When To Schedule Your C-Section Delivery

Many parents say one of the best parts of having a planned cesarean section is knowing exactly when their baby will be born. Whether you are planning a scheduled C-section for health or personal reasons, you can work with your doctor's office to decide when you'd like your baby to be delivered.

The date you choose will vary depending on your specific circumstances, including any health concerns that arise, and the policies of your health care providers and hospital, but your doctor will help determine the best week for your cesarean delivery to ensure your health and the health of your baby—and you should be able to have some say as well.

The Safest Time for a C-Section

C-sections scheduled prior to 39 weeks have an increased risk of complications, which is why in ideal circumstance you will deliver at full term. In some cases, the benefits of scheduling your C-section earlier than 39 weeks will outweigh any potential risks. An example would be with twins or higher-order multiples and cases of placenta previa or fetal distress. In these cases, the benefits of delivering early clearly outweigh the risks of what's called "late preterm" birth.

Otherwise, although a baby is considered full-term after 37 weeks, most doctors' offices won't schedule a C-section until you have reached 39 weeks gestation.

Babies develop at different rates, and some aren't ready to be born at the 37-week mark. Doctors have studied late preterm births in depth. One surprising discovery is that the health concerns of late preterm births don't go away until about 39 weeks gestation. Babies born before 39 weeks may still have some of the health problems that earlier preterm babies face, including:

• Feeding difficulties
• Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Jaundice
• Poor ability to maintain their temperature or problems with thermoregulation
• Respiratory distress

Research has shown that late preterm infants may also experience developmental delays, which persist until the age of 2, especially in the area of language development. If the discomforts of late pregnancy have you itching to meet your baby, take heart. By postponing your delivery until at least 39 weeks, you are giving your baby the best possible start.

Dates To Avoid a C-Section

There are many personal factors you may wish to consider when you schedule your C-section. You may wish to avoid dates that your family or close friends associate with sadness, such as the anniversary of a loved one's death or another traumatic moment. You may also wish to avoid or commemorate other memorable days such as birthdays and holidays. For instance, you may not want to schedule your baby's birthday on Christmas, or another important holiday that gets its own celebration, like July 4.

School Cut-Off Dates

Another point you may want to consider is school. There's probably not enough leeway to avoid a summer birthday, but the difference in a few days might determine if your child will have their birthday on a school day or over Christmas vacation. As we grow older, the day of our birthday often becomes less important, but this can be very significant for a school-age child.

You may also want to consider school entrance deadlines set by your school district. Many schools require kids to turn 5 by September 1 in order to start kindergarten. You may wish to make sure your child either hits or misses this deadline.

Day of the Week

Some people prefer one day of the week over another (if that works with your obstetrician's schedule), like a Friday so your partner or other family members can be available for the first few days following delivery. Whatever the reason for your choice, it is your choice, and you don't need to justify it to others.