Why do we bother with due dates?

[Leleophants]

Studies show that due dates are only correct around 5% of the time. Why not have a 'due week'?

Does it count if your waters break on due date but baby officially comes next day?

I'm curious to how accurate your due dates have been ladies!

My first was naturally born on his due date
Second was earlier but induced

Because if you have a due week it could still come around that week not in it. Having a date gives you a fairly accurate estimate and is easy to calculate.

Statistically, a 5% chance is still worth having. But you're right, it really hardly seems worth it. I suppose it's because we like counting down and having a specific date to look forward to?

Does it mean the baby is actually born on that date though or you just start labour? So new to this all!

Well my due date was rubbish. DD was 17 days late (went into labour and had her on that day)

This time have a due date and elcs will be scheduled around this

The ‘due date’ is referred to as the “Expected Date of Delivery” on your hospital notes... so it’s the date they would expect the baby to be born. But it’s only a guide!

I'm due tomorrow.... I'll let you know... :)

But I agree it's bollocks really.

My first was one of the 5%. My waters went the day before my due date and she was born the morning of her due date. Very punctual

It's just for arranging care. The baby will come between 37 and 42 weeks.

I agree a week would be better. It’s date of birth not labour starting.
I also wonder when women say how long they are in labour for what the starting point is counted as? My waters went 24 hours before dc2 was born but I wasn’t having contractions for most of that time.

@showofhands the baby will come when it likes! Mine came at 29 weeks and this time I'm 25 weeks and it seems imminent. 10% of all pregnancies end in premature birth.

My first one was 2 weeks early but I think they calculated her due date wrong as she was a very good weight, no issues, happy healthy child.

My second one arrived on his due date 😊

It's a rough estimate of when the baby should be expected

12 days over with the first, 10 days over with the second. I think they should just give a due month. My first would have definitely stayed in there longer if he wasn't forced out 😂

Both mine were early. One at 35 weeks, one at 37. There needs to be a date to work to to plan care. The average human gestation is 40 weeks, we can know roughly when conception happened (but not always exactly) so we can make an educated guess on expected delivery date. A due week wouldn't be any more accurate, a due month would cover most bases as full term is deemed 37-42 weeks.

Obviously, I meant that's when it's likely to come! 37-42 weeks is full term as opposed to a single date being the expected date of delivery. I had a 36 weeker.

I went into labour with my second on my due date- everyone thought i was having a laugh . She was born by tea time :) TMI waters never broke though the sack started to come out first and had to be ruptured. I think waters breaking as a first sign is a myth

Not a myth @ovacado23 just different for each person. My waters went first (and dramatically) and he was born 12 hours later

They changed mine after a scan as they said DD was measuring a week behind. She turned up on the day after her due date.

Most babies are born in the two weeks before or two weeks after the due date, so it actually is a handy date to have.

I have to give birth at least two weeks before my due date because of type 1 diabetes. The hospital knows this but everywhere it still says my 40 week due date so they know how far along I am, they fully realise that I am not supposed to make it.

My dd1 was 4 days early, my ds 10 days early and dd2 induced at 36+6.

I think it’s purely to pinpoint a 40 week mark since the risks increase the longer a woman surpasses that.