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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

What gestation did you have your elective section?

69 replies

EllieJai44 · 16/07/2022 20:42

I'm currently 32 weeks and apparently not getting my section date till 36 weeks, which I was surprised as seems quite late!

However I know that most trusts do elective sections at 39 weeks or close to but if it ends up being that then I miss my daughters first week at Nursery

So would I be out of my mind to ask for then end of the week before when I'll be 38+3/38+4??

Has anyone had a planned section in the 38th week?

OP posts:
Olivia199 · 16/07/2022 22:26

I had mine at 38+2 due to baby showing signs of distress. I'd not felt any movement for a few weeks and I was having CTGs 4 times a week and scans twice a week to try and get me to 39 as the risk with babies lungs dramatically reduces. They offered steroids for babies lungs when it became apparent it was going to be in my 38th week but having weighed up the risks I declined and she was born perfect!
They do tend to be quite strick at the 39 week rule with C-Sections as all the secretions aren't squeezed out like they are with a vaginal delivery. However obviously if there are concerns about babies growth towards the end then likely it'd be brought forward.
Wishing you the best of luck!

Original poster
EllieJai44 · 16/07/2022 22:27

@TheCheeseBadge that could be a possibility! I will be 39+1 on her first day!
I know it seems a trivial thing but I don't want her being upset that mummy wasn't there, nor do I want to be upset I wasn't there- I'm not a low risk pregnancy as such and baby is already being regularly monitored for growth- I can only ask at the end of the day and obviously if they say no then that's that!

OP posts:
user850301848172 · 16/07/2022 22:30

I was 37 weeks initially then they settled bang on 38 weeks. I wasn't allowed to go over 38 weeks.

Original poster
EllieJai44 · 16/07/2022 22:30

@Olivia199 thank you, its crazy because they have already said I can take induction in the 37th week like previous, which could end in section anyway! It did with my second, hence why I'm against induction now, I know they may opt for earlier if growth is an issue however I'm trying to plan for if all stays well 🤞

OP posts:
Louise0701 · 16/07/2022 22:30

ask to be booked in after your daughters first day if you don’t want to miss it.
i had my 3rd at 38w for medical reasons. Needed steroid injections but luckily DS was absolutely fine.
DS2 I had my ELCS @ 39+4.

PinkPlantCase · 16/07/2022 22:45

Is it a nursery attached to a school? If it’s a private nursery can’t you just change the date of her first day? It’d probably be better for her to get used to nursery before having to get used to a new baby aswell. If you have any choice over it all anyway!

I would always push for a c-section to be as late as possible, it’s generally what’s best for baby.

Original poster
EllieJai44 · 16/07/2022 22:50

@PinkPlantCase it's a nursery attached to a school so it's the start date for all starting this year, I wouldn't want her to miss that- I missed out a few bits on my starting post as it's unlikely I'll go past 39 weeks with my history, I was just going off the usual 39+ weeks for low risk pregnancies

OP posts:
Equiphant · 16/07/2022 22:55

Mine was exactly on 38 weeks, but the main reason for it was dd measuring enormous so that probably effected the choice of dates. She was 9lbs 8oz at 38 weeks so i’m forever glad i didn’t go on until 42 weeks!

Cantseethewindows · 16/07/2022 23:00

38+4 with my first. He was breech but no diagnosed medical issues. He did end up in SCBU for a good few nights and I think he just wasn't quite ready yet.

Second at 38+0 (37+2 by my dates, which I was very, very certain of). He was transverse and I had gestational diabetes. I was in hospital due to the risks associated with spontaneous labour and had to choose between then or 10 days later. No visitors and confined to my bay due to COVID. Due to my experience with DS1 I made a point of asking both the obstetricians and paediatricians about the risks of having a section before 39 weeks. I was repeatedly assured that with steroids there was no benefit to remaining pregnant any longer. At 3 hours old DS2 was admitted to SCBU and put on oxygen as he had Respiratory Distress Syndrome. I was completely unsurprised by this, as I had this very strong instinctive feeling that he was being delivered too early. The chances of this are something like 1/10 at 37 weeks and 1/100 at 39 (only applies to elective sections) and you will be given steroids if the section is before 39 weeks. I don't think this is to be sniffed at, but then my friend had a 5lbs12oz baby by ELCS at 37+1 and it was completely fine so🤷‍♀️

Instantnoodles · 16/07/2022 23:01

Mine was exactly 40 weeks.

