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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

'Overdue', just realised my dates are wrong, WWYD?

20 replies

crazycatlady · 27/02/2011 18:36

By scans, I was due DC2 on 18 February which would make me 9 days over. I have had two sweeps, a very convincing show, booked for third sweep on Tuesday and then induction on Wednesday which I don't want as I am planning a homebirth, and my Bishop's Score is still a pretty unfavourable 3.

However, I have just looked back at my dates.

I had completely forgotten that we conceived the month immediately after I had an early miscarriage. By dates, and counting the early miscarriage as a 'last period' I would have had to have started bleeding on 15 May 2010 in order to produce a due date of 18 February. But I was still pregnant until 20 May so a 18 Feb due date isn't physically possible... I am an idiot, should have mentioned this to my midwife much earlier but it all seems such a distant memory it was only tonight when I was looking at my notes and the doc had originally estimated 1 March that I remembered.

So by dates I must be 40 weeks and 4 days at the most...

I know it's pretty much unheard of for EDDs to be moved this late in the game, but I am keen to try as I am planning a homebirth and want to buy myself some more time. Is this possible at this late stage?

WWYD?

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mrsnich84 · 27/02/2011 18:39

you can refuse an induction but they might ask for daily monitoring. id say its worth mentioning to your midwife. what did your twelve week scan date you as?

iskra · 27/02/2011 18:42

Well definitely worth mentioning it! If I were you I would feel confident refusing induction until you were 42 weeks by your actual dates. But then you might not be allowed a homebirth, hmm. I think I would request appt with consultant before consenting to induction.

Original poster

crazycatlady · 27/02/2011 18:45

My 12 week scan dated me at 18 Feb due date, but I remember with DC1 I was absolutely 100% certain of my dates and the 12 week scan put me 5 days ahead of my own dates, so it looks like the same thing might have happened again.

I don't mind daily monitoring. But wondering if anyone has been in my position before and managed to get EDD moved to avoid the constant hassling!

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 27/02/2011 18:47

You cannot be refused a homebirth even if you go over 42 weeks.

FutureNannyOgg · 27/02/2011 19:14

My scan date was 3 days out, DH was 300 miles away the day they say I conceived, I was doing LH tests so I know I conceived at least 3 days later. That doesn't seem much, but it's the difference between being 10 days over, when my trust say you "must" be induced, and 7 days, when they leave you alone.

Like people already said, they can't force you to have an induction, ever - they can be pretty pushy, but you have good reason to stand your ground. They may threaten to not "let" you have a homebirth, but it's your call. If you ring requesting a midwife for HB, they must send one, even if they try and persuade you or make excuses.

It seems like you are well informed and not trying to take silly risks. Have a chat with your MW, she won't change your date by scan, but she can put it in your notes that you have discussed it and understand the implications.

Original poster

crazycatlady · 27/02/2011 19:36

I just wish I'd realised earlier! But TBH was so pleased to have a good 12 week scan (have previously had an awful one) that the dates just didn't occur to me.

So it wouldn't be unreasonable then to cancel the induction planned for Wednesday, to ask for the dates issue to be noted, and to agree a plan of expectant management from Friday when I would be 42 weeks by scan dates and 41+2 by my own dates?

I don't want to take unnecessary risk but have had no complications so far this pregnancy...

OP posts:

iskra · 27/02/2011 19:55

I don't think that would be unreasonable - you say this was noted originally in your notes? I would take that in just so it shows you are not making it up now iyswim.

Original poster

crazycatlady · 27/02/2011 20:12

Yes on the booking in summary page it says 1 March for due date by LMP, because we didn't really know what with the early miscarriage and this was my GP's guestimate...

Then scan date put me at 18 Feb and it hasn't been mentioned since.

It was only today it occurred to me to actually count!

OP posts:

debka · 27/02/2011 20:27

My dates were at least 4 days out, making me 40 wks when they induced me due to GD, rather than the official 40+4. I didn't mind a bit, however, as DD2 was 10lb 6oz!!

Original poster

crazycatlady · 28/02/2011 09:45

debka when they induced you do you mind me asking how it went and was your cervix 'favourable' at the time? I'd rather avoid induction but it's always useful to hear positive stories just in case...

OP posts:

Flisspaps · 28/02/2011 09:48

crazycatlady You can refuse to go in for the booked induction you know, and tell them you will not consider induction before X date because you believe your dates are wrong.

Nagoo · 28/02/2011 09:50

I agreed to induction at 40+13 but they would have gone to 40+14. i got a bit of grief over it, but it was ok, and in the event I had DD at 40+11. I'm glad that I made then push the induction back.

The monitoring was a bit of a faff (back and forth to hospital) but reassuring. I'd cancel the induction and reschedule. Surely you are more likely to get a home birth if you stave off induction and give yourself more of a chance.

There was a thread a while back for nice induction stories it might be worth hunting it out.

ShowOfHands · 28/02/2011 09:56

Even if you'd mentioned it at the time, there's a strong chance that they'd have gone with the scan date anyway as they're fairly accurate. So don't waste time on what ifs.

If you want expectant management and you're happy with that, then have expectant management. It's your choice.

Scans are pretty accurate to within a few days at 12 weeks. I've just stuck the due date of the 18th Feb in a calculator online and it says you would have conceived around 28th May. When you bleed is irrelevant, it's when you ovulate that's important. Am I right in thinking you started to bleed on the 20th May. Is that right? In that case a due date of 18th Feb isn't physically impossible, you could have ovulated 8 or so days post miscarriage, it's entirely possible/likely.

Original poster

crazycatlady · 28/02/2011 10:01

You're right SoH, I guess it would be possible after all... I normally ovulate around day 12 but who knows?

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 28/02/2011 10:07

I think after an early miscarriage, you can sometimes expect your cycle to be different to what you'd usually see. I conceived in the cycle after an early miscarriage and ovulated a week earlier than I usually did.

Original poster

crazycatlady · 28/02/2011 10:59

Now i know why the medical profession like people to wait a month... easier said than done though.

Am seeing midwife tomorrow so I'm going to chat to her about it, have another sweep and request expectant management from Friday.

OP posts:

ShowOfHands · 28/02/2011 11:04

The waiting thing is generally just a dating thing. It gives your body chance to reset to a normal pattern and means they can offer you appropriate care/scans based on acutal dates rather than guessing. But with 12wk scans being fairly accurate, they just go with that anyway.

Good luck. Who knows, you might not need expectant management anyway.

debka · 28/02/2011 12:04

Sorry to take ages to get back OP...

My induction was great- one gel in the morning, one in the afternoon. Had some pains after the 2nd, which slowly developed until I wondered if something was happening. Waters went at 7.30pm, when cx got much stronger. Was 4cm when they examined me, but DD2 was born at 8.35pm, v quick and surpised us all. I had meconium in the waters so had to be monitored- I thrashed around so much they put a monitor on DD2's head, which worked well.

I was induced with DD1 too- took 2 days but was a good experience too.

Hope your birth goes very well :)

debka · 28/02/2011 12:05

Forgot to say- cervix was unfavourable at 4pm, bishops score of 4- delivered DD2 4 1/2 hours later!!

Original poster

crazycatlady · 28/02/2011 17:51

Thanks everyone - and debka that's very encouraging, if I do have to go down the induction route...

Have walked, swum, bounced and eaten spicy food today. Date Night tonight. Lucky DH .

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