C-section at 36 Weeks

If you have preeclampsia, you must go with your doctor on this. I had it and ended up having seizures in the hospital and was in a coma, my dr. let me go a week past my due date. I am sure this won't happen to you since your dr. is on top of it but be sure to check your blood pressure often and stay at home and rest. If you have headaches or vision changes, go to your dr. or ER immediately. Preeclampsia is very serious. I don't want to scare you but want you to be prepared to make good decisions for yourself, unlike what I did. Best Wishes, and let us know how it went.

Hi C.!

I have had c-sections with both my children, and I agree with another post here, unless you have health conditions that require you to deliver early or diabetes your doctor should really wait until 38 weeks at least. I had both my children at 39 weeks and they were perfectly healthy, I think the longer your baby benefits from your womb, the better.

good luck!!

I had my son at 36 weeks and he was fine. He was small (only 6 lbs) but healthy. The lungs are the last to develop so that is usually the biggest concern. 37 weeks is considered term so I really wouldn't worry too much. Good luck to you and I'm sure you will have a happy/healthy baby!

Don't worry you are blessed. It's a scheduled C-section. I on the other hand had a emergency C-section because my blood pressure was to high. And it almost killed me and the baby. I am very blessed that my baby is ok, he is now 15 months and is healthy. I am doing good as well.

You'll be ok.

I would not worry too much. My water broke at 36 weeks and I had a c-section because my baby was breach. She was small, 5 lbs, 7 oz, but perfect in every way. We went home on the scheduled date and she has been a healthy girl ever since.

C.:

I just delivered my daughter on Dec 23rd (at 36 wks) via c section. She was 9lbs 3 oz. They did an amnio the day before to make sure her lungs were developed - they were.. and had the c section the next day b/c I experienced a 30lb fluid gain in a week, had pitting edema in my legs and was in absolute MISERY. It's so hard to wait and worry and wonder if things will be okay. My baby was in the NICU for 5 days due to her blood sugar levels that kept dropping. The day before she was discharged we found out she has a heart murmur and that will have to be evaluated by a pediatric cardiologist as an outpatient, BUT the good news is she got to come home with us (I stayed 5 days also due to a few complications with my blood pressure) and since we've been home she has been fine. No prolems. She's eating, peeing, pooping, sleeping, crying, snuggling, smiling and we think she is absolutely PERFECT. Its so hard to know what to do. Thats when you have to listen to the doctors and believe they know what's best. It's emotional torture to have a baby in the NICU, but if your baby should need to be there for a few days be brave, be strong, and know that after the struggle is over, you will have your beautiful baby to hold and love and all the torment will be over. Things will calm down, and for us, as soon as we left the hospital life got 100% better. In the hospital I felt like a lunatic because all I did was cry and worry. As it turns out, I wasn't a lunatic, I was just turning into a mom. Be encouraged. It will be okay. God Bless...

Hi,
I am by no means a medical doc or a nurse; however, from my experience and reading, I have always read that is best to keep baby in mommy's tummy for as long as possible. The longer a child can remain in the mother's womb the better -- you can google this topic to get a lot more details other than what I can tell you here as well. What matters the most is baby's chance of having mature lungs, and that sometimes does not happen until 36-37 weeks (every situtation is unique). If there is no medical reason to deliver early then you should wait as long as possible. And if that means up until the 41st week, than that is okay.
Good luck, and congratulations too!
K.

You really have to trust your doctor. Yes there are contridicting reports out there but those authors don't know you or your situation. Every pregnancy and every situation is different, only you and your doctor know what is going on. Preeclampsia is very dangerous for you and the baby so if the doctor is recommending a c-section, he is doing it for a reason. I have had two c-sections, they first was rushed because things weren't "ideal" and the second was scheduled "elected" by me and it went so much smoother. In my opinion, it's better to have the c-section under controlled conditions when things are still ok than have your preeclampsia get to a point that they "have to " do it right away. please do research on preeclampia so you know what to expect. I am not a doctor, i work for one but i am giving my advise from experience as a mom. My first child they took me off work 2 months early becuase of the swelling but i didn't have to do an early c-section because of it. I was not happy about being home bound but I followed the docs orders for my child.

C.,

I understand your concern, unless you have some health issues that require early delivery, normally many ob's wait until 38 weeks. PIH, Cardiac or diabetes can make the difference. Babies can do fine with a little help from the nursing or nicu staff, but ifyou don't have health issues it is often better to wait.
K.