how accurate are scan dates for baby due date! pls help!!

[h27]

Please could someone advise!! I am 27 weeks pregnant and i am getting my MATb form filled out next week, the only prob is is that my due date from my 3 month scan is saying 31st march and i have just found out that if your baby is due on or after 1st april you will get 9 months off mat leave that means i have missed it by 1 day, so i will only get the 6 months!! Is anyone else in this situation!! I am wondering how accurate the scan date is now! My midwife can be funny so i dont want to ask her. Please help thanks H27

My friend's midwife volunteered to change the date for her, and she was over a week out of the time, so they're obviously used to this request! Midwife would have to be a real dragon not to agree.

Scan date is not 100% accurate, but that's the "official" date, so unless you can get it changed I don't think there's much you can do about it.

I think I'm right in thinking that if your baby is actually born after 1 April you are entitled to the 9 months. So if you're a day late, which is not entirely impossible, you'd be OK.

Is it when the baby is due, or when it is born that they start from? The ultrasound can be a few days off, so I would say April first.

just ask your midwife to change it. If she changes it and your baby came early it doesnt matter as its the date on your form that counts!

It's when it's due I'm afraid. Luck of the draw whether you can get it changed. I couldn't (due 23/3) but know others due earlier who got it dated 1/4.

Hi, I've just checked out the DWP website and copied this extract for you:

The changes will only apply to women expecting babies on or after 1 April 2007; regardless of when their baby is actually born.

It seems well worth trying to get it changed espcially as the later the scan is the less accurate it is supposed to be ( a good argument to use!!) Also ask your mum and female relatives if they carried long or short as this may also add credence to your argument. If your own midwife wont help then try speaking the Supervisor of Midwives in your local area, she may be more sympathetic to your cause as surely being at home with your baby for longer benefits everyone!!!!!
Good luck!

I'm due 22 March by my LMP date, or 19 March by scan date. 2 of my children were late (8 days and 11 days) so I asked the midwife to put 1st April on the MatB1. She didn't have a problem with it. Chances are if I go over again it will be the 1st or 2nd April anyway.

Why not ask your mw? She can only say no. Not that it's any skin off her nose anyway- mine didn't change the dates on my notes so it doesn't affect anything else. Good luck.

(As for accuracy of scan dates, the scan gave me a date about 2 or 3 days earlier than my LMP date for DS1 and he was the one who ended up 11 days overdue!)

H27
Ask midwife to change it,
If she won't request to see another midwife I mean the scan is no way 100% accurate!

I had my date for LMP as 25th June and thought this was about right, scan said 9th July. DD was born 17th June! So I was closer then said "accurate" scan!

Couldn't you just say that being new year and all, you've been going through your old diary and have realised that the date you gave originally for your last period was wrong, so by your reckoning you are due a day or two later than you first thought. With me, my MATB1 form was always written according to my dates rather than any subsequent adjustment on the scan (don't think there were adjustments anyway????).

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my message! i did ask my midwife to put 1st april down and she turned round and said there has to be a cut off date and that was that! i was really upset when she said that to me, so now it has put me off asking any other midwives in our local hospital!! I dont want her to find out i have gone behind her back because she is like a matron!!! But i just cant believe that i have missed it by one day!!!!!

H27

She sounds like a dragon. Can you ask to change MW's?

yes she is, i may do that! i was thinking of ringing the unit today and just ask again if there was any chance of putting 1st down! Just a little nervous now as i have been put off by her.
h27

Dont be nervous by her?
Which scan(s) have you had?
TBH the various scan I had throughtout my pregnancy all differed a day here and there!

Ask for a new MW
Find a reason for another scan and check due date with radiographer and ring the unit the worse that can happen is they say no!

Oh also say you've spoke to a couple of friends and they've had their dates changed!!!!!

thanks, i have got a scan next tue so i wil ask again! thanks for your advice! ill let you know how i get on.

Many thanks h27

cakeandfinewine! sorry i forgot to say i had the 31st date given to me by my 12 week scan.

h27

Oh dont worry too much yet then, I'm SURE that the scan will show the dates are out a day or two!
Fingers crossed that its in the right direction

h27

I would go to the head midwife at the local hospital and tell them what is happening before this form is issued - dont put up with a 'funny' midwife.

I think for the sake of a day it should be put forward. I would make some calls and also to your GP.

When you speak the 'head person' say you arent happy with the midwife not being partiuclarly personable anyway and not getting on - try anything to get that date changed - its 3 months difference - dont lose it!!