PeaceLily2000 · 16/07/2022 23:06

My consultant did 39 weeks onwards. I was offered two dates based on what was available at the time (was Christmas week) and had her at 36+6.

cantcomplainabouttheweather · 17/07/2022 06:24

39 weeks onwards and no flexibility with that when it's not for medical need. Even if you were booked in earlier you'd likely keep getting bumped down the wait list as low priority

serafinarose · 17/07/2022 06:46

Unlikely without medical need. They will do what's safest for baby.

leafchat · 17/07/2022 06:58

Mine was 40+1

I'd just keep her off school/nursery until you are home. She won't miss much, even if it is a school nursery. The impact will be similar to coming down with a bug on the first day and missing it.

And from the sounds of things you have a decent chance of your C-section date being moved to earlier at the last minute, if your previous babies were born early?

TheRookie · 17/07/2022 07:12

I was 39+4 last year and also missed my daughter's nursery induction week as I was admitted for a week before my section. It was really hard for me, but she coped so so well. My husband got carers leave from work so he was at home with her, and we face timed every day. I was 2 hours away from home on hospital due to issues with my pregnancy and needed a specialist unit. It really was awful but I wouldn't have wanted my section before 39 weeks as there is a much higher risk of breathing issues for baby before then.

JammyC · 17/07/2022 07:18

39+1 here.

There will be many things coming up now where you have to juggle the two children and your time, im not sure the hospital will schedule a date for any reason that’s not medical.

Porridgeislife · 17/07/2022 07:22

Mine was booked for 39+1 on the dot. There is a difference between a high risk pregnancy and medical need - you can be the former without the latter. I was a high risk pregnancy but they were very keen to keep the baby in until 39w as there was no reason to bring them earlier.

I was kept in for hospitalisation the week before my section due to blood ketones and reduced movement but everything was framed around getting the baby to 39w if possible.

lrwe · 17/07/2022 07:24

I had a similar story to you.

Induction at 39+6 that ended in EMCS
Second (low dose) induction at 38+3 that ended in rupture and EMCS
Third ELCS at 37 weeks bang on as I wasn't allowed to go into labour (which we thought was unlikely because I'd been induced twice before) they actually wanted to do earlier but I pushed for 37 weeks. He was 5lbs15oz and no issues.

Stag82 · 17/07/2022 07:26

If no medical need it will be in the 39th week. This is due to the risk of wet lung and also that kings are not mature enough prior to 39 weeks (they administer steroids pre 39 weeks).

Im currently booked in for bang on 39 weeks (im trying to avoid DDs birthday.) I am having growth scans as DD was a shoulder dystocia and DS who was c-section had a tricky delivery as his head was so big so may change if they feel their is a medical need.

GoAround · 17/07/2022 07:31

39 weeks for me was a Saturday and apparently they don’t do electives at the weekend so I was offered 38+6 or 39+2. I chose 38+6 and all was fine but they did round up and write 39 weeks on all the paperwork for some reason so maybe it’s not done that routinely. Chat to your doctor but going for 39+2 or +3 might be your best bet so that you don’t miss the nursery start.

MrsTimRiggins · 17/07/2022 07:33

39+5. I got that date when I was 20 weeks. They offered me that week only (39+1 - 39+5) and that’s the day I went for, I don’t think they’d have gone any earlier even if I’d asked.

Ohmydayssilleople · 17/07/2022 07:35

I had both my sons at 38 weeks but they both ended up on SCBU because of breathing issues…one for a few day !!
Those extra few days until 39 weeks really does make a difference!

whosaidtha · 17/07/2022 07:42

Be aware that it's not always guaranteed to be on that day. Especially if you've booked earlier than needed. My sil got postponed twice (by 3 days and then to a later appointment on the day) because they had a lot of emergencies.
If it was me I'd book for later - 39+3? I think going earlier risks being postponed, being still in hospital and tbh you aren't going to be up for walking any distance at 4 days post c-section.

olympicsrock · 17/07/2022 07:45

They usually say 39 weeks onwards . I was 39 on the nose

RidingMyBike · 17/07/2022 07:48

I had induction at 38 weeks for GD - booked a couple of weeks in advance. There was no mention of any steroids needed or concern expressed about lungs? 38 weeks was the earliest they recommended without signs of foetal distress and I booked for 38 weeks exactly.

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