How soon before due date are elective CSs performed?

[threestars]

I had an emergency CS with DS after a 24 hours labour. He was a big boy, and I'm not so big...and was 9 days overdue.
DS2 was induced stillbirth, so a natural delivery but at only 25 weeks, so the birth was 'easy' to manage, physically.
This time things seem to be going ok with the pregnancy, but I'm having anxieties about a VBAC and considering an elective CS more and more (especially if this one turns out to be big too).

If I WERE to have an elective CS, are they done on the due date, or a bit before...if so how much before?
DH is on a short work contract and needs to consider whether to just stop the contract early or ask for holiday days all at the same time and go back after a week or so for just a couple of weeks (I don't know how he stands legally for paternity leave on a 6 month contract).

It really depends on the resons for c section. If it is purely down to anxieties then I am sure they can and will leave you until 39 weeks or so. If it is because of size of baby etc... they may do it a bit earlier.

I had a planned c section due to placenta previa, they wanted to do it at 38 weeks but I was so distressed towards the end that I asked for it to be at 37 weeks and they agreed.

Have a good long chat with your consultant and see what they say
How may weeks are you now?

My 1st elective c-section was done at 38 weeks(Because my scan showed different dates from 8 week scan to 12 week scan) and they keep the original date for elective section.
2nd elective section booked for when I am 39 weeks. They seem to like to do it the week before your due date.

Yep, mine would have been exactly a week before my due date (am in a week today) but they had a study day, so put it in the diary for the day after! (felt really weird being told when it's all happening!)

My first was a ES due to big head and more about shape of head. I asked for a planned one this time around because of a genetic condition I have and am older so feel my risks are different, but as it goes the growth scan showed biggish baby but the head again big and to me, confirms the same thing would happen again, the shape of head too I think would lead me to another ES and I would rather opt for the calmer approach rather than a repeat of last time!

My consultant books for 39+ weeks (she likes to get as close to 40 as possible), I had mine at 38+3 due to placental problems in the end.

Thanks for your responses. They're very helpful.
Magnolia, I'm 27 weeks and my next consultant appt is at 30 weeks, but I just wanted to get a vague idea before then (forgot to say in original post that DH works on other side of the country so only around at weekends hence considerations about taking time off).
Martha2000, my DS1 experience sounds similar to yours - his head was an odd shape too, and tugging with forceps didn't work so after 3 attempts they did the CS and tugged him out the other way. He was very distressed (had to go to neonatal unit) and so was DH. I was too spaced out to feel anything...
Good luck next week.

39 weeks also