Babies born early (called premature babies) may have more health problems at birth and later in life than babies born on time. This is why it's important to wait until at least 39 weeks for a scheduled c-section. If your pregnancy is healthy, it's best to let labor begin on its own.

Is C-section Safe at 38 weeks?

Caesarean sections should ideally be performed as near the due date as possible to avoid complications. But a new study shows that there is no significant difference between performing an elective Caesarean section in week 38 and 39. In some cases it may actually be better to get it done a little earlier.

Is 37 weeks too early for C-section?

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. Over the past decade, doctors have studied late preterm births in depth.