Will they give me an early c-section?

[ChickenDippers123]

So I'm 29+2 and I'll be having an elective cesarean around 39 weeks (haven't been given a date yet) due to medical issues. I have ulcerative colitis and have had my large intestine removed, a stoma bag and then a stoma reversal where I am connected small bowel - rectum to allow me to go to the toilet 'normally' again.

My colorectal surgeon is adamant I need the section because he wants to preserve my pelvic floor as much as possible in case I need further surgery in the future for a pouch.

But last week I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and my blood sugars have been a bit all over the place, I'm currently managing it with diet.

I've also been told I have strep B and apparently that means you need antiobiotics if you go into labour or your waters break?

Would IBU to ask if I can have a C-Section earlier than 39 weeks? With all of this in mind I'm really worried about my waters going/going into labour and having an emergency c-section. I know they don't tend to do them at 37 weeks anymore but do they still do them at 38?

Do you think I have a big enough case for it? I understand if they won't and I won't get upset with them but I just think it would be best for me to have it a bit earlier with all of this in mind.

Thank you

I think that you have a good case for it tbh. I had my last c sec at 38+2 although they did monitor me from 36 weeks to go in at anytime due to complications. If they do it earlier you will most likely need to have a steroid injection which I had at 36+1 just incase. Good of luck.

@Op there are reasons for not performing a c-section before 39, one being that children born before then can have breathing issues ( those born by section). There are a lot of ladies who have them at 39, they are prepared in case labour starts earlier to perform an emergency c-section. But as far as I know it doesn't happen that early.

You can always try to talk to your consultant, but I think it's difficult they will accept this request, unless there is another health issue.

Wow, what a difficult time. I'm so worry OP.

I totally think they would do it at 38 weeks, before then is doubtful as the risk increases enormously for the baby (I've had 5 sections). Speak to your consultant asap so that you can know and get peace of mind.
For what it's worth it's (relatively) rare for waters to break in first pregnancies as a first sign of labour.

I had different issues but they wouldn't consider a section before 39 weeks. I was hospitalized for 3 weeks instead.

Yanbu to ask, and I would give your reasons as you have here.
GBS is mostly irrelevant if you're having an elective section unless you're waters break. They wouldn't bring an elective section forwards to 37/38 weeks just because you've had a positive test for GBS, but if you're waters break
then they would bring it forwards.

It may be that if you struggle to control your blood sugars on diet and also on medication, or if there are concerns regarding growth then the consultants would suggest an earlier Cs anyway

I think with GD they often recommend an earlier delivery so I think you have a good case. If you had an otherwise straightforward pregnancy they would wait until 39 weeks, in your case they need to weigh up the best decision for you and baby.

It is possible that they might do. However if you have a section before 39 weeks, they’ll want you to have a course of steroid injections. As you have diabetes, they can send your blood sugars a bit haywire and so this would have to be done as an inpatient, with your blood sugar being tested every hour until 24 hours after the last injection.

I had my section at 38 weeks, having been admitted at 36 weeks, complications caused by a huge ovarian cyst that was putting me and baby at risk. Burth daye was revised several times as my condition worsened. I had steroids for his lungs, all was fine. Bab was slow to learn to feed, bf took a few months to establish, I pumped and mixed fed, but it was ok, baby was and remains in perfect health. I couldn't have gone to term.

Awful typing sorry.

I’ve had early c sections before 39weeks for medical reasons one at 38 and one at 36 they said really after 37 weeks it’s usually fine but they give steroids as a precaution up to 39 weeks

I had my cesarean at 38 weeks, Would have been 37 but I couldn't have the steroids (I also had gestational diabetes) x