c-section before due date - is baby ready?

Hi all,

I'm having an elective c-section in a couple of months. I had one with my firstborn, but went into labour naturally for that one, whereas this one will be performed before my due date. My first baby was great, perfect apgar, and no breathing/eating/sleeping/temperment problems as an infant at all. I wonder if he would have had problems if he'd been booked in at 38 weeks, since he was born a week late and would have been three weeks earlier than his natural schedule.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has had an elective c-section at 38-39 weeks and how baby was. I know a 'term' baby is anytime from 37 week onwards, but I've got a feeling that the longer baby is allowed to stay in the womb, the better developed and 'ready' to be born they are.

I'd especially love to hear from anyone who has had an early c-section AND a spontaneous labour and can compare between the two.

Thanks in advance :)

My sister had 2 elective c/sections with her girls. They were booked in just after 37 weeks. So 3 weeks early. No trouble, they were both absalutley fine.

If your not feeling comfortable with it, have a talk to you caregiver and voice your concerns. Remember, its your baby and your body and its your decison what happens and when. Giving birth at 38 weeks i dont think their would be a problem but yes, u are right, the longer the are in there gives more time for their little bodies to develop. You need to ask them why 38 weeks??

Have you given a VBAC any thought?

Generally elective cs are booked for 39 weeks. Unless a medical reason to do earlier.

Full term is 37 weeks to 42 weeks. Yes a baby being in womb for longer is preferable but generally idea of booking elective cs before EDD is so that you dont go into spontaneous labour before CS.

Have you considered a VBAC????

I`m having a c/sec in 10 days time at exactly 39 weeks, my OB doesn`t like doing it much earlier then 38 weeks and not any longer then 39 weeks as they don`t want you to go into labour, I`m happy with 39 weeks.

I have had a previous c/sec at 41 weeks.

My DD's were both emergency c/s and I went into labour naturally with both but DD1 was 37w6d and DD2 was 39w4d - the difference between the 2 was only in size with DD2 being 900g heavier and 5cm longer than DD1 at birth and DD2 had rolls of fat whereas DD1 was skinny. However, at 3 months DD2 is only 300gm heavier and exactly the same length as DD1 at the same age.

At birth their apgars etc were identical and they were both pretty spot on for milestones etc. so I haven't seen any difference.

If I was going to have another my OB would be doing an elective c/s at 37-38 weeks because of what happened with DD2

Hi, i have an elective repeat c section. *vomits*

I had it at 39+1. There is absolutly no reason to take baby out at 37 38 weeks. Can you not go into labour and then they do the c section?
I pushed to get it at that date, and won.

i have had 3 ceasar's first 2 went into labour then had them done 3rd one was done at 39+3 weeks and im booked in to have number 4 on the 15th at 38+4 weeks and i had a hard time to get them to book it then as they wont do it before 39 weeks here but cause i have spd and nothing is helping they have booked it them couple of days early but with the first 3 there was no difference i was 39+5 with number 1 39+6 with number 2 and 39+3 with number 3 so not much difference between the weeks

I have had one at 38 weeks and also 38+ i think 3 days and 38+6 days and all kids were fine altho they were all to happy in there the first one they had a mission to get him out he was so comfy but after a few more mins of getting him out he was PERFECT.

second one he also was very low they used forceps to get him out but he was perfectly fine.

3rd one he was so snug in there but they didnt need anything to help to get him out he had a bit of mucus in him perfectly normal that is but he was fine and after about 1 hours monitoring everything was perfect :)

hope this helps

Hi there!

Bubs was born at 38 weeks - I went into labour early and she was delivered by emergency c-section.

Her apgar score was a 9.5. I recall the reason why we weren't a full 10 had to do with her head after a failed VE.

No problems at all honey...she actually put on weight in the hospital. Thus my personal experience was pretty good ;)

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies..

I think they will do it at 39 weeks, which I'm happy with. I did think about a VBAC but with a 40% success rate I think I would rather just cut straight to the chase.

Now I'm wondering when do they actually book in the date? 2 weeks before? 3 weeks before? I need to know so I know when to book in my next appt with the OB.. my GP can't book a CS date with the hospital, so I'm just trying to figure out which week I should go see the OB to get a booking. I have rung the OBs receptionist and she says I should just make an appt with him to ask.. but making extra unnecessary appts is what I'm trying to avoid doing by going at the right time for him to book me in with the hospy.

So how many weeks along were you when your ob booked your elective c-section date with the hospital?

my first dd was full term and c/section and had a low apgar but dd2 and ds1 i had them at 38 and 39 weeks and they where better then dd1 and will have another one with this one they should book you in anywhere between 2-4 weeks to go

good luck and just relax:goodluck:

Thanks chellaboo... so if I go to the OB at about 35-36 weeks he should be able to book in a date? Which hospital did you go to?