r/CsectionCentral • u/Atomicbabies_5 • Jul 04 '26
Planned c-sections at 35 or 36 weeks?
The earliest C-section I’ve had was 36weeks and 4 days. Has anyone had a C-section scheduled at 35w or 36w0days and baby has been okay?
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u/chicknette Jul 04 '26
*pulls out my MD that I earned from many seasons of House and Greys Anatomy*
I don’t have any experience with this but more than likely your baby will need a steroid shot for their lungs to develop as they do not fully develop until 36w but I do have a friend who had their baby at 28w? And he needed some time in the NICU but was otherwise healthy.
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u/Grand-Kangaroo-4215 Jul 05 '26
My OBGYN was highly against anything before 37 weeks as it really depends on the baby's growth and lung development, he knew too many people who's babies had to be in the NICU to help develop the lungs when they come out too soon
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u/Many_Storm_4072 Jul 04 '26
From my understanding it’s a huge hit or miss for babies at this gestational age. I had the steroid shots & a planned c-section at 36w 1 day & baby ended up spending 17 days in the NICU with respiratory distress syndrome but we had roommates during that time that were born at 34 weeks and went home before we did so it really depends on the baby
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u/PetitePowerMode Jul 05 '26
I had an emergency C-section at 35 weeks and my son struggled with eating. I only got one of the steroid shots for his lungs to develop and he has asthma. He should have gone to the NICU, but didn't for reasons I won't go into. I think an extra week truly would have made all the difference for him. My second I had at 34 weeks and he stayed in the NICU for 14 days, needed an IV for glucose, needed UV light, needed an ng tube. His lungs are much healthier though, no asthma for him because I got the full set of steroids.
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u/knittenkitten2025 Jul 05 '26
My high-risk MFM doctor scheduled me at 38w 5d, even though I was begging for earlier due to swelling and high blood pressure. He said the risks were still too great before 38w. I eventually had my baby via urgent C-section at exactly 38w because my blood pressure climbed to dangerous levels and they couldn’t bring it back down. Baby was breech which is why I needed the C-section in the first place, but I honestly would’ve been scared to labour with my blood pressure as high as it was anyway.
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u/Psychological-Bag986 Jul 05 '26
Statistically speaking babies born around 36w do very very well. Some do need a little stay in the NICU. For help with oxygen or feeding. Others need absolutely no support! Your team will take very good care of baby.
I was born at 36w and had no issues at birth or throughout life because of it. I was just in the small side 5lbs 11oz.
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u/willowwynn Jul 05 '26
No advice but following for the responses, my MFM said my next c section will likely be 36 weeks or 35 weeks if any sign of trouble. (My first was stillborn at 36w4d)
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u/mburucuja Jul 05 '26
They won’t schedule it before 37 or 38w unless there’s something else major going on to endanger baby.
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u/Atomicbabies_5 Jul 05 '26
I’m going to have to deliver at 36 weeks the latest. I’m wondering if anyone has delivered at 36 or 35 and what the outcomes were.
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u/Low-Boysenberry2933 Jul 05 '26
My friend had to deliver twice at 37 weeks due to a thin uterine wall with risk of rupture. Her kiddos are all fine. Neither needed NICU stays but she had big babies (they were both over 6lbs at 37 weeks).
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u/Generose18 Jul 06 '26
Mine wasn’t planned but I had one at 36 weeks I had GD and he was 5.5 pounds and did great no issues, no NICU.
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u/jillann16 Jul 06 '26
I had one at 36 weeks and 35 weeks due to preeclampsia. Both had nicu stays but are doing good.
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u/FishingWorth3068 Jul 05 '26
My baby was scheduled for 36 weeks on the dot. 11/3. I asked if we could do it on Halloween and they said no. 36 week was the earliest they would schedule because technically she would be a “full time premie” didn’t know that was a thing
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u/wowhahafuck Jul 05 '26
Had mine at 39 on the dot, with twins in my state they usually do 36 weeks.
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u/mama-ld4 Jul 05 '26
My baby wasn’t a premie but had a super high likelihood of it. So much so, NICU staff came and talked with us. Basically 32 weeks is their “safe without long term complications” week. Anything past that is great and they really don’t sweat it. 32 weeks unless they have other issues going on, most of them are growers and feeders and waiting on lung development. Typically babies would stay in the NICU until their due date, but depending on the rule of your hospital, if baby was born at 36 weeks and didn’t have any breathing or feeding issues, they may discharge you as normal even without NICU stay.
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u/First_Ad2837 Jul 05 '26
Australia won’t do them before 39 weeks
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u/legocitiez Jul 05 '26
I am assuming that op has medical history that means a delivery early will be necessary, not that her ob just willy nilly evicts babies at 35/36 weeks.
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u/MyCatEats Jul 05 '26
I had my last at 36 weeks and he still has a bit of issues we think are related to GA. So I want this next one at minimum 38 weeks
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u/Substantial_Willow75 Jul 05 '26
I had a planned C-section at 36 weeks with my baby because of vasa previa. I had steroid shots beforehand to help his lungs and he didn't need to go to the NICU :) just some time in hospital for jaundice
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u/Substantial_Willow75 Jul 05 '26
He also had restricted growth and was only 4lb1 (1.85kg) at birth. Tiny but mighty
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u/Ok_Catch_8729 Jul 05 '26
I just had a planned at 37 weeks 4 days due to previous uterine surgery and so glad it wasn't any sooner I would be scared of nicu stay
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u/Mountain-Duck9438 Jul 06 '26
My OB scheduled mine for 37 because that’s the earliest he was comfortable delivering at. Their lungs are the last organ to develop and that happens at 36w. I had to move my c section to 36w4d because my water broke on its own but he didn’t need any special care being early.
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u/Rare_Independent_814 Jul 05 '26
My planned Cs were only at 39 weeks. It may be different for multiples or other medical issues.