36.5 weeks, still no section date, feeling anxious and a bit stressed

[Impromtuchange1]

I have been approved by my consultant to have an elective cesarian by maternal request, however there is a strong medical grounds component to it too. I almost died during childbirth with my last baby (vaginal delivery) and have been left with PTSD and birth injuries. I could not go through the same again.

I had a growth scan today as requested by my consultant and she put a note on my file requesting I go to DAU afterwards to get a form(?) done and get a date booked in for the section.

I went to DAU and after being sent between departments twice as they didn't know what to do with me, one of the consultant midwives said she's read my file and completed the nessecary form for me - so thats all sorted and i'll get my section date in the post within a couple of weeks. She was in a rush and couldn't stop to discuss.

A couple of weeks takes me to 38.5

Obviously a pre op will be nessecary, so how much notice will I get for that?

Both of my last children were born spontaneously before 38.5 and I'm 2 busses away from the hospital. 60 minutes.

I also need as much notice as possible to arrange childcare for my existing children otherwise I'll be going through the surgery on my own, I cannot stress enough how scared I am of that being the case. The relative who has agreed to have them isn't local and can't just pop down on a whim with a days notice.

DH needs to let work know as far in advance as possible too.

I thought I would know where I'm at with it being a cesarian but I'm just beyond stressed and terrified I'll go into labour before I get a section date.

Could you contact PALS for your hospital and see if they can help you?

I don't think you will get a section booked in before 39 weeks as they will normally only do them earlier in an emergency so maybe get a plan in place for if you do go into spontaneous labour. But you definitely need to know before 38.5 weeks as you have to have a covid test and blood test before the op. I found out my date at 35 weeks.

Oh no that would stress me out 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was so worried this would happen to me. It happened to my friend and she ended up going into labour before she got a date. Another friend wasn’t given a date because they were full so was just told what week it was happening and they were going to phone her to tell her the day when it got to that week 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was so firm when I spoke to the consultant at 29 weeks that I needed to know a date and told her about my friends experiences so she gave me it at 33 weeks. I would contact your midwife, say how much it’s worrying you and say you need to be given a date asap. When I was worried about it and waiting on an appointment coming through I phoned my midwife and said I wasn’t sleeping for worrying about it and kept waking up during the night. They then sped it up and got me one.

I think if you chase it up someone will be able to give you a date! Good luck

I was also told for my maternal request CS that it would be at 39 weeks, no earlier, which did stress me out at the time

I had an appointment scheduled for 36 weeks to firm up birth plans...but I can't help you with that as my son was born vaginally at 35 weeks after my waters broke and I went into labour I was 4 cm gone before they believed I was in labour...thank goodness all was OK. I'd definitely chase it up if you can! Best wishes OP