Has anyone had to have their section before the scheduled date?

MrsJax2011 · June 2012

My baby is still breech, and even though she may flip (they will keep checking weekly and if she does I can deliver vaginally) we scheduled our section for July 9th...

at first I was thinking that I wouldn't want her taken before she decides to come out, but the Dr was explaining the risks involved of laboring while baby is breech, and how it can cause complications to the surgery to wait until I go into labor. So, that and the fact that she is measuring 6 days ahead anyway, and knowing that I was born breech in a very fast, traumatic delivery where I had the cord stuck around my neck...I decided that a scheduled section would be a safer choice. From what I have read it seems like most who schedule the section have a fairly easy recovery as well.

However, now I am wondering...how common is it to go into labor before your scheduled delivery date? This is our first baby, and I will be 39 weeks and 1 day on the scheduled day.

FemShep · June 2012

After a bout of food poisoning, I had mild contractions and my water broke 6 days before my scheduled CS with DD. I went to the hospital, and DD was born by CS within two hours. I never went in to full-blown active labor and everything was fine.

Mrs.Barry31508 · June 2012

This happened to me! I went a week early, went into labor on my own. If it happens, it happens. Don't worry about it and just enjoy the last few weeks/days of being pregnant

Monicagail1 · June 2012

I was also scheduled for a c/s due to a breech baby, at 39w4d. I ended up going into labor on my own 2 weeks before the c/s date at 37.5 weeks. My doctor didn't really tell me about any complications of laboring with a breech baby, but because I knew the baby was breech I went to the hospital as soon as I suspected I was in labor. It ended up being a good idea. When I arrived I was 1-2cm, and within an hour I was 5cm dilated. They performed the c/s right away, and I had no complications.

I think with scheduled c/s they would prefer to catch you before you go into labor, but they have to balance that with the well being of the baby and the medical community has determined that it's not advisable to perform elective inductions/c-sections prior to 39w. Most people deliver between 39-42 weeks but it just depends on the person and the pregnancy. DD1 was a 40 week induction. Good luck!

HarrietNJMommy · June 2012

I've had 3 scheduled c-sections and made it to all 3 so far. My first 2 kids were breech........

I hope to make it to this scheduled section as well.

FWIW, my first was at 39w5d..........so 2 days before my due date.

treble_clef · June 2012

Both of my kids were breech. My son came 3 days before the scheduled c-section date at 39 weeks. My daughter's scheduled date was 2 days shy of my due date, and I started contracting on that day, so she was meant to be born on that day whether I had a c-section or not. My doctor encouraged me to have a vbac hoping she would turn, and also they thought my daughter was very small, less than 10th percentile, so she let me schedule my c-section so close to my due date. However, once she was born, she weighed 7lbs. 4oz...not that small.

It's not a big deal to your doctor or hospital because they deal with this all the time. After all, if you deliver vaginally, you really never know when you are going into labor, right? Then some people end up having a c-section too.

MrsCali_Bride · June 2012

I was scheduled for 37w5d with the twins. Baby A was breech from 20 weeks on. Baby B was flipping between breech and transverse and was vertex on the morning that I delivered. My water broke a few days early and I delivered at 37w2d. My OB didn't say anything about there being any issues that could be caused by me laboring with a breech baby.

With our singleton I was induced and delivered at 39w1d with no signs of labor before the induction.

aandg · June 2012

I had complete placenta previa with DD. My c section was scheduled for 39w3d. At exactly 36w I was in the hospital for an NST (I had been on home bed rest since 31w) and they found that I was having contractions. I was given injections to try and stop them, but it didn't work. She was born that day and was perfectly healthy.

ByGrace22 · June 2012

With my second I was scheduled at 39 weeks, which I assumed was plenty early, since I went to 42 weeks with DS1. Of course not. I went into labor on my own two days ahead of schedule....out the window went all our plans of who was watching DS1, the dog, packing a bag...everything! It all worked out and I got my baby two days early, but it is still a funny story.

Everyone is different though, so only you and your doctor can determine which day to schedule.

FWIW, when I started regular contractions I called the Doctor, who had me go straight to the hospital where they prepped me for surgery right away since I was a medically necessary section. I just had a middle of the night c-section instead of a 10AM surgery two days later.

capulet · June 2012

My water broke with DS five days before my scheduled c/s. No big deal - it took about three hours from when I got to the hospital for them to confirm my water broke (it was obvious to me but they wanted to make sure I hadn't just peed myself, I guess) and assemble the surgical team. It was Thanksgiving and I had him at a smallish hospital, so I understand why it took a while, but it wasn't an emergency situation, and I suspect if there had been an urgent reason to deliver DS more quickly, they would have done it. My first was induced at 41.5 weeks with no progress; I was shocked I went into labor early with #2. First babies tend to arrive after their EDD, so more likely than not you will make it to your scheduled c/s.

kes77 · June 2012

My due date was June 3, 2010 and my doctor scheduled my repeat c/s for 2 days earlier, June 1st (it was right after Memorial Day weekend). Being that it was my second pregnancy, I had a strong feeling I wasn't going to make it to my c/s date since I had gone into labor with my first daughter right on her due date. I ended up going into labor 2 days before my c/s date and had my daughter 5/30.

mnbmonroe · June 2012

With my second. He was due January 9th, they scheduled me for January 2nd and he came on Christmas day. My water broke while I was vacuuming on Christmas eve.

I called the dr and she had me come in right away. My husband had to leave to drive my first to his parents 2 hours away so I labored for a little more than 4 hours before we went in and did the section. We had planned for my folks to watch my oldest but since they hadn't arrived yet we had no choice but to form a surprise back up plan.

I would advise planning on your scheduled date, but be sure you have a strong backup plan just in case, bag already packed and car seat either in or ready to go in. Everything turned out fine. He was healthy and I made it through the labor and the section with no problem.

katmacwv · June 2012

My water broke at 38.3 weeks with DD1, so my c/s just got bumped up by a few days. It wasn't an emergency c/s by any means. This time around, DD2 stayed put until scheduled.

ntyravgmom · June 2012

First babies tend to arrive after their EDD, so more likely than not you will make it to your scheduled c/s.

Oh really? Both my boys were early, but it was because my first had complications when they tried to induce labor because my water had broken and I didn't know it and his heart rate kept fluctuating with each contraction. So they took him by c-section. My second was scheduled, but this time I was the one with complications. Turns out I had high blood pressure and contracted bell's palsy in my face, so they took him 10 days before my scheduled c-section. My advice, be ready for anything, go with the flow, and don't stress too much. There's only so much you can control when having a baby. Also, with today's medical technology you and baby will be fine!

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