also put me first on the list so I'd have less time to wait/run away. I was booked in for 39+1 which seems to be the earliest our local Trust does electives but went into labour at 39 weeks exactly.

Our hospital only do planned sections 2 days a week, and wouldn’t do them before 39 weeks. They’re always booked at the 36 week appointment.