Ok so long story short I got pregnant while nursing when my daughter was 8 mo old. I had a postive pregnancy test on Sept 3rd 2010. This is my 4th so i recognized about how far a long I was by my symptoms. Because of moving and insurance problems I didn't have my first checkup until what I thought was around 16 weeks. My midwife examined me and by her measurments, my uterus was right about 16 weeks in size putting my due date April 30, because we weren't sure of the date we had a sonogram done and it put the due date on May 12. Frustrating but okay two weeks later. Well as I have continued my care I have still measured at the april 30 date. If I was using that date I would be almost 38 weeks not 36. I'm curious has anyone had this happened? Should I take the wait and see approach or what? I should mention that I deliver at home and the april date is accurate and my midwife doesnt encourage any natural inductions prior to may 12 then that would put me at 42 weeks which will no longer be safe to deliver at home. I don't want another US because I don't think they are that accurate. My body feels more like 38 weeks pregnant. Oh what to do! Thanks for your words in advance ladies.
**edit* I have never had spontaneous labor, I used cohosh and castor oil to get me going on all 3 of my other births after my original 40 week due dates. I'm 28 so I am not considered high risk for anything. And my midwife is a CSN and has practiced in the military an hospital and I am comfortable that she knows as much as any OBGYN.
My due date was first set at March 14th, then had an early and a late US that both indicated March 21st. She was born on March 10th at full-term (7.5 lbs, 21.5 inches).
The midwife and doula guessed she would be 6 to 6.5 lbs one week before her birth. They were all wrong.
From all the research I have done (a lot, as I went over almost 2 weeks with my second baby) on cohosh, castor oil, and other herbal-type inductions, they will NOT work unless your body is ready to deliver and your baby is ready to be born. I would listen to your body and your midwife, try the cohosh when you think you are ready, and if it doesn't work, give it a couple of days and try again! I would stick to the earlier due date on your "official" record to avoid being pressured into a medical induction or other interventions before you are ready.
Best of luck to you!
They moved my due date EIGHT TIMES with this last pregnancy because he was measuring so big (not me measuring big, my belly, aka, THE BABY)... how frustrated was I?! I would get another opinion if you're planning on delivering at home. Why is 42 weeks not considered safe for homebirth? The placenta does not begin to deteriorate until after 42, and anything between 38-42 is considered full term... No matter what, good luck and best wishes!
BTW, they ended up inducing me this last time... baby was born 4 days before Christmas, we went home the day before Christmas eve because I begged, pleaded, cried, bitched, and whined. I was NOT missing 'being Santa' to my other kids!! His original due date was January 1st, but because he was so much bigger, they expected me to go by Thanksgiving. Anything is possible ;)
You are right that USs late in pregnancy are not very accurate, but early on they are quite good at estimating gestational age. The earlier the better in terms of accuracy. According to the US you were 14 weeks when it was done, that should be pretty accurate, I would think more accurate than symptoms and manual measurements. Every pregnancy can be different as to when you start to notice symptoms, and fundal measurements "should" be +/- 2 cm of your weeks. So if you are measuring 38 cm you would be measuring a little ahead, but still within "normal" for 36 weeks. I would lean toward the US due date.
Well I would assume that you will go into labor "early" and just plan on it!
**{Please nobody email me and tell me how harmful ultrasounds are...I've had one at each visit for each of my pregnancies and all my babies turned out perfectly fine}.**
I'm pregnant with my 4th baby and unlike many doctors, my doctor does an ultrasound at each and every visit. The ultrasound, for me, has been very accurate with ALL of my pregnancies, within one or two days. Due dates are calculated by the first day of your last period. Do you know this date and does it match to where you should be in your pregnancy today? My doctor also has this little spin dial device, he plugs in the date of my last period and the due date is displayed. It's quite accurate, at least for me it has been. Your dates are way off and yes, I would be concerned too. Who wants to walk around pregnant for longer than they have to be. Surely, you may feel like 38 weeks if you are only 36 weeks. I'm 37 weeks now and I "feel" READY. And what if they induce you but come to find out that you were not full term like they thought? I don't know...I would wait and see.
I didn't have a two week difference, but I did have almost a week. My doctor measured me to be due around 2/6 and the US measured me to be around 2/12. Coincidentally, my baby came on the 2/12 due date! I'm one of those "rare" exceptions where the baby actually comes on the due date. But, I also had my first ultrasound at 4.5 weeks and they are VERY good at estimating then.
