Page 3 | What gestation did you have your elective section?

EllieJai44 · 2022-07-16T19:42:38+00:00

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?

Original poster

EllieJai44 · 17/07/2022 07:51

Thanks for the replies everyone- until I speak to my consultant I won't know what the plans are- I'm not a low risk pregnancy as such hence being under consultants anyway and baby is already being monitored for growth and has started to show signs of slowing down so it may be decided that baby comes earlier anyway- after my last induction I've had the fear put into me because of it, however my first induction was great 🤷‍♀️ so I'm a little torn!

OP posts:

Reastie · 17/07/2022 07:54

My hospital didn’t do planned sections before week 40 unless reason to. If you had a section at 40 weeks you’d get to take her to nursery still and wouldn’t have the pain and post surgery issues

NeedMoreMilk · 17/07/2022 08:04

Mine was at 39+2. They’d told me it would be in the 39th week as that was the safest time for her to be born. She was born on a Wednesday and I only got the date through 9 days before, on the previous Monday.

Mine was because she was breech though, so it hadn’t been planned as far in advance as yours had.

Original poster

EllieJai44 · 17/07/2022 08:05

@Reastie I know for certain they won't be recommending I wait till 40 weeks, they have already offered me an induction in my 37th week which I declined due to previous birth experience

OP posts:

Original poster

EllieJai44 · 17/07/2022 08:06

@NeedMoreMilk I thought 36 weeks was late, most people I knew got their date at 34 weeks!

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NeedMoreMilk · 17/07/2022 08:11

EllieJai44 · 17/07/2022 08:06

@NeedMoreMilk I thought 36 weeks was late, most people I knew got their date at 34 weeks!

It did feel quite late, but I had to wait until my 36 week appointment for them to confirm she was still breech (I’d had a couple of other scans for various reasons and she was obviously still breech for all of those) and then I had to have a telephone call with the consultant to be offered an ECV.

I pretty much knew it was going to be that week though, so it wasn’t too bad. Plus if I’d gone into labour naturally she could have been born any day and I wouldn’t have known the date in advance!

Whatever00 · 17/07/2022 08:14

I was book for csection at 39 weeks. I had an emergency at 38.2 after my waters breaking. Mt 2nd was planned section at 38.3

mummyh2016 · 17/07/2022 08:40

Unless your growth does slow down it will likely be 39 weeks. I probably wouldn't ask for towards the end of 38 weeks as there is no guarantee you will be out of hospital for her first day, and if you are you may not feel physically well enough to walk her to school. I'd maybe ask for a couple of days after she has started. Of course this is based on your growth not slowing, if it does you may have it well before then anyway.

Olivia199 · 17/07/2022 11:38

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 🤞

It's frustrating! They also said they wanted to induce me bang on 37 but she wouldn't turn so we had to hold on. Hopefully all stays well and it works out for you and your little one starting nursery!

Madwife123 · 21/07/2022 00:37

An ELCS before 39 weeks puts baby at risk of breathing issues, they absolutely won’t do it unless the risk of remaining pregnant is higher than the risk of breathing issues from delivery.

An induction before 39 weeks is totally different as contractions push the fluid out of the babies lungs, even if it ends in an emergency section the fluid has been pushed out. With an elective there is no labour, no contractions and no pushing the fluid out so babies have a risk of lungs not inflating etc.

If you newborn ends up ventilated in NICU the doctors are called into question as to why the elective was done early, the are not going to risk their careers so you can go to nursery.

TheFridayRabbit · 21/07/2022 12:18

Madwife123 · 21/07/2022 00:37

An ELCS before 39 weeks puts baby at risk of breathing issues, they absolutely won’t do it unless the risk of remaining pregnant is higher than the risk of breathing issues from delivery.

An induction before 39 weeks is totally different as contractions push the fluid out of the babies lungs, even if it ends in an emergency section the fluid has been pushed out. With an elective there is no labour, no contractions and no pushing the fluid out so babies have a risk of lungs not inflating etc.

If you newborn ends up ventilated in NICU the doctors are called into question as to why the elective was done early, the are not going to risk their careers so you can go to nursery.

Not true! I had an elective at 37 weeks because that’s when it suited me.

Louise0701 · 21/07/2022 12:23

@TheFridayRabbit it suited you??? Was this the NHS. At what week gestation did you have the steroid injections?

Original poster

EllieJai44 · 21/07/2022 12:36

Thanks everyone for the replies but this question is kind of redundant now as baby has dropped scross a few percentiles in growth since last scan so everything is being moved up e.g. appointments and next scans and I've been warned that likely looking at earlier delivery.

OP posts:

Madwife123 · 21/07/2022 12:39

TheFridayRabbit · 21/07/2022 12:18

Not true! I had an elective at 37 weeks because that’s when it suited me.

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Don’t mistake your 1 experience for my actual medical degree. I highly doubt you had an ELCS at 37 weeks for no medical reason in the U.K. The research backing up what I am saying is easily googled and listed in NICE guidelines.

RidingMyBike · 21/07/2022 14:36

Good luck @EllieJai44 hope all goes well

TheFridayRabbit · 21/07/2022 22:44

Madwife123 · 21/07/2022 12:39

Don’t mistake your 1 experience for my actual medical degree. I highly doubt you had an ELCS at 37 weeks for no medical reason in the U.K. The research backing up what I am saying is easily googled and listed in NICE guidelines.

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😂 Arrogance much!

Sorry but you’re wrong. Sucks to be you caught in your world of condescension. Whether you “doubt it very much” or not is neither here nor there, fact is I did.

EllaPaella · 22/07/2022 08:07

39 weeks with my first and 39+4 with my second EC. Told to ring and go straight in to hospital if labour started spontaneously but it didn't on either occasion.

Madwife123 · 24/07/2022 01:46

If you’re going to quote someone at least quote correctly.

Olivia199 · 25/07/2022 19:14

EllieJai44 · 21/07/2022 12:36

Thanks everyone for the replies but this question is kind of redundant now as baby has dropped scross a few percentiles in growth since last scan so everything is being moved up e.g. appointments and next scans and I've been warned that likely looking at earlier delivery.

Good luck! Hope all goes well and little one arrives safe and sound. X