My Thought for the Day: Best Before Dates

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

My DP was unimpressed by my night time epiphany so I thought I would post it on here instead

Was thinking that due dates are a PITA, usually always inaccurate - sometimes wildly so, and people just get stressed if they are "early" or "late".

Would it not be better if you were instead given a Best Before Date, a kind of advisory date (like on food) that suggests that if you go beyond that date you may need additional monitoring - for most would be 42 weeks but could be varied on circumstances. Seems to me would avoid a lot of stress.

Feel free to ignore post - just wanted to share my great idea

Sounds like a good idea to me! 40 weeks is rarely the end of the pregnancy, 41 or even 42 weeks is normal for many women but by being given a due date of 40 weeks, every day over that suddenly becomes so stressful and long when really for many babies it's perfectly normal to go past the due date.

That would be brilliant and miles better than a "due date", I don't understand why 40 weeks is so obsessed over tbh...would make a lot more sense to say "your baby is likely to be born in this five-week period and certainly if not by XX date we may need to consider induction".

I am in the "five weeks" just now with my first and it drives me mad when people ask how long I've got left - I don't know! Baby could be here by teatime or it could be 30odd days yet. It'll come when it's ready (though I must confess I'm a bit impatient )

There is too much fous on the due date when 'normal' is considered anything from 37 to 42 weeks. Maybe they could give a 'due span' saying you are due between X and X dates which would be 5 weeks apart.

That's the way it works in France. Your 'due' date is 9 calendar months after conception (works out to just under 42 weeks). If baby is not born by then, they start doing extra monitoring/induce.

i think it's a good idea too.

not quite the same, but 2 friends of mine have never told anyone their due dates. Obv they and the HCP's know it, but they've told everyone else that they're just expecting "at the end of summer" or "after christmas" sort of thing

kind of prevents all the "haven't you had it yet?" comments

what a good idea - far too much focus here on EDD.

I just had this conversation with a new mum whilst waiting for a mid-wife appointment. I think that it's brillant.

My AN teacher told me that in one country, I think scandinavian but coud be making that up, that they just give you a due month
Much better imho