I am a midwife. I think it is fine if you wait it out. You will most likely go into labor on your own before May 12th. Also, if you feel that your body is more like 38 weeks then it probably is. Mother's instinct is very strong and almost always accurate. Also it is not dangerous to deliver at home past 42 weeks. As long as you and the baby continue to be healthy and the baby sounds fine then it is fine. I have seen lots of babies delivered past 42 weeks and they were all healthy.
With our first, I was told not to go anywhere for Thanksgiving (we lived an hr from all of our family). Then I was told not to go anywhere for Christmas. I had to be induced Jan. 17. Talk about being off!
You have to forgive me b/c I just had a baby born with down syndrome and I had similar thing happen to me. My doctor pushed my due date back to April 11th and according to my cycle and the time my husband and I conceived...he was almost two weeks off. I was tested for all genetic testings & they all came back negative, therefore he thought his calculations were off so he changed the due date.
Since hindsight is 20/20...we now know that it was b/c down's babies develop slowly in the womb. Now, I am in no way saying that there is something wrong with your baby....but I am saying that even though I do believe in midwives and love them dearly...I would still go ahead and consult a doctor....get an ultrasound...or something.
My baby I just gave birth to was the 4th....and he came almost 3 weeks early (according to my doc's due date) and on time according to mine.
My point is that mothers worry, but we were also given an instinct that helps tell us when we feel something isn't right. It wouldn't hurt to check into this to ease your mind. Talk to your midwife and tell her your concerns. She is there to help you and make sure you have a healthy baby.
I pray that you have a easy labor and healthy baby.
I think we have the same midwife ;-)
With my 4 month old, my due date by charting was Nov 21st. The ultrasound said Dec 1st. My midwife used the Dec 1st date so that I could have more time if needed (I've known plenty of women to go over 42 weeks with a homebirth, and while there *is* a relative increased risk for stillbirth, it is so miniscule that the absolute risk is about the same, ie you'll hear that the risk for stillbirth is double after 42 weeks, which is true, but the actual numbers are like .001% and .002%.)
BTW, my daughter was born on Nov 22nd. I'd like to think we know our bodies better than any ultrasound machine.
Good luck & congratulations!
Updated
I think we have the same midwife ;-)
With my 4 month old, my due date by charting was Nov 21st. The ultrasound said Dec 1st. My midwife used the Dec 1st date so that I could have more time if needed (I've known plenty of women to go over 42 weeks with a homebirth, and while there *is* a relative increased risk for stillbirth, it is so miniscule that the absolute risk is about the same, ie you'll hear that the risk for stillbirth is double after 42 weeks, which is true, but the actual numbers are like .001% and .002%.)
BTW, my daughter was born on Nov 22nd. I'd like to think we know our bodies better than any ultrasound machine.
Good luck & congratulations!
With my 1st they said due April 17. That came and went. On April 26th they went in after him.
With my 2nd pregnancy, the US said that I was a week and a half off what I thought. That pregnancy didn't make it past 12 weeks.
With my 3rd pregnancy, I said that I was due Oct. 27. The US said I was due Nov. 10. I was sad. I wanted an Oct. baby. Come Oct. 24, I was really sick cuz baby was sitting on my siadic nerve. Lost 5 lbs in 2 days. Doctor said he would indue on Oct 27, my '38' week mark. He did. Baby came, and when she popped out, she had hardly any gook on her. The nurse said that was a sign that she was 'done'. She is a 'as far as I can tell' normal healthy 4y.
M.
I have a similar experience with my #2 pregnancy. I had a VERY early ultrasound which said I was 9 weeks along. I had another ultrasound done when I was supposed to be 18 weeks along but it said I was actually 21 weeks. My Midwife put the original due date as my actual EDD with the earlier date being the possible time frame window to have labor start. They said they did this to ensure that my body had enough time to go into labor without them having to refer me out. Midwives in FL are not allowed to attend births that pass 42 weeks... eventho due dates are ESTIMATES.
I'm also having a homebirth and VBAC to boot. :o)
With my second son, going off my last period my due at was Sept. 28th. After getting an ultrasound done at my first appointment, they gave me a due date of Oct. 14th. I give birth to my son Oct. 1st. I would say just wait until you body starts to go into labor. But since you have never had a spontaneous labor, I would go off what your doctors are telling you.
When counted for my due date I came up with July 1st. At the clinic they told me July 4th. Then it was changed to July 20th ( still a mysterie to me why that was done) then changed back to July 3rd. She came June 21st...Due dates are an educated guess. Some babies come right on time and some, like mine, come when they are good and ready. I think you are in good hands with your midwife and she will keep an close eye on you and the little one as the dates are approching. Good luck and congratz on the new baby !!!!
