Due date by LMP or Ultrasound?

minniemom112

Hi everyone!
After a month of issues with my insurance I finally had my first prenatal appointment today. I had chosen a doctor based on the hospital I wanted to give birth at, which is about 30 minutes away from home.

As soon as the doctor walked in the room I knew I wouldn't be going back to that office. Her first words were "if my phone rings I have to answer it". Not in a nice to be, but in a "you're wasting my time" tone.

She asked when my last period was and gave me a due date for the 8th. I explained to her I don't have regular periods and I have a hormonal imbalance and after two ultrasounds had gotten a due date for the 13th based on both ultrasounds at different places weeks apart. And she told me "no, we're going with the 8th".

Long story short, I won't be going back there. I know I didn't ovulate early enough for a due date on the 8th (I was taking ovulation tests) and I know the ultrasounds don't lie. I don't feel comfortable with a doctor who might want to induce me into delivering my baby a week before he or she is ready.

Were your due dates estimated based on LMP or ultrasounds?

I made a new appointment for June 10th for a doctor who works at a different hospital closer to home, but with amazing reviews of being understanding and attentive and I hope explaining it to her we get to keep our due date as accurate as possible.

DH said "what's the big deal? It's not like the baby will be forcefully born on the due date the doctor gives"
I know the baby will come when he/she's ready. I just don't want to risk being induced before time if it's not necessary (I was supposed to be induced with DS, but he ended up coming naturally on his due date)

mb314

With both of my pregnancies, I had irregular periods and therefore had a dating ultrasound.  My MW uses the ultrasound dates.  If you've had an ultra sound and it dates you as the 13th, that is what she should use.  5 days can make a difference, particularly if you go over 40 or 41 weeks and they want to induce you. 

ETA: definitely switch practices if you were unhappy with your OB>

Dana633

My EDD was set based on LMP.  Since I've had 2 U/S and both showed the baby measuring 4 days ahead of schedule.  My doctor kept my EDD as it was; he said if it's less than a week they usually don't change it.  So my EDD is November 15th, but I'm thinking it'll be more like the 11th.

absolutelymaybe

While I think you made the right decision finding a new Doc (she sounded like a peach!), I have to agree with DH. I think you're making too big of a deal out of this due date thing. The due date is just an estimate. If you're in the care of a responsible doctor who is monitoring your progress and your baby's growth, then you shouldn't have to worry about being induced too early. 

Bandia12

Most OB's won't change the EDD unless there is a 7 day or more difference in dating, based off LMP vs O date and/or U/S measurements. It is not unusual to measure ahead or behind a few days. 

I ovulate late in my cycle and know when I did with both pregnancies. With my son, I only measured 5 days different (like you) so they didn't change my due date. With this pregnancy I measured 6 days different, and it's the policy of this office to change the EDD if the difference is 6 days or greater. 

That said, I doubt any doc will change your EDD. Regardless, if you don't feel comfortable with that OB you should definitely find a new one. 

minniemom112

@absolutelymaybe‌ well, it wasn't only the due date thing. Like you said, you want a doctor who will monitor you and the baby and be there. She said to me "there are weekends she takes off and if I go into labor then, someone will cover for her so no big deal". Yes, big deal! I'd like to see a familiar face there! While I'm sure all doctors at the hospital can deliver babies, I'd like to know my doctor

carcrashheart

what PP's said. it isn't off by more than a week, so no average OB would change the date. you're making too big a deal out of this. fwiw: my last u/s said i was 13w1d, by growth/size. except i was 12w3d and was in a treatment cycle so we know when i O'd. i'm just measuring ahead at this point.

absolutelymaybe

minniemom112 said:

@absolutelymaybe‌ well, it wasn't only the due date thing. Like you said, you want a doctor who will monitor you and the baby and be there. She said to me "there are weekends she takes off and if I go into labor then, someone will cover for her so no big deal". Yes, big deal! I'd like to see a familiar face there! While I'm sure all doctors at the hospital can deliver babies, I'd like to know my doctor

Agreed. That was part of the appeal of our OB. He's the only OB and he delivers his own babies. Unfortunately, this often means appointments at his office involve hours of waiting if he's in delivery. (Guess I'll be glad when that''s me, though!)

alysonmh

It's slightly unrealistic to expect that your doctor will be the only doctor to deliver you as doctors are human too and take vacations, sick days and don't work 24 hours a day. I think it's better that they be honest and let you know that if they are unavailable that their colleague can deliver you than lie and set you up for disappointment when they are unable to be there.

My baby measured 5 days ahead on my ultrasound and they didn't change my due date, most doctors don't if it's less than a week so it makes perfect sense that they didn't change your due date. Most babies don't arrive on their due date any way, it's just a guess and 5 days isn't going to make or break you. Additionally I doubt any doctor would induce you if your baby was measuring too small to be delivered at that time.

