Do all pregnant women rely on the doctor for a due date?

[mears]

I am asking this question because of a mix-up in a woman's dates the other day. She had been ginev a date by the doctor that was actually 2 weeks early so she was disappointed not to get induced.
Do women not chart their periods anymore? I still circle the date of my period on the calendar even though I can't have any more babies
If you know for sure the date of your last period, do you know how to calculate your due date? You add 7 days and 9 months. The obstetric wheel calendar that doctors and midwives use may give a date a day either side of that sometimes.
If you were sure of your date would you accept a change of date up to a week by scan?
I wonder is women have lost the art of knowing how to calculate their own pregnancies y relying totally on the doctor/midwife.
What are your experiences?

[M2T]

Mears - I calculated it myself and the GP/Midwife merely confimred what I thought. BUT I can understand the woman believing the GP as mine told me I may be 2 wks further on than my LMP suggested as I may have ovulated very early in my cycle.

But my 12 wk scan rules that out. Didn't she have a scan?

[lazyeye]

Very sad admission here - I have had sex so infrequently during the last few years (but had 2 successful pgs, 2 m/cs) and am now pg again, that I calculate my due date from the date of conception not periods. What with b/feeding and m/cs cycles were up the duff anyway. I'm fairly sure of my conception dates, so don't accept much variation on scans etc.

[twiglett]

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[gingernut]

Well, I chart mine! In fact I don't really need to, I just know when my period's due. When it came to my due date, I argued with my community midwife because I knew when I had ovulated (and therefore conceived) and she eventually agreed to put down the date as I had calculated it (which was different from the date given by her wheel. Since I was so sure I would have found it difficult to accept a change in the date if the scan had shown that ds wasn't the right size for dates.

[mears]

Twigglett - you are right about the average cycle being the point of calculation. However, when you take a history, you also fill in the length of the cycle. You are correct in what you are saying. I was talking to one of our consultants the other day about the sceduling date if elective C/S and she says that it has been recognised that the date should be as close as possible to the due date. There is no good reason to schedule a date for 38 weeks in a normal pregnancy. Stick to your guns and tell them that you do not want delivered at 38 weeks.

[twiglett]

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[aloha]

Twiglett, you can do this. I did. I argued for my my section for placenta praevia to take place at nearly 38 weeks instead of just at 37 weeks - and in my case it was very important I didn't go into labour. Is there any reason why it would be harmful to you if labour started? If not then I think you should have a c-section as close as possible to your due date - ie on it! You may have to make a fuss, but they can't force you to have an early section. Are you having it at Kings? Who is your consultant?

[aloha]

BTW, my friend conceived the day after her period ended (twice now!) so her due date would be out by a week, presumably.

[lydialemon]

I always note down the dates of my periods, and I've always worked out my EDD myself, mainly as I'm too excited to wait for the first booking in at 12 weeks. I think there is too much pressure put on EDD TBH. Pre pill and kids I had a 35 day cycle which is why I think my babies have all been 'late'. Whenever I brought that up though, it didn't seem to be classed as that important.

[motherinferior]

I reckon dd1 was conceived on account of my ovulating two days early. Hey presto, she arrived two days before the 'due date'.

[Bekki]

I go along with the date I'm given. But I know the date of conception because ds2 was well planned and I read up on cycles.
But I don't chart my periods and no one I know older than 35 seems to do it. I think people rely on the contraceptive pill to ascertain period dates and so they don't get in the habit of marking them.

[Bozza]

With DS I told them my dates but then with the scans they moved the date around at least twice. DS was actually born 1 day after hospital date (which had been brought back in line with what I said) and 2 days before mine. He was 9lb 10 which I think was the cause of the messing with the dates. I was quite annoyed at the time because it was like they didn't believe me and when they initially moved the date earlier I was worried it would mess up my maternity leave.

This time the doctor and I have both calculated Sun 16 May whereas the midwife has 17 May. This is because GP did it on computer and m/w used the little wheel thing which didn't account for leap year. I've stuck with 16th in my head because it is my wedding anniversary. The date of my last period was Sun 10 August (but I conceived immediately after coming off the pill). I know that conception occurred on Bank Hol Mon 25 August because thats the only time we had sex for ages - so was on day 15.

Long-winded reply.

[eidsvold]

i have erractic cycles and so was unable to pinpoint exactly when dd was conceived, however -for once, i did know first date of last period when midwife asked and so she nominated a date week of 22 august, at 12 week booking scan that was brought to 10 august, dd was born via emergency caesarean on 1 august and the description of my placenta at the time is not very nice.

I always wondered if she was a tiny baby ( just 6 lbs)could they have gotten the dates wrong ( added to that heart condition and ds).. just a thought?

[motherinferior]

Oh, and I chart mine (even though I'm over 35) and take account of ovulation (painful) too. Am aware, in fact, that my current state of raging self-pity and urge to eat everything in sight might, just might have a hormonal link

[Bekki]

Sorry I'm dilirious with a tummy bug. I meant no one younger than 35 charts their periods it seems. My mum does it out of habit.

[Bekki]

Oh god I can't spell now, I'm off to bed.

[harman]

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[katierocket]

this site is quite fun and will tell you EDD if you enter first day of last period babyhopes

[dejags]

Bozza - bizarre, my DS was due on the 16th May and it is also our wedding anniversary. How long have you been married for?

I only make a note of when my period starts when TTC - beyond that I was lazy and never made a note...

[Bozza]

dejags - we got married in 1998. I agree it is quite a coincidence

[sweetkitty]

my last period was 29/10 I looked it up on the net and got a EDD of 4/8. I must have conceived around 12th November as we had sex then I went away for the weekend. When I came back from the weekend away I just knew I was pregnant don't know how or why. I told the doctor and midwife this and to be honest it was as if they didn't believe I could work it out myself, they still had to check it ad come up with the 4/8

[dejags]

Bozza - us too... weirder and weirder..

[tabitha]

I have always calculated my due dates myself and because my periods have always been pretty regular I would trst that rather than one my doctor gave me.
I did have a problem in my last pregnancy when my due date was (I think) about 9 or 10 days later than the scan one. I accepted the scan date but lare wished that I hadn't as I had planned to have a home birth but because I went more than 2 weeks over the (scan) date, the midwivws were not happy about this going ahead. The hospital then tried to induce me twice with pessaries but nothing happened. I was scanned next morning and after I explained the discrepancy in dates with the consultant he was happy for me to wait and go into labour in my own time albeit in hospital rather than at home and with fetal monitoring every second day. Ds was born 8 days after the induction attempts. He was 10 days late, according to my dates & nearly 3 weeks late according to the scan.
I would definitely stick to my guns re dates if this happened again and I still feel a bit 'cheated' at not having a home birth.

[mears]

Thanks for the replies. It is a pity that women have got out of the habit of charting their periods because the info is needed for other things such as smears and also if you start having gynae problems you can give a more accurate history. When my periods started my mum gave me a diary and stressed the importance of circling the day my periods started. I will be doing the same with dd

[oliveoil]

I have always charted mine, so I knew when one was going to arrive and stuck with the habit when ttc. I circle on my calender in my diary.