Elective section - when are they usually?

[HappyGoLucky31]

Hi all,

Baby #2 is due 8th March 2025 and for number of reasons, I’ve opted for a caeserean this time after an emergency one last time.

The impression is that they are usually before a baby’s due date but how far in advance do you think it could be?

I have an appointment with a consultant and a scan on 13th February, presumably to talk about the surgery and plan a date.

thanks in advance ❤️

Good luck, I’m due at a similar time. My first was a spring baby too. It’s a nice time of year, getting over winter but not too hot. Lighter nights to help with the wake ups and early starts. Also a chance to get out in summer for walks.

Anyone know if they will let me pick an earlier week eg 37 or 38 if both my first 2 c sections were spontaneous labour at 38. I don’t want another emergency I’d love to have a calm elective

@Rumblytumblytea having it before 39 weeks carries more risk that they'll have trouble breathing and admission to NICU. 37 weeks is pretty early. So they will try to push it as far along as possible to 39 weeks. However maybe they'll be ok with 38 weeks? Good luck!

Thanks! I have this feeling they will book me a week 39 (I get it, I don’t want to have unnecessary use of steroids for undeveloped lungs etc) but I have 2 children and would LOVE to actually have the elective experience this time eg children in planned childcare and go in to the hospital calm in the morning of the booked surgery etc.

i just feel it’s going to be another week 38 shitshow where I have an unplanned C section. I hope I can convince them to let me have a 38

39ish weeks for me too

@MincePieFan88

thanks for your advice. for anyone who might find this thread in the future. I’ve just had an appointment and they’ve said they wouldn’t want to book me in for my elective any later than week 38. This is because they don’t want me to have a vaginal birth or trial of labour. I have two c section scars already and also second baby was precipitous labour (to 9cm in around 2 hours) so they reckon it would happen v quickly if I went into spontaneous labour.

apparent a single twinge and they want me to rush in for a c section due to risks.

@Rumblytumblytea that's good news (well sort of, I'm sure you wish you didn't have this issue at all, but good that they are listenting to your concerns). Good luck!!

Thank you!! Yes you’ve hit the nail on the head this is not my dream birth plan ahah. I wanted a vaginal first time and a VBAC ideally second time. But hey Ho, healthy babies at the end is all I aim for

My VBAC was at 39W - they actually offered me a choice of a few days 😂 I took the first available one, 39+0!