Help me schedule my c-section!!

JennyS86 · March 2016

The last thing I expected my OB group to do was give me an option on the day I want to schedule my c-s! I agreed to have a c-s at 37 weeks due to a previous classical (vertical) incision. 37 weeks is Saturday, May 7th. However, c-sections are not scheduled on the weekends, so she gave me the option of Friday, May 6th or Monday, May 9th.

I believe the extra 3 days will be very important to my still-cooking kiddo, but I also recognize that for our family and especially DH, a Friday c-s would give us more time together. He plans to take 1 full week off - So starting on a Friday would give him like 10 days with new baby. It would also be perfect for my out-of-town family to come in to meet the baby and be out of our hair by the time we go home from the hospital.

Is this a really easy question (pick Monday!) in order to best advocate for the new baby?

avidkeo · March 2016

Personally, 3 days at 37 weeks is NBD, and if it were too soon, your OB probably wouldn't have given you the option. So I would do Friday in this case.

kbrands7 · March 2016

I agree that they probably wouldn't give you Friday as an option if they thought Monday had a clear advantage for your baby. It sounds from your description that Friday would give you much better family time, and possibly an all-around better experience.

durbie92 · March 2016

Friday! May 9th was my first wedding anniversary... Yuck!!!!

doozer1345 · March 2016

Ugh! We dealt with this with DD1. It's so hard bc you're picking a birthday they'll have for the rest of their lives! We also dealt with no weekend deliveries. Man. Have you maybe thought about thinking about this outside the box? Like, do either days have a special meaning to you? Ex: 7 is a lucky number for you or DH, etc? Does that make sense?

gamommyx3 · March 2016

I'd pick Friday too. Being not pregnant 3 days sooner sounds amazing

Jenly17 · March 2016

Just from a numbers standpoint, I like 5/6/16. But I'm weird like that.

I also think the weekend with family sounds great. They'll get to meet the baby, and hopefully provide you with some help too!

tgortney · March 2016

I pick Friday! For all the above reasons AND May 8th is Mother's Day, it would be super special to have your LO here already

LadySamLady · March 2016

Since it really does sound like there isn't a medical advantage either way, I'd go with Friday because I'm kind of weird about numbers and like @Jenly17 I just really like 5/6/16.

ayeshaohara · March 2016

Aquinna82 said:

I'd pick Friday too. Being not pregnant 3 days sooner sounds amazing

I'm with you!! Friday all the way!

JennyS86 · March 2016

Jenly17 said:

Just from a numbers standpoint, I like 5/6/16. But I'm weird like that.

I also think the weekend with family sounds great. They'll get to meet the baby, and hopefully provide you with some help too!

I love even numbers - so I totally see why you love that date! Everyone in my family growing up and my new little family are born on even numbers in even years!

JennyS86 · March 2016

I appreciate all of your input - and I have to agree with many of your sentiments that Friday would be a great day to schedule the c-s: a shorter pregnancy and more days with DH.

But here's the big but: the Friday choice would technically be 36.6wks, which qualifies LO for several policy interventions that can be avoided by delivering on Monday (37.2wks). For example, any infant under 37weeks automatically gets his/her blood sugar checked before each feeding for 24 hours. (I could, theoretically, refuse these checks - but the policy is there for a reason!).

When I brought it up with DH tonight, he immediately said "Monday". When I tried to argue both sides, he said, "You don't have to convince me anymore than you have." He said that the benefit for baby is clear, and that he will take off the whole week, even if it means having 2 less days with LO right away.

Of course, LO can still choose his/her birthday by me going into labor or my water breaking. No way to know for sure at this point!
Thanks Again!!

doozer1345 · March 2016

JennyS86 said:

Of course, LO can still choose his/her birthday by me going into labor or my water breaking. No way to know for sure at this point!
Thanks Again!!

