Fudging LMP?

[chisub]

I'm not pregnant yet, but I've been obsessing over wanting a VBAC big time. With DS I was induced at 40w for PIH for 3 days before begging my midwife to go home since my bp went down. Then I went into labor on my own 2 days later and had a c/s for FTP. Grr! Anyways, in my heart I believe that I will go to almost 41 weeks next time as well and I would like to give myself a little leeway. However, on the other hand, I have this crazy paranoia about m/c with #2 since half of my friends have had a perfect first pregnancy and then a m/c with #2. I know it's irrational, I admit that! Because of this I'd like an earlier u/s than 20 weeks. With DS I had an early u/s because of bleeding and pain, which I obviously don't want to be the reason for another early u/s.

Anyways, did anybody fudge their LMP a little? Plus I have an average of 32 day cycles so if they did the typical pregnancy wheel it's already off, you know? Even if I got a couple extra days I think it would make a world of a difference with my EDD.

[kltroy]

My very VBAC supportive MW actually convinced me that having excellent dates on a VBAC pregnancy would be a good idea. I did an U/s at 8 weeks to get dates (as it turned out, it was the same day I had from my BBT charting - we'd agreed to use whatever date was later, as long as they were within a few days of each other). If you have good dates then you will be able to make a reasonable and informed choice about what to do if you go way beyond (to 42 weeks) your EDD. This is also something that I would bring up right at the start with your MW. I think a reasonable approach is to say you suspect you'll go post dates and ask her what her approach is for this. When would she induce routinely and how? What would make her comfortable to allow the pregnancy to continue? What medical indications would cause her to want the baby out sooner rather than waiting for labor to start or progress on its own? Can you do a NST at 41 weeks? At 42 weeks?

Depending on you and her, you will likely be able to come up with a solution that works for you. For example, if your first birth was a rotten induction that failed at 42 weeks, you may opt to schedule a c/s around 42 weeks if you don't want to go through that again. OTOH, if your first birth was a schedule c/s for breech and you never went into labor, you may decide that a rotten induction at 42 weeks beats a scheduled c-section.

Anyway, I think if you TRUST your care provider (and you should - if not, switch!) you should be honest and have accurate dates that you are working with. The best way to get these is from an early ultrasound (8-12 weeks).

[kitkat5505]

With one of mine (maybe my last one, I can't remember?) I fudged my lmp by about 5 days because I ovulate later than the average 14 days they go by.

[sioleabha]

I have a 35 day cycle, and I have gone past my due date with all five of my children. My pregnancy with my middle daughter was dated by ultrasound, and she ended up being born at 42w3d (spontaneous labor). I think this is the kind of thing you should bring up at your first prenatal appointment -- be totally upfront about it, and find out where your provider stands. I know that, for me, if my doctor is not ok with the very real possibility that I will go past my due date with no ill effects, then he is not the doctor for me.

[lexiejk4]

I just found out we are pregnant, and we are going to be moving at about 26 weeks to a new station with the Navy. We don't yet know where we are going to move, so I am not sure how supportive the providers will be, so I am fudging my dates by about 5-6 days in case they try to get to to do a c-section at 42 weeks (they will have to get a court order for that one!) I am also going to refuse a internal ultrasound to confirm dates to be sure they don't try to change the dates, plus I bled heavily from it with my first daughter.

[mediumcrunch]

I have long cycles (usually 35 days) and sometimes irregular cycles. I don't fudge my dates but am up front about my situation. I have been blessed with providers that acknowledge that I can know more about my body than they do
The cycle on conceived this LO on was crazy. Period on 9/3, spotting around what should have been ovulation for most women, BD on 9/27 with gut feeling I had just ovulated, no period and +HPT around Oct 10. I knew that this baby was NOT due 6/10 as would have been by 'the wheel'. I told my OB and she took me at my word and early dating u/s confirmed dates were almost exactly two weeks off what would have been by my LMP.
Honesty about your long cycles and an early dating ultrasound is probably better then fudging your dates. If your midwife refuses to take into a account your long cycles and probably later ovulation and insists on the whole LMP + 7 days - 3 months as a firm EDD then it is probably time to find a different midwife.

