Asking for a section at 38 weeks

[nothanksbarb]

Hi all,

I'm currently 16 weeks, with a due date of 5th January.

Due to previous birth trauma I will be having an elective section. DD2 was born at 38+5 by emergency c section weighing 7 lb 15. She was very slightly jaundiced but didn't require a baby sun bed.

DH will only receive statutory paternity pay which means we cannot afford for him to take time off and he has no annual leave left. I was just wondering what the chances are, or if it is even reasonable of me to ask, for this baby to be born at 38+1/2. This would mean the baby will be here by Christmas Eve. DH is off over Christmas until the new year.

We have two other children, one school age, and taking two of his 4 weeks of annual leave in January is just going to be too difficult.

It feels a bit selfish to have my baby born early to suit our financial situation, but I'm so worried about money and can't think of an alternative.

I just don't see that they would do it unless there is a medical reason.

You are more than entitled to discuss with your midwife that you want a planned c-section. Ultimately, it is your choice to birth your baby how you want to and although you may find that the midwife or a consultant tries to advise against the idea, it comes down to your decision so you should do what is right for you Xx

I know you can have this if you pay to go privately but I’m about to have one and I know in my hospital they wouldn’t do it before 39 weeks. They’ve made me wait over the weekend even so I’ll be 39 and a half. Think most hospitals would be reluctant to do it unless it was for medical reasons

I don't think they do them before 39 weeks unless for a medical reason?

As above, 39 weeks minimum unless for a medical reason.

I recently had a csection at 39+2. I wanted it at 38 weeks because I had to have a csection this time round but didn't want to risk an emergency and DS1 was born very quickly naturally at 38+0.

They refused on the basis that if the baby is born via csection before 39 weeks then they have to give steroids as the lungs don't get the shock they'd naturally get during labour so it can result in breathing issues and time spent in nicu. Obviously if I had gone into labour spontaneously I would have had an emergency planned csection and dealt with whatever potential breathing issues occurred.

Good luck op but from my experience its very unlikely

They will not usually offer before 39 weeks for a singleton as they want to allow the lungs to develop fully. You can always ask, if they do agree they will give steroids prior to surgery. I wouldn't get your hopes up though and plan for baby coming around 39wk.

You can ask but I'm not sure I'd put it in terms of needing it because of DH's annual leave

My hospital refuse ELCS before 39 weeks. The only ones that take place before then are emergency ones.

I had a c-section at 38 weeks with my eldest (after concerns about placental blood flow and a failed induction). At that time (11 years ago) the consultant said 38 weeks was considered full term so ok to start the induction. Although it didn’t work and I’m not surprised as my body just wasn’t ready! No need for steroids for the baby’s lungs or anything and he was a normal 3.5kg weight.

My second child’s planned caesarean took place at 39 weeks. It definitely seemed like they wouldn’t have done it earlier. You can ask but I think they’ll say no.

I think they'd be very unlikely to do it without a medical reason.
I had an ELCS with my second born at 38 weeks, because my consultant ballsed up and booked me in a week earlier than she was meant to. I didn't know any different at the time and no one noticed until I was literally on the table and there was no going back. Baby spent a week in NICU with breathing difficulties. Sometimes that extra week really matters.

It's unlikely, but it never hurts to ask. It's not just because of not having a medical reason, but also the timing.

Elective C-sections, in my trust at least, aren't performed on weekends or bank holidays. That means that there won't be any performed on the 25th, 26th, 27th and 28th. Which in turn means for ladies that turn 39 weeks on those days, who also want an elective, have to be squeezed into the 29th, 30th and 31st. Along with other women, such as yourself who also turn 39 weeks. Then there's another weekend and another Bank Holiday to compound matters. In short it's a bit of a scheduling nightmare.

Gosh @Cakequeenx you poor thing - I didn't realise that a week could affect their lungs so much.

I assumed that as my daughter was born at 38+5 perfectly healthy (apart from
The slight jaundice) there wouldn't really be much of a medical issue. Obviously the health of my baby trumps our financial situation by far and we'll just have to figure it out.

@Dyra that's very interesting. I am also aware that having a baby over the Christmas period can mean staffing issues and a slightly lower level of care.

Perhaps I am better off waiting until I am 40 weeks and having the baby in the new year. My only issue with this is I had a huge bleed at 37+5 hence my emergency c section. They never figured out what it was and I dont know how likely it is to happen again.