This is what happened to me. DD1 decided to come 5 days before my scheduled c section. I was pretty relieved haha

cortney626 · March 2016

I'm in the same boat. I turn 39 weeks on a Sat. My dr doesn't want me to go passed 39 weeks so it's either going to be 4/29 or 5/2. I want to choose Friday because I never imagined I'd go into May. Plus with measuring big, I'm just done. But earlier in the week like Monday is actually better for DH and his work. Because we can be home from the hospital before the weekend and have that time at home before he has to check in with work the next week. And the Sat I turn 39 weeks is my daughter's last basketball game and year end party. I'd miss that and I'm the team mom. I was emotional about that. But for me, I'll do what my dr thinks is best. With your 2nd response and the procedures they'd have to do, maybe Monday is better. Otherwise I would have picked Friday for reasons you mentioned.

lbachran · March 2016

@JennyS86 , how did you findout about the different interventions at 36 vs 37 weeks? I have to deliver at 36 or 37 due to a myomectomy last March, but my doc has been acting like the time frame (36 vs 37) would make no difference. If there's different tests administered, I want to wait if LO can avoid them. I'm having no preterm labor signs.

camillaandcarson · March 2016

I am the odd person out I guess. I would 100% go with Monday for no other reason than just to keep baby cooking as long as possible. Plus, it may be easier to get released from the hospital during the week day rather than the weekend due to rotation shifts- so better care? (I was released from mine in under 48 hours and really did not need to be there anymore and was doing great after it). Just a thought.

JennyS86 · March 2016

lbachran said:

@JennyS86 , how did you findout about the different interventions at 36 vs 37 weeks? I have to deliver at 36 or 37 due to a myomectomy last March, but my doc has been acting like the time frame (36 vs 37) would make no difference. If there's different tests administered, I want to wait if LO can avoid them. I'm having no preterm labor signs.

I used to work there. I agree that my OB seemed to think Friday vs. Monday wouldn't make a big difference (and she's probably right), but I know from experience that 36weekers and 38 weekers are different. Generally, 38 weekers breastfeed better and maintain their temperature, blood sugar, and weight better. That is a generalization though!
If you can while on a tour or taking a childbirth/breastfeeding class, as about differences in policy or ask if you can talk to a postpartum nurse. Good Luck!

lbachran · March 2016

Thank you @JennyS86! We took our hospital tour and breastfeeding class already, but do have a c-section class this evening. I'm definitely going to pull the educator aside and ask questions. I really appreciate you posting, sometimes it takes another mom to be to highlight the questions you didn't know to ask.

laurenmdrn16 · March 2016

camillaandcarson said:

I am the odd person out I guess. I would 100% go with Monday for no other reason than just to keep baby cooking as long as possible. Plus, it may be easier to get released from the hospital during the week day rather than the weekend due to rotation shifts- so better care? (I was released from mine in under 48 hours and really did not need to be there anymore and was doing great after it). Just a thought.

This is what I came to say. We specifically asked for a Monday because I have worked in enough healthcare facilities to know that sometimes staffing on weekends can get a bit dicey. Also, and I hate to insinuate this would apply to anyone's specific OB, I have known of some to rush through Friday CS to...make a tee time...or start an early weekend...Again, it seems very cliche, but it is true. Also, if, God forbid, complications did arise in the days following birth, you wouldn't be stuck trying to contact the on-call weekend OB. I too wanted to give this one every possible second of cook time and think that the days do matter as far as hospital policies, but also in your readiness to BF if you want and baby's development.

emilyj77 · March 2016

While originally I was going to vote for Friday because it's easier for family to visit, more time with DH, etc., I'm now voting for Monday for the simple reason that staffing at hospitals is different over the weekend than it is during the week. We had DD in November and were in the hospital over Thanksgiving. I had so many nurses and they all had different breastfeeding advice, which was stressful and not the most helpful. And the Lactation Consultant had the holiday off, so I saw her once. Whereas if we had been there on normal working days, I could have probably seen her every day. Since you used to work there, you probably know the schedule and the services provided to Mom's better then me, but think about the non-medical professionals that are there to support new Mom's and whether the schedule is different over the weekend vs. during the week. I'm also an advocate for letting LO develop as long as possible before delivery.

LadySamLady · March 2016

JennyS86 said:

I appreciate all of your input - and I have to agree with many of your sentiments that Friday would be a great day to schedule the c-s: a shorter pregnancy and more days with DH.

But here's the big but: the Friday choice would technically be 36.6wks, which qualifies LO for several policy interventions that can be avoided by delivering on Monday (37.2wks). For example, any infant under 37weeks automatically gets his/her blood sugar checked before each feeding for 24 hours. (I could, theoretically, refuse these checks - but the policy is there for a reason!).