[mamaw/two]

I have gone late w/ all my kids, last baby I gave them the conception date as lmp. Baby was born 18 dp edd, but only 4 days past the date I gave them! He was a healthy 8bls 15ozs, midwife said the placenta looked great with no calcafications (just like all my other two week late babies!) It was wonderful, I had a stress free end of pregnancy and was not running in for nst's, ultrasounds, and having the threat of induction hanging over my head. If I am lucky enough to be blessed with another baby, I will be fudging the dates again.

[lexiejk4]

Did you just deny an ultrasound?

[walstib]

I don't have any Christian support to offer you but I do have a positive VBAC story.

My first daughter was born by c-section at 32 weeks after I suffered a seizure due to ecclampsia. I was determined to have a VBAC the next time around. When my daughter was 10 months old I got pregnant again and started my research.

I didn't take any birthing classes but I did read a lot of natural childbirth books, most notably Ina Mays Guide to Natural Childbirth (probably read that 5 times). I hired a doula which turned out to be the best decision of all.

My OB has a policy of inducing VBACS no later than 40 weeks because she is afraid of the uterus getting too big and stretching the scar. I had an induction date but skipped out on it, claiming I was sick. I convinced them to schedule the date for a few days after my due date.

My water broke one day after my due date. I called my doula, took a shower and headed to the hospital. We had a fantastic nurse who didn't bother to hook me up to an IV but instead encouraged us to walk the halls, which we did. My contractions started about 20 minutes later. When my OB got there she insisted on an IV (I talked her into a hep-lock) and an internal pressure catheter. I agreed to the catheter because I knew i couldn't walk anymore at that point anyway.

I mostly labored standing up or on all fours. My doula and husband were essential in keeping me relaxed and helping with pain relief. My contractions lasted for 4 hours and I pushed for 45 minutes. I did not have an epidural or any drugs for pain relief. I was focused and confident thanks to my research and great support team.

I'm not going to lie, it was very painful (I dilated from 4cm to 9cm in 1.5 hours and pushed out an over 8lb baby) but VERY worth it! For some reason there wasn't a scale available right away when DD was born so I was able to hold and nurse her for an hour after birth, uninterrupted, before she was weighed and bathed. It was really wonderful. We have such a strong bond already and I know that her unmedicated, peaceful birth has a lot to do with it. I can't express how happy I am with the experience...especially now that the pain is fading from memory!

[walstib]

oops, just realized I posted this on the wrong thread. Sorry!

[MNHall]

I am a late O'er as well....so while I was thinking about fudging my LMP (since I O'd on CD23), when talking to my OB he said, "I trust you and I trust patients like you that know their body and chart". So he acknowledged that going by my LMP would not be beneficial, especially for a VBAC! So, I was quite excited to do an early u/s (in my case mostly because of my 2 m/c's), but also to confirm and make sure no one doubted me and my late o'd and there was no question about throwing a DD based on LMP out of the window!

So, like some said already, if you trust your provider, talk to him/her and everything should work out in your best interest anyway!

[hannybanany]

After arguing with the UAV nurse at the beginning of each of my prenatals last time about my EDD I am going to fudge my LMP this time. I O'd on CD18, so while they might not think it's a big deal to make my EDD three days earlier, it really is! For me it meant scheduling a repeat csection 3 days earlier or being dropped. Because I was firm we went with the due date based on O none of those things happened, but this time I'm going to make it easier on all of us and fudge my LMP by a few days.

Now, I'm not sure that I would just make up a LMP so I could get another week or whatever, but that's up to each individual. I have a friend who goes over her EDD by two weeks, so by giving herself an extra few days she doesn't feel nearly as stressed about induction as her due date approaches.

And, btw, my RE looked at my chart (unlike my OB) and agreed with my about my due date I love that guy!

[oddduck]

I haven't fudged my LMP, but I did share my chart with my MW. Chart was not conclusive puts me 8 days back. Based on LMP my EDD = July 8th, Based on US = July 10th & Based on Chart = July 16th.

MW is going with July 16th,