Confusion over due dates, but induction has been booked... What would you do?

[JillPole]

My EDD as measured by LMP was 20 December. At my 12-week scan, the date was adjusted to 23 December... and remained so until a couple of weeks before Christmas, when the midwife moved it forward to 20 December again.

When I asked why, she said that setting the EDD at 23 December had been a mistake, and that when there was less than 7 days between the LMP and 12-week scan dates, they stuck with the former.

Has anyone ever come across this? Because I hadn't. The antenatal clinic in our area takes place on a set afternoon every week, and I couldn't help noticing that the "new" date meant that everything slotted in far more neatly with the clinic dates over the holiday period. Or am I doing my midwife a disservice?

Either way, it's only 3 days and it didn't seem to matter... until baby decided that she was perfectly happy where she was, thank you very much! I went in yesterday for a stretch and sweep, and an induction was booked at the local general for 2 January - when I will be either 40+13 or 40+10, depending on which due date you go by.

I have a couple of questions here. The first is that I'm keen to avoid induction/drip/bed/continuous monitoring/epidural/increased risk of instrumental intervention if at all possible, for all the reasons that have been set out on other threads within this forum. If I get to the weekend (31 Dec/1 Jan) and there is still no sign of baby coming on her own, is it reasonable to call the hospital and cancel or postpone the induction? Perhaps ask if I can go in for a second stretch & sweep instead? (There isn't another antenatal clinic in the meantime, so I can't have another one here.)

Also, I feel under pressure from my midwife and from DH to go and have this induction (Midwife: "I had the drip and it was fine...Trust me, by 2 Jan you will just want this baby out." DH: "If that's what they think is best, you should do it"). But to me, that 3-day gap between 40+10 and 40+13 suddenly seems massive! Especially as baby is apparently very low down and could go at any time. So which date is right?

Sorry for the long post. Tbh I feel crap and befuddled right now, and my hope beyond hope is that labour kicks in on its own!

I know that there are no rights or wrongs or certainties - but if you were me, what would you do?

if you want to postpone by 3 days you have a right to do so and they can not force you to go by their dates. if their date is right that would bring you to 40+16 which is quite far over, so they may want you to go in for daily monitoring which seems like a good comprimise if you would be happier to move the induction back by a few days and go in for monitoring in the meantime?

I was all set with DD2 to kick up a stink after the way I was treated with DD1. I was told to have a sweep I didn't want, otherwise I would have to be induced and I wouldn't be allowed daily monitoring. I wasn't high risk or anything, I got the impression that the MW just couldn't be arsed.

So the second time around I read up on the NICE guidelines and did loads of research. I felt that for me, being induced purely on dates (which are estimated!) was riskier than going for expectant management. Obviously it's personal choice and I would do plenty of reading on the risks but I really felt with DD1 that I was pushed into having an induction booked without being given any info at all. Thankfully she turned up 2 days before. DD2 also turned up 11 days late, I think that's just how long my pregnancies are.

If you google 'ten month mamas' there are loads of articles.

Thanks both for advice. Feeling better now!

Ask for another sweep definitely, it may get help to get things going (and you can find out what is happening down there, i.e. soft cervix, any dilation, so have an idea of if you might be approaching going into labour. I had an induction at 40+11, didn't have much choice as waters had broken 36 hrs before. I would hold out as much as possible if I were in your situation, you can cancel your induction and ask for expectant monitoring. Don't let anyone pressure you into anything, as long as your baby is ok. And don't believe your MW about the drip being ok, it really really is not, it's absolutely horrible, I know I'm not the only one to say this! Sorry don't want to scare you, but if you do have to be induced be knowledgeable about what to expect, what pain relief is avaliable and insist on having access to it. If I was to be induced again and had the drip I would choose to have an epidural very early on.
Hope your LO makes an appearence naturally very soon!

Hi JillPole we have similar dates! My EDD was 20th Dec at 12 week scan, but at 7 week scan was 22nd. I've refused to be booked for induction so far and gotten myself in really bad states over it. I'm seeing MW tomorrow for S&S at the hospital and may look at being monitored from Tuesday or agreeing to accept induction. I've had tons of info from some ladies who are very supportive and knowledgeable, I can direct you to a thread with lots of induction info. My MW seems quiet different to yours very supportive of letting me wait and argue my dates for. I've not made a certain decision yet, I'm interested to see what my cervix is like when I have the sweep tomorrow.

Don't be pressured, listen to yourself and your body, they can monitor you and the baby so everyone is safe but you don't have to do anything you don't want to. If you accept an induction I think you need to have your head round it first to hopefully make it more successful. Also, sorry but I'd be a bit pee'd off with a MW who thinks that just because something was acceptable for her means it will be for every woman under her care!

Best of luck

I had a midwife who was induction trigger happy too. I ignored her, dug my heels in with the consultant, got very bored sitting in the FAU with expectant management. Went into labour naturally at 42+5. Yes I got fed up waiting for DC1 - but i always had in the back of my mind that interventions are a slippery slope...