Tricky decision re CS and due date

[PixieCake]

Hi all,

Can anyone advise me on a tricky decision please.

The consultant who I want to do my CS is away the week I would be due to have the operation (week 39).

My options are to book in with someone else (not keen on the idea) or wait until my consultant is back (week 40). This would be the week I am actually due, so the risk is that I might go into labour before that and end up having the CS done by the duty team, as an 'emergency' (also not keen).

He won't do it in week 38 - says it's too early.

What would you do?

I understand that most first babies are late, so do I chance it and wait until he is available in week 40? Or play safe and go with someone else in week 39.

Are many people early with their first baby?

Thanks x

Hi Pixie, sorry you're having to worry about this. Would you be able to meet with the other consultant/s who would be around in week 39? Perhaps you would feel more comfortable having met them.

FWIW, they won't sanction ELCS before 39 weeks, even if your obstetric history shows earlier births. And there is also the chance of course that, on the day, your consultant won't actually be the one to carry out the op depending on what other cases arise, particularly EMCS.

And on the early baby front, they come when they're ready. I've known people be early with number one and late with number two. There's just no way to precict it.

Sorry, that's not much help really reading it back. But hope you are able to get this sorted out and feel better about it soon.

I had my first baby as an ELCS on 38+6. Would he consider doing it on 38+5 or 6? Surely a couple of days won't make any difference...and it would help your peace of mind. If that can't be done, I would seriously consider booking in with someone else. A crash section is a very different beast to an ELCS, obviously.

Thanks both.

I did ask about having it late in week 38 but he said it would be a real problem with hospital policy and something about the booking system. There was also a study out this week showing that CS babies are more likely to have problems if delivered before week 39 - not helping my cause!

I understand that an emergency CS is a very different experience to a scheduled one and am really keen to avoid it, so maybe I should meet some other consultants.

I just had my heart set on this particular consultant.

Personally I would get it booked in at week 39 with whoever is available that week.

Better to lessen risk of EMCS IMO.

FWIW I think you'd be OK to wait til 40 weeks, if you do go into labour, its not normally ( I dont know why you need a Csection) an emergency or crash section (that happens when the baby/mum is acutely at risk, poor CTG trace etc)- you would go in & they would deliver you by section ASAP, OK not nice having it in middle of night but chances are you'll go to 40 weeks anyway. Sorry, devils advocate here!

Thanks NowWhatIsit. That's an interesting thought.

I thought that an unscheduled CS = an emergency CS. But maybe not.

I've heard anecdotally that emergency CSs have worse outcomes in terms of recovery time, scar healing etc, because it's all a bit rushed.

But maybe an unscheduled CS could still be a calm event then?

What I'd really be worried about is who would happen to be on duty if I went into labour, having read posts from people on this site who don't think their CS was done very well.

If you are already in labour then it is classed as an emergency c-section, there are different categories of emergency however and it would be when they had a slot and other true (depending on the reason you are having a c-section) emergencies would take precedence.

Have to say that if my consultant wasn't available I would try and find some else that was highly recommended and that I'd met and trusted. I wouldn't want to chance going into labout at 39 weeks and just whoever was on duty doing the c-section, as you never know what you're going to get. Where are you planning on having your baby? Maybe some people on here could recommend a consultant?

Good luck whatever you decide.

Thanks Helenlouisey - I'll take your advice now.....

It's at kingston. Can anyone who has had c-sections there share what they thought of their surgeon?

However, I guess there is always a chance that whoever I am 'promised' might get called away for an emergency.