QuestionThanks for the quick and useful answer!
Out of curiosity: why are these programmed cesarians scheduled earlier than the due date? Not to risk the labour starting on its own? Is it more difficult/risky to do a C-section, when labour is already going on?
Or is it to avoid the fetus growing too big?
Marcel
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Followup To
Question -
My wife (33 years old, with one child born 24 months before the current pregnancy due-date by cesarian due to the ubilical-cord being wrapped around our son's neck) is scheduled to give birth to our 2nd son born by cesarian approx. 14 days before the estimated due date. Even though she would be 24 months (that is, more than the recommended 18) beyond the previous c-section by the time she would come to term and both her previous and current pregnancies were low-risk, uneventful, nevertheless, her ob-gyn decided on not risking a VBAC, and she agreed with that.
My question is: by how many days is such a programmed cesarian typically scheduled before the estimated due date, why, and how does this affect the development of the baby. That is, for example, by which week are all the organs (lung?) sufficiently developed?
Many thanks!
Marcel
Answer -
A pregnancy is 40 weeks in lenght. We usually perfrom a repeat cesarean section at 38 weeks gestation (14 days prior to the due date). By 36 weeks gestation, the baby's lungs are mature enough to exist in the outside world. By 38 weeks, the baby will do fine.
AnswerTher risk of VBAC is due to the risk of rupture of the uterus at the site of the previous incision. We perform a repeat cesarean section at 38 weeks in order to deliver the baby prior to your going into labor and, thus, increasing the risk of uterine rupture. If you are a diabetic, we do it earlier in order to prevent overgrowth of the fetus.
