Your views of EDD calculation

[grannyangry]

I am looking for comments on how your EDD was calculated. I have a friend who is today one week past her EDD and staring down the barrel of an unwanted induction. In our local NHS trust, EDD is always taken from 12 week scan regardless of accuracy of own dates. By her own date she is not due for a couple of days but feels under pressure from obstetricians to accept date for induction using scan date. She is low risk apart from maternal age >40. Baby is not big, she is well and getting on-off contractions. She delivered normally a couple of years ago and wants to avoid induction. Do other hospitals insist on using scan dates when mothers are sure of their dates and cycles? If so, why are women not trusted to give accurate information? Why are we being forced to accept inaccurate methods (at best inaccuracy of +/- 5 days)that appear to be increasing the number of unnecessary inductions with all the attendant risks?

Different hospitals have different policies. I was absolutely sure of my dates and was very insistent about it. The only person who listened to me was a lovely midwife at our local birth centre. It turns out I was correct and my DD came the day I expected her to.

Your friend is entitled to wait and refuse an induction. However she will have the risks associated with a 'prolonged' pregnancy explained and at our hospital you have to sign to say you are aware of these risks.

It might be a suggestion to ask to be monitored more closely for another couple of days. They can scan to check if the placenta is functioning correctly and to ensure that there is enough fluid around the baby etc.

Good luck.

It's an ' Estimation '..... and what do we think of those when they come in bill form ?!

My hospital is 41+5. I was 38+3 with DS1, and am now 36+1...... I just hope this one arrives before 41+5.... but my original EDD has changed by 5 days.... which is annoying if i am late.... because which date is correct, the scan or original ?!

Golly I wish I knew.

Here in France EDD is considered 40+10 (I think, that's what I've got).

I am 40+3.

I have yet to be informed of induction policy yet and I was offered one sweep at 39+3 (which I have just found out is because my doctor is on holiday for the next two weeks).

However I will be admitted on EDD for monitoring.

Wish I knew. I am dreading an induction and so want this baby to come naturally, but I am not prepared either to sit it out for too long.

I have no idea of my dates but the dates from the scans seem to tally and have been consistent the whole way through.

Nobody can 'force' your friend to do anything.

Length of a normal pregnancy is anything from 37 to 42 weeks.

Apart from the fact that there are different ways to 'induce' labour, your friend does not have to agree to any intervention. Her chances of going into labour having delivered successfully once before are high.

Has she had a membrane sweep yet (this is only possible if the cervix is open/soft enough to allow at least 1 or 2 fingers in)? Has she discussed "expectant management" (frequent CTGs and scanning to assess placental function)?

AFAIK most or all hospital now go by dating scan as although women might be certain about their LMP or when they ovulated/had intercourse, it is impossible to know when exactly fertilisation/implantation took place.

I had DS1 at 42+1 after induction and DS3 at 41+5 after 2 membrane sweeps. Am hoping to again go into labour myself in this current pregnency as I cannot be induced due to previous emCS with DS2. I have no intention to agree to induction before I am 42 weeks though . Might have to fight my corner as hospital dates me 3 days earlier than 'my' dates... Oh, and I am 43 .

Another little useless but interesting statistic: only 5% of babies are born on their due date. So there.

Good luck to your friend.

It is very frustrating.

With DD 2 I was VERY sure of my dates as was tracking my ovulation dates and had sex the day before. She was due 8th April. By scan they moved me to the 2nd April which was a crazy 6 days earlier. I KNEW it was wrong. I went officially 9 days overdue with her but they didn't push it at the birthing centre as I was so insistent about my dates. So I was only really 3 days overdue. And my first was 4 days overdue.

This PG they put me at 2nd Feb but my cycles are 29 days so really my due date should be the 4th. By their dates I will be 41 weeks tomorrow but by my dates I will be 5 days over tomorrow and have been having contractions all day.

So whenever you go by my dates I am 3-5 days overdue but by their dates a good week-10 days over. That can make a real difference when they are talking about induction.

with my last baby i knew exactly when he was made and he was born on his due date. I am pregnant now and went for edating scan the other day - she started off by saying 8 and a half weeks and then settles on 9 - oh well she said, 3 or 4 days makes no difference at all.... thinking quietly to myself, yes it does if i go overdue for my planned home birth. It does seems a bit arbitary and can be a problem if you go overdue and finding yourself negotiating with consultants etc.

Would be interesting to find out how accurate EDD from 12 week scans are for people who have IVF so definitely know the date of conception.
My EDD was moved 1 week with DD1 and 10 days with DD2.