I had an emergency c-section with my daughter, and would ultimately like to do a VBAC, but FI doesn't want to hear about it and thinks it's too risky.
So, I'm sure I'll talk at length with my doctor about this, but how exactly do they decide when to schedule a c-section? Like, after the due date, early enough so you don't go into labor on your own, how do you know if it's too early or not? I'd really like to go into labor naturally and then have the c-section, do they do that? I don't really want it to be scheduled before baby is ready to come, if that makes sense... and if they schedule it later, and I wind up going into labor before that set date, then it doesn't really matter if it's pre-scheduled or not..
Re: How is a RCS scheduled?
This. My OB schedules RCS at the 28w appt, submits the pre-approval paperwork to the insurance company at about the same time, and then transfers the info to the hospital at 31-32w. The date isn't set in stone until it's on the hospital's surgery calendar at about 32w (and then could still be changed based on emergency c/s, etc).
This. It's usually scheduled your 39th week for the actual section.
At my hospital they won't schedule the actual date until you are at least 32 weeks. I will schedule my RCS next week (I'll be 34 weeks).
It's usually scheduled during the 39th week of pregnancy.
You're likely not going to be able to go into labor and then have the c-section. I get the concept of wanting baby to come on their own timetable, but you have to remember many babies are born premature every year or go past their EDD and get too large so going to labor isn't always when baby was perfectly ready. Complications solely from being born at 39w gestation because the baby wasn't ready are unbelievably rare (like less than 1%) so I would not let that concern you, especially if you're aware of when you conceived or you have regular cycles.
Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
My OB likes to do them in the 38th week but b/c of my insurance (plus I probably wouldn't have wanted it any earlier anyway) it's for 39wks. He scheduled it at my 28wk appt. Just called the OR like he was making a regular old appt. Asked if the time and day were avail, the OR booker got my name and DOB and that was that. I pre-registered at the hospital the day I went for my 20wk appt though so that's taken care of also.
It's easier for the hospital and the doc to schedule it ahead of time. If you go into labor and it's a busy day already, you'll either bump scheduled cases or end up waiting around for the OR to clear depending on how in labor you are when you go in. Maybe your doc will let you schedule it closer to your due date. Some women their docs don't want them to go into labor at all for medical reasons either for mom or baby.
My ob told me I could have my daughter the week before my due date. Either a Monday or Friday. I chose Friday which happened to be the Anniversary of Pearl Harbor that year. My DH is a huge Army/History buff.