Disputing EDD and private vs NHS scan

[zooky]

Hello everyone. I've been panicking so am hoping for some advice or opinions.

I am pregnant with my 3rd baby. My first was an emergency c-section that was so traumatic.

I was advised the safest option for my second was planned c-section which went smoothly.

C-section is booked for this pregnancy.

My due date based on LMP (last menstrual period) is 20th May 2020. My cycle has been beyond clockwork all my life. Somehow at my 12 week scan they measured the baby at 9weeks+6. They said they couldn't do combined screening and rebooked the scan to when they believed I would be 12 weeks. They then measured 12weeks+4 days. This scan the sonogrogher was training and couldn't really get a good view for a long time. She asked me to stand and wiggle about. The lady at the computer had to remind her twice to check if she could see hands and feet. She couldn't get a good image to print. I don't have confidence in her measures.

At any point I have raised my dispute about the EDD (estimated due date) I have been simply told they will go with the measures and not LMP. I have booked a private scan for tomorrow to see what they find and a midwife told me if there is a significant difference then they might be likely to take this into consideration. I've decided to not provide my maternity notes as I want a clean fresh opinion. Am I allowed to do this? If anything was an issue I can provide midwife details/add their report to my notes? I'm fearful they would just agree roughly with what the NHS scan said which I truly believe is inaccurate. I know ovulation can have its variables but I have had two cycles of ICSI/IVF in the past and I'm very tuned into my body and knowing when I'm ovulating.

My fear is that the date they have booked my csection for, by my LMP (last menstrual period) calculations puts me 9 days overdue. I raised this concern with the consultant at the appointment and he said if I go into labour they will then class it as an emergency. This puts the fear of God into me. When I had my first emergency csection it was due to my daughter being breach. But no ody knew this until I was 10+2 dilated and she was very very stuck. In the emergency room they broke the first needle in my back. When I was going numb after another shot the surgeon was begging the anethesist to let him go as my daughters heart rate dropped to single figures. Before this emergency I was seen by no less than 7 people including specialists due to bleeding and pain, also to have a sweep and nobody noticed. The labour to 10+2cm was very fast so I am so desperate not to have an emergency situation where it could be prevented?!!

I've always been given conflicting advice and stats about uterine rupture and c-section vs VBAC. The consultant this time said there is no more risk after 1, 2 or 3 c-sections and that I have 70% chance of a natural birth wheras I've been advised that the risk increases before. (I am not wishing to take the 30% risk with this hospital). He wrote on my notes that I had considered it and I pointed out that I had never considered it and he said "you just did". So I've added the truth to my notes and pointed out otherwise next to his notes.

According to the NHS Information there are just as many issues that can occur from being overdue including breathing problems etc. I am simply petrified. I feel and fear that I'm being led into an emergency csection situation that could be avoided. It's stressing me out so much not being reassurred that I have been getting stomach pains and vomiting if I eat too much it comes back up. 😑 So worried.

Please help or advise I would be so grateful for some reassurance

Best wishes to everyone on their journeys xxxx

[Kezmum14]

It might not work for you but what date of birth do your other children have? My cycle has been like clock work for the last 26 years and 3 of my children are born on the 18th of the month and my 4th was early and born on the 31st, had I not been admitted to hospital with pre eclampsia I’m Certain he would have been born on the 18th of the month too. I’m pregnant with my 5th and my due date is 3rd July but I’ve not had a scan yet and again I’m almost certain this will turn in to 8/9th July then going over will mean another 18th birthday. I may be crazy but that’s what my head tells me. If your other children share a date or are very close I’d question it more but if they don’t I would try not to worry. If it really keeps playing on your mind just keep bringing it up. Good luck :)

[StraffeHendrik]

That must be very stressful.

I think you should tell the sonographer that the purpose of the scan is that you want an accurate dating even if you don't tell them the date given by the nhs scan.

I think they can use other markers to date the pregnancy than just size. Eg certain organs only develop at certain dates. That's why you can't tell the sex at a 12 week scan- sex organs not yet developed (it's not just that the image is too blurry, the organs are not there). If you are still fairly early 12-16 weeks they should, I think, be able to tell whether the lmp or scan dates are accurate if the discrepancy is 3 weeks.

You need to see a good sonographer for this though. The one we saw (not same reason) was a doctor and was also very good at explaining what she was looking at. Beard Mill clinic near Oxford, if you are nearby, highly recommended

[Darkstar4855]

Just to say that my cycles were always clockwork, then once when ttc and tracking I ovulated over a week later than expected for no apparent reason.

[Darkstar4855]

Oh, and no you don’t have to provide your maternity notes at a private scan. They don’t usually look at them, just scan you and give you a print out of the measurements/results which I then added to my maternity notes.

[GiveHerHellFromUs]

They don't need your maternity notes - they specially say on most websites that you don't need to take anything with you.

[Findumdum1]

I've had lots of private scans in the past, 6/7 and never taken my maternity notes. They give you information to add to your notes so you will get a fresh sizing. They generally have mote time on private scans as well. My 4 pgs were always out but seemed to self adjust as we went along and they always calculated eventual due date by last scan (before the end ones where the baby is too big). Then went into labour on due date on the 2 pregnancies where this was done, and this was 9 years ago, so I am sure yours will get adjusted if necessary, don't worry.

[PastTippingPoint]

How many weeks are you now? I don't know if the NHS would take the private scan into consideration re:EDD especially after 2 NHS ones, but it may be worth discussing with your consultant.

Elective CS are usually booked for 39 weeks so there's always a risk you may go into labour before. If you think you're contracting you phone the delivery suite and they will assess and can bring it forward. When they say it will be done as an emergency they don't mean a Grade 1 (has to be performed within minutes, which it sounds like your first was?) it's usually done as a Grade 3 (normal electives classed as a Grade 4), when the theatre is available they will perform it.

Hope this pregnancy goes smoothly x

[Blippolbblopp]

You can ovulate later in your cycle than normal OP

When i was pregnant with DD i went to an early scan knowing that i was about 7 1/2 weeks due to my LMP,

I was so surprised when the scan showed i was barely 5 weeks pregnant. The midwifes said i must of just ovulated later in my cycle

From my LMP she was due the 29th December, according to the scan she wasnt due until the 9th January and even then she was 2 days late

[Nanmumandmidwife]

You sound really worried about a number of issues and I wonder if it might be worth rethinking where to give birth & perhaps have afresh start at a new hospital? Where are you based?
You might also want to consider employing a private midwife so that you can talk through your concerns with someone who has a clear understanding of the issues and the choices open to you. The private midwife can then support you as your advocate and attend the birth with you.
Regarding your scans, all sonographers in the NHS (even students) have their results checked and validated. Sadly this isn't true of all private scan services.
The difference between 9+6 and 12 weeks is very obvious on scan, so although you have been very aware of your body this time it seems to have done something unusual and delayed ovulation to confuse you! The estimate of gestational age is most accurate at 11-13 weeks, getting progressively less accurate as the weeks go on.
The risks associated with being born too early are significant, particularly breathing issues as the lungs are often not quite ready to work. 39 weeks is the usual recommendation to balance the risks & benefits.
You sound as though you were really traumatised previously - I think it might be worth having some trauma therapy to try to reduce the impact it is still having on you