Could my due date be wrong?

[Crapbags]

Is anyone good with working out due dates? Only I’m currently, by scan due date, 39+4 weeks pregnant. It’s my 3rd DC. My last period started on 27th June 2017. My cycle is short around 25 days. We DTD without protection on 1/2 July. I can’t remember another time in that week we DTD so I’m thinking I must have ovulated quite early that month?

When I put my dates in the nhs due date calculator with the adjusted cycle length of 25days it gives me a due date of 31st March.....my 12 week scan gave me the date of 25th March so that’s what we’ve been working from.

Is it possible that scan date could be wrong? I’m wondering because with DC1 I was 7days early with DC2 5days early. Now I know all pregnancies are different etc. But it just got me wondering....I’m also quite reluctant to have an induction too soon if dates are a bit out.

My dating scan put me five days ahead, so they gave me a due date of 27th May, my due date by my calculations was 1st June, as our pregnancy was due to a broken condom, so easy to pinpoint, particularly as I would have been ovulating on that day. I actually had my DD on 1st June. If you don't want an induction you can ask for daily monitoring instead, but sperm can live up to seven days so it may not necessarily be the date you think.

As PP said sperm can live for a week. If you have a 25 day cycle then you most likely ovulated on the 7th July which would have been only 5/6 days after unprotected sex.

The dating scans are pretty accurate as they go on growth of the baby at that point but you have to remember term is from 37 weeks and over due is from 42 weeks. So there is a good 5 week window there.

Like PP also said, you don't have to be induced, you can be monitored instead if you are worried about being induced too early.

Thank you for the replies @TwittleBee and @annlee3817 I think I’ll try to avoid induction and ask for monitoring instead. I was thinking they may try to push me for induction though because of my age 37 almost 38?

I assume you're trying all the other ways to try and induce yourself at home? (if you wanted to avoid hospital induction?)

• Clary Sage oil baths & massages
• Whole pineapples (or bromelain tablets)
• 6 dates a day
• Relaxing and enjoying a good film (to promote oxytocin, maybe watch a romantic film like The Notebook, probably avoid horrors though to avoid adrenaline rushes haha)
• Primrose oil
• Sex and/or masturbation

Also if you were induced from your scan dates it would only be 6 days out from going from your last period so baby would still be born well within full term (37 weeks).

Even if they push you for an induction it is totally still fair and reasonable of you to turn one down. They can't force it on you although they may guilt trip. Just look up the pros and cons and decide for yourself OP.

GL x

Thanks @TwittleBee

I’ve tried quite a few of those on that list not the Clary sage though so think I will try to get some of that tomorrow. While shopping today I obviously got muddled as I brought prunes not dates! Would they be any good?

When you say primrose oil to you mean taking tablets? I’ve been taking omega 3 fish oil tablets for last 2-3weeks not sure if that is any good?

In sure they'll do the same thing as dates. They're like super similar. If you don't like prunes/dates. You could always roll them in bacon and making "Devils on Horseback" similar to Pigs in blankets.

Or eat them with peanut butter, I've not tried that but it's meant to be yummy?

Yeah apparently clary sage oil has to be avoided by anyone pre term because it can trigger string BH which are thought to potentially start actual contractions.

Due dates can be out by as much as two weeks by either method of dating. Also, I've read that not all pregnancies are the same length anyway. My hospital offers induction at 40+10, which is later than the later of your two dates, and being as your other two were early I wouldn't worry too much if I were you.

Thanks @TwittleBee and @Addy2 I can just about stomach the prunes if I eat them quickly

I think the trouble is the longer the pregnancy goes on the more time you have to worry about everything! I now realise how lucky I was that the first 2 came early no time to think about the what ifs!