Dates don't match, should I expect to be induced?

[stelmaria]

I am currently 32 weeks pregnant and starting to worry about being induced.
With my DS I was induced at 42 weeks and finally delivered him at 42+3 via forceps in theatre as he was in distress and I was prepped for a emcs incase the forceps were unsuccessful, it was very stressful and that's why I'm worrying about going through it all again.
I think what contributed to my son being overdue was that my cycles are always around 42 days instead of the "usual" 28.

I know the hospital goes by babies size to calculate due date, however my DS has always been tall for his age and I'm wondering if this also contributed to him being overdue (measuring big but he wasn't ready yet as my due date was just 2 weeks too early)
Has anyone had experience of having a longer cycle, but their due date being accurate?
Should I expect to be induced as my dates are 2 weeks out? (I am 100% sure of when I ovulated & dtd hence why I know the hospital date is wrong) or am I panicking for nothing and just ignore the dates I have? Many thanks ☺

The most accurate dating is a scan at or before 12 weeks. At that stage, the foetus develops at a very consistent pace. It is only later in pregnancy that individual characteristics like height and build become apparent.

Ok, thank you for your reply

You do have the option of declining induction and going for daily monitoring at over 42 weeks, but you will have to weigh that up against the risks of placental failure at that gestation - it's a personal decision.

That said, a second induction and birth is likely to be more straightforward than a first anyway. Second births are nearly always quicker and more straightforward and second labours tend to happen slightly sooner. Having been through birth once already, induction also seems to "take" better when it's a woman's 2nd or more.

Thank you for the advice, I didn't realise you could decline an induction. Do you know how long they would let you decline one for? (Providing everything is ok with baby & placenta).

My cycle with DC2 was 35 days and arrived bang on due date.

How old are you OP? That may be a factor

You could chose s few options, calculate your likely due date if your first child and ask your consultant to reevaluate your old scans compared to your new scans and see if it reaches any conclusion about the early or late arrival of your first

Second ask for a section

Third, if they're suggesting induction, perhaps revisit what went wrong the first induction eg with mine both babies were never engaged hence first induction not working and second child not even considered due to epic fail of first child - this may change their plans for your birth

I am 29 @flumpybear. With my ds1 he was engaged but was back to back which is why the induction wasn't a success. I might consider asking for a section once I have spoken to the consultant, as you suggested. Thank you. Also interestingly, working out my ds1 due date based on my cycle dates not scan dates is resulting in a due date of the day he was actually born.

Do you know how long they would let you decline one for? (Providing everything is ok with baby & placenta).

So maternity staff can't actually "let" or compel you to do anything (although they often act and speak like they can, and it's easy to assume you have to so what you're told). You don't though. Nobody can do anything to you whatsoever without your consent. That said, I think maternity staff would rightly become very very worried indeed if you hadn't delivered by 43 weeks and would probably express the risk to you in quite strong terms. At your age you don't have the higher risk of going overdue that a 40+ woman does but the risk of placental failure and consequent stillbirth does go up as the weeks go by.

I'm in a similar boat - my hospital due date is 9 days earlier than my own dates and both my previous babies have been late (DD 5 days induction then EMCS, DS 12 days by VBAC but I thought hospital dates were way put that time too). The last doctor i saw did say I could discuss altering my due date with my own consultant (who I've never met but anyway...) so made it sound like it's not set in stone. Last time round I just resisted any intervention as long as i could and read lots of NICE guidelines and stuff, made me feel better armed with facts going to those appointments. This time also going to try acupuncture for birth preparation /induction as I've a few friends who found it helped. Anything that's not the drip! Good luck!