When I brought it up with DH tonight, he immediately said "Monday". When I tried to argue both sides, he said, "You don't have to convince me anymore than you have." He said that the benefit for baby is clear, and that he will take off the whole week, even if it means having 2 less days with LO right away.

Of course, LO can still choose his/her birthday by me going into labor or my water breaking. No way to know for sure at this point!
Thanks Again!!

As much as I love 5/6/16, I now think it sounds like it would be best for the baby to schedule it on Monday. 5/9/16 has a nice ring to it, too!

sillyfox · March 2016

Honestly I would lean toward Monday. When you are in the hospital with your first it can be so overwhelming - might be nice if family comes the following weekend after you and DH have had a few days to bond with baby and can get settled at home.

I'm debating when to schedule mine too, right now it's scheduled 5/25, the day before my EDD but my DD's birthday is 5/23, so I was thinking about asking for the day after (5/27) instead to have their birthdays a little further apart ... but I guess it doesn't really matter, they'll be close no matter what!

kp90 · March 2016

Given that its only a few days difference and seeing as how Friday works best for your family.. I would choose Friday. I met a woman yesterday who had her baby when she was only 25 weeks! and he was doing just fine now even being born that early (though I know that's rare and totally off topic!). Anyways, I really don't think the doctors would offer it if it could be dangerous to you or LO.

balamama · March 2016

laurenmdrn16 said:

camillaandcarson said:

I am the odd person out I guess. I would 100% go with Monday for no other reason than just to keep baby cooking as long as possible. Plus, it may be easier to get released from the hospital during the week day rather than the weekend due to rotation shifts- so better care? (I was released from mine in under 48 hours and really did not need to be there anymore and was doing great after it). Just a thought.

This is what I came to say. We specifically asked for a Monday because I have worked in enough healthcare facilities to know that sometimes staffing on weekends can get a bit dicey. Also, and I hate to insinuate this would apply to anyone's specific OB, I have known of some to rush through Friday CS to...make a tee time...or start an early weekend...Again, it seems very cliche, but it is true. Also, if, God forbid, complications did arise in the days following birth, you wouldn't be stuck trying to contact the on-call weekend OB. I too wanted to give this one every possible second of cook time and think that the days do matter as far as hospital policies, but also in your readiness to BF if you want and baby's development.

Echoing PPs, I agree that Monday may be best for a few reasons. 1. I would want to keep the baby in as long as possible around 36/37 weeks. 2. I've heard never to have surgery on a Friday. I had a minor outpatient procedure done on a Friday morning once, had complications, and it was hell over the weekend trying to get ahold of my doctor. Never again. 3. Getting released from the hospital over a weekend can be difficult if not impossible. So while your DH would technically get more time with LO, it may be time spent in the hospital rather than at home which is not ideal (IMHO).

Exciting to set the date, though, and FTR, my due date is May 9 which I think is a really nice date

finnybooboo · March 2016

I'm biased, only because we chose May 6th as our c-sec date

I'll be 39 weeks that day though, so I understand it's a very different situation. May 6th is actually my late mother-in-law's birthday, which is why we jumped at that date. If that wasn't in the mix though, I probably would have chosen Monday. My DD was born on a Thursday, and the support at the hospital sucked over the weekend, especially in terms of lactation support since they didn't' have anyone until Monday (the day we were discharged). I would vote for Monday for your situation, considering extra interventions that wouldn't be needed if you wanted a few days!

JennyS86 · March 2016

Thank you all for your thoughtful responses - I knew I would get that here! I was so surprised that Saturday wasn't offered to me because I know c-s are scheduled over the weekend, but I guess my OB group does not.

As far as staffing, I know that the hospital has good nurse and physician staffing over the weekend, but you're right, Lactation support might be thin. It is a big academic hospital, so I know MFM is there all of the time. My OB group is only a phone call away, max.

My urgent c-s 2 years ago was 11am on a Friday morning - haha! The c-s itself was actually top-notch, I'm sure partly because of what else was going on in our lives (26-week twins). I am sure that I delayed several other families from their scheduled c-s time, and I felt bad! The LDR basically had an OR on standby for me, set up for twins, so that we could wait until the last minute before delivering. Everything was being done to stop my labor, but I just kept progressing.

nerdymama15 · March 2016

I'd go with Friday b/c next year you'll be able to celebrate your LO's first birthday on a Saturday when more people can come.

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