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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Scan date vs Cycle date

17 replies

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:07

According to my dating scan I'm 37 weeks + 1 day, but according to the 'official date' on my notes I'm 36 weeks + 3.
I'm just curious, if I went into labour now would the hospital class the baby as full term or preterm?

With my last baby the scan date was eight days before the date based on my cycles so the 'official date' was moved to the scan date (and baby came 7 days earlier again). This time, because the difference is only 5 days, they've kept the date based on my cycles as the official one...

Anyway, just wondering if I can start drinking the raspberry leaf tea in earnest etc... now or whether I should wait another five days!
Any advice would be most appreciated!

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craftynclothy · 14/04/2009 14:15

Usually they say the dating scan (12 week one) is more accurate than your LMP date because dating by lmp is based on an average cycle.

Oh and I took the tablets rather than the tea to avoid tasting it

Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:18

Thanks crafty - I'm already taking the tablets but was planning on starting the tea as well at 37 weeks Does anyone know if you can overdose on raspberry leaf by the way??

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StarlightMcEggzie · 14/04/2009 14:32

Be careful that you aren't under pressure for induction because of your LMP date.

Personally I would go with the scan date and insist everyone else does. It is more accurate (although not without error)

Stuffed · 14/04/2009 14:40

So are all babies the same size at 12 weeks?

Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:40

Thanks Starlight - that's what I've been doing so far (although the midwife looks a bit cross each time I say I'm a week further on than her notes say!)
I just know there are various natural things I can do to bring labour on (won't go into too much detail ) and am reluctant to do them if the hospital would only look at my official date and class the baby as preterm if he/she was born now, on the other hand am at the stage of desperately wanting the baby to be out... also my last baby was born two weeks before the date based on my cycles and was over 9lbs... so I'm thinking earlier might be better this time around...

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Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:42

Stuffed - I think they are (although I'm no expert!). At 12 weeks the scan picks up on how big various organs are and what has developed etc... I think it's only later on that they differ in size (hence a 20 week scan is less accurate for dating than a 12 week one).

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SheherazadetheGoat · 14/04/2009 14:44

37 wks was considered full term when i had dd.

Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:47

But I'm wondering if they'll consider me full term if I'm 37 weeks by my scan date and not quite 37 weeks by my official date (scan date is May 4th, official date May 9th). If my scan date had been a couple of days earlier my official date would have been changed (I think they change it if there is more than a week's difference)!

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Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:48

I only have to wait until Saturday to be full term 'officially' ... but that does seem like a long time when you're 37 (or is it 36??) weeks pg!

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YouKnowNothingoftheCrunchie · 14/04/2009 14:49

I know around here they go by dating scan dates and not LMP so I'm sure you could insist you were term if you went into labour now.

StarlightMcEggzie · 14/04/2009 14:49

Stuffed Yes, - pretty much. It is just the rate of doubling cells and genetic differences haven't come into play yet.

mersmam Provided you can get through 4 more days it shouldn't make any difference.

RLT doesn't bring on labour btw. Stress inhibits it though.

Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 14:55

I was thinking of drinking the RLT to assist in contractions rather than bring labour on there is a certain natural method which I'm positive brings labour on for me (no more detail cos I'm a bit of a prude - but I'm sure you can guess!) Tried it a few nights ago and woke up at 2am with big contractions a few minutes apart which I was sure was really 'the real thing' - however, tried to just keep still and they subsided after a couple of hours. However, I'm reluctant to try the aforementioned act again in case in really does kick things off properly... of course I could wait another four days but would really rather not if it would be OK to go for it now!!

OP posts:

StarlightMcEggzie · 14/04/2009 15:00

LOL mersmam. Anything that gets your happy hormones going will help, as will positioning yourelf in a way that will enable the baby to find the optimal position.

Happy hormones are triggered by relaxing, eating yummy things, laughing, watching a romantic comedy, getting intimate with your partner or yourself, massage, reading a raunchy book.

Good positions include sitting on the loo, on a birthing ball, walking up and down stairs sideways, lying on your left side at night and sitting forward.

HTH

Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 15:03

Thanks Starlight - will try all that tonight
I suppose the natural things will only kick start things if baby is really ready anyway...

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Original poster

mersmam · 14/04/2009 15:10

PS. Haven't heard the one about walking up and down stairs sideways before - will be doing that from now on!!

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StarlightMcEggzie · 14/04/2009 15:14

mersmam Do those things when labour has kicked off too. It will increase your chances of a quicker, smoother and more efficient run of things.

StarlightMcEggzie · 14/04/2009 15:16

It 'shakes' the baby's head down!

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