Planned C-section at 40 weeks or wait

[Mamadrinkscoffee]

Second baby, due date 12th of July. No complications.

First was induced vaginal birth at 41+5, quite traumatic experience would rather not go down that route again.

Was hoping the second might come quicker, but so far no signs.

Currently, have a planned c section provisionally booked for next week, when I will be over 40 weeks.

Looking for advice, if it's worth pushing back c section to 41 weeks to give myself a better chance of going into spontaneous labour or is there a reason why a planned section at 40 weeks might be a safer option?

Thank you!

My DIL had a failed induction at 41 + weeks she was attempting labour for 48 hours+ eventually had an emergency caesarean poor girl was exhausted and caesarean was not straightforward.

second child she hoped for spontaneous labour and went ahead with the planned c section at 40+ she said it was a totally different experience it was calm controlled and she felt well after the birth.

Its very difficult as every birth is different.

If you want to give yourself a better chance of labouring spontaneously, then waiting a bit longer increases your odds of that happening. Provided everything else is well with you and your baby, and no reason to deliver sooner. Cutting it off at 40 weeks gives less chance for labour to happen. Totally up to you, mind, but if no other issues I'd personally wait.

So you had an induction last time purely because you were 12 days over? No other factors?
If your only reason to have a section is that you want to avoid induction then it makes perfect sense to delay as late as they'll allow you to.
Unless you are over 40 or something else which increases risks if you go over.
Just ask your midwife how late they'll be happy for you to push it back.

Thank you everyone.

I will speak to the hospital staff on Monday as I have my pre-op appointment and will ask if it's possible to push the C-section date back a little bit.

No concerns currently, the only reason would be to avoid going too much over and to avoid induction.

Last time, waters broke at 41+4, but I still had to get induction in the end as labour failed to progress.

Would like to give myself the best possible chance for spontaneous labour, and it makes sense in my head to wait until 41 weeks at least, but appreciate the hospital will have their own protocols, so it may be that that's the date they have available.

Appreciate everyone's input x