How fight US dating

[khaoskat]

Ok, my history:
DS1 42+5 weeks gestation - 9 lbs 2 oz
Ds2 42 weeks gestation - 10 pounds
DD2 41 weeks gestation - 9 pounds 3 oz

I just had my "big US" today. Prelimary it looks like my averages put me at least 3 weeks ahead. I should be 23 weeks, but the average measurements come up at 26 weeks. With the main ones they look at coming up at 28 weeks.

I am a VBAC, history of large babies and history of going to 42 weeks on average with each pregnancy (C/S was after labor started on its own).

How do I fight this EDD change I see looming. I am so upset right now over all of this, as I see this leading to an automatic repeat c/s because I don't go into labor due to EDD changes.

[MaerynPearl]

your file should have your birth history in it, correct?

I would have the doctor look at that and mention that you feel the u/s dating is incorrect due to your history of having large babies.

[*Aimee*]

All 3 of my boys have measured 2-2.5 weeks ahead and nobody has ever changed my due date. I've also had all my babies (except hopefully this one!!) at 36 weeks and nobody has said that I must have had the wrong due dates. Will they not listen to you? That would be very frustrating, especially in your situation. I'm sorry.

[RedOakMomma]

Put your foot down. Do you know when you ovulated or conceived? Do you know your LMP? Even better, did you chart this last cycle? Any record you have of when this baby started, added to your history of births, should be all a doctor needs.

And yeah...if they pressure you at the end, REALLY put your foot down. I know it's hard to fight when you're that close to the end, but you sound like you know your body and your babies.

[khaoskat]

I was not temping or anything like that. But I use cyclepages.com to track when I started, how long, etc.

I know I was not pregnant prior to my to LMP. I had taken a test, and it was negative. And, when I tested for this pregnancy it was so light at even 4 weeks and then again a few days later, you could barely tell I was pregnant.

I have also had weird cycles since my last pregnancy ended, and was basically told I should feel blessed for how they have changed as most women would jump for joy.

DH and I had been trying since Oct. 09. I did OPK's for about 2-3 months, after trying for 4 months without luck. After doing the OPK's and never getting any "positive" results, and the whacked out changed to my cycle, I had given up, but I continued to note date of LMP, and how long they lasted, more so I could have an idea of when I would start than anything else and to continue to track the changes.

As for my file - they should have my last pregnancy records, and I know I signed a release for my previous OB/CNM group that would have given them the previous 2, and then it should have also included my first, since I had given OB/CNM group a copy of those when I transferred care.

[Sweetiemommy]

My babies are large for date also, usually about 2 weeks ahead, but the ultrasound tech mentioned that the baby was SIZED 2 wks ahead, not gestationally 2 wks ahead, so I don't know how they determined that, but maybe it isn't an instant recipe for due date changes. Also, I had a very early ultrasound at 6 wks (we thought I was going to miscarry) and saw a heartbeat (!) they dated it at that point and seemed to think that that date was extremely accurate because the embryo changes daily, so they could really "tell" the date of conception. That due date is tomorrow (lol) so we'll see if they're right Anyway, the due dates given around the 20 week mark are NOT considered to be super accurate for due date, so I wouldn't worry much, unless your OB or midwife is really pushy.

[BlackSheepPDX]

I was under the impression it was not considered appropriate to make changes to EDD based on later (mid-term and beyond) US measurements. The most accurate measures are in those first weeks, but beyond that it becomes much more subjective.

[limette]

With your history, if they don't scrap it because of larger babies and the unreliability of dating in the later ultrasounds, I would lie and tell them based on your dates (tell them you did ovulation tests, or that you only had sex once that month) that it's not possible for you to be further along in your pregnancy.

In my previous pregnancies the 20 wk scan always gave me a date different from mine (by a few days) and I was always asked if I wanted to change it, because it's not reliable.

[MammaB21]

Originally Posted by BlackSheepPDX

I was under the impression it was not considered appropriate to make changes to EDD based on later (mid-term and beyond) US measurements. The most accurate measures are in those first weeks, but beyond that it becomes much more subjective.

I would just say "No". They can't change it without asking you. If you have to lie and say that you were charting and you know exactly when you ovulated, go ahead and do so. I'd also remind your provider that it is normal for the baby to be measuring large because you have large babies. Tell him you are aware that u/s machines are not completely accurate and can be off up to 2lbs. And that based on all of this you won't agree to a EDD change. Is your fundel height measuring on track? That would be another reason to not put as much faith in the u/s. Point is, they might give you flack about it, but they can't actually change it if you protest to it.

[rlmueller]

Fight and say--absolutely not

My lmp is def this date and I will not consult to... until ...

You cannot be C/S'd against your will (that I am aware of).

I LOVE BIG BABIES!

[belltree]

Fight for it. Really. Midterm US are very inaccurate regarding dating a baby. Plus you have a history of large babies and your gestation is 42 weeks usually anyways.

I had to fight such a battle during my pregnancy, it was horrible. No charting helped, nothing, no pointing out, that according to "their" dd I didn't have any sex for 10 days before, because dh was on a business trip. In the end, my baby came 10 days early with tons of vernix and lanugo... It stressed me out a lot, I even had a talk about induction, and helping the baby to come out etc. I still feel, that all that stress 2 days before labor caused me to go into labor early.

I really hope and wish for you, that your care providers will be more understanding and will be less sticky to some data. Please, don't stress yourself out too much, there is still time to do that when your dd gets closer.