That being said if you aren't comfortable with them then you aren't comfortable with them and you should find a different doctor. You should be open to doctors not having to sugar coat everything though. It's good for them to be honest so that we have a realistic expectation of how things are going to go.

wallygirl

minniemom112 said:

@absolutelymaybe‌ well, it wasn't only the due date thing. Like you said, you want a doctor who will monitor you and the baby and be there. She said to me "there are weekends she takes off and if I go into labor then, someone will cover for her so no big deal". Yes, big deal! I'd like to see a familiar face there! While I'm sure all doctors at the hospital can deliver babies, I'd like to know my doctor

I think this is a little unrealistic. There is no way that you can expect one dr to be on call 24/7. I understand especially with your first how much you want your OB to be the one that is present at delivery but that just isn't always possible. With my DD I just happened to go into labor on a Monday morning but if it had happened over the weekend and my OB wasn't on call it wouldn have been one of her partners. My OB says she delivers 90-95% of her own patients but there is always that 5%. You can always ask who covers for your OB and see if you can have a consult with that dr.

Edit addition: I just re-read this and it doesn't sound supportive at all. Sorry for that. I was just trying to be realistic that no matter what practice you end up with there is always a possibility that your dr/mw might not deliver just because things happen sometimes. However, I would not stay with a practice where the physician did not legitimately listen to and address my concerns and questions. If you are not comfortable with the dr you should absolutely look for a new dr. Also like many pp my dr uses your lmp till the first visit. Then does a dating US. Due date is only changed if there is a 5 or more day difference. Good luck with your decision.

DoubleUp8

FhSTAR81 said:

Yes my office only changes it if there's a 7 day difference. My period puts me 3 days behind what ultrasound is showing.

^^^This exactly.

jf198400

Agree with everyone else, our DRs office won't change your EDD from LMP unless the dating ultrasound is off by at least 7 days. I would recommend a practice that has several DRs, so you can get to know them all, then it doesn't matter who is on call when you go into labor. My practice has 4 DRs and they are all great. I left a very large practice that had like 10+ DRs and seemed very impersonal. I mainly switched though b/c they didn't deliver at the hospital closest to home.

mslynn2012

My last pregnancy my EDD was based off my LMP. But I was like clockwork at the time (DS was 3 days early according to the EDD)

With this pregnancy we are going off US as I only had 2 periods in 3.5 months since weaning DS. I'm completely comfortable going with the US as I have NO idea when I ovulated!

mrsrich3

If I went off my LMP I would be in my 16th week of pregnancy instead of what I really am (14th week) Apparently I ovulated way late in my cycle, as my cycles only range from about 29-35 days- but I wasn't trying to get pregnant, so I really had no way of knowing when I had ovulated. I would trust the ultrasound before I'd go with LMP- especially if, like you said, you've had more than one date confirming ultrasound. 

I understand what you mean about wanting to know and connect with your doctor.. I feel the same way. I'm 25 and I wasn't planning for a baby , so I hadn't put any thought into where or how i'd like to deliver- like I plan to with my next baby. I'll also be moving an hour away 3 months before I'm due, so that really stinks because I really like my current doctor.. but my husband is deployed right now and I'm trying to figure all this out mostly by myself- so I just have faith that it will all work out the way it's supposed to! 

manders9479

Based on my LMP I should be due Nov 2, but I was confident about my date of conception and had the sonogram to back me up and they changed my date to the 8th. However they said they would only let me go one week over my due date before they induced me, I guess in case I was wrong?

sweetbabyrahe

They changed my due date based on U/s but it was 11 days later which I guessed because I know I ovulate very late . I agree you should like your OB and feel supported. Most of the practices are large in my area with many doctors and you get who is on call. If my delivery is uncomplicated which hopefully is the case, I won't even see one of the doctors...just one of the midwives. During my pregnancy I just see different doctors each time so I can meet as many as I can.

iheartscraps

minniemom112 said:

Hi everyone! After a month of issues with my insurance I finally had my first prenatal appointment today. I had chosen a doctor based on the hospital I wanted to give birth at, which is about 30 minutes away from home. As soon as the doctor walked in the room I knew I wouldn't be going back to that office. Her first words were "if my phone rings I have to answer it". Not in a nice to be, but in a "you're wasting my time" tone. She asked when my last period was and gave me a due date for the 8th. I explained to her I don't have regular periods and I have a hormonal imbalance and after two ultrasounds had gotten a due date for the 13th based on both ultrasounds at different places weeks apart. And she told me "no, we're going with the 8th". Long story short, I won't be going back there. I know I didn't ovulate early enough for a due date on the 8th (I was taking ovulation tests) and I know the ultrasounds don't lie. I don't feel comfortable with a doctor who might want to induce me into delivering my baby a week before he or she is ready. Were your due dates estimated based on LMP or ultrasounds? I made a new appointment for June 10th for a doctor who works at a different hospital closer to home, but with amazing reviews of being understanding and attentive and I hope explaining it to her we get to keep our due date as accurate as possible. DH said "what's the big deal? It's not like the baby will be forcefully born on the due date the doctor gives" I know the baby will come when he/she's ready. I just don't want to risk being induced before time if it's not necessary (I was supposed to be induced with DS, but he ended up coming naturally on his due date)

I applaud you for going with your gut!  I would also feel very distraught if the doctor would come in and say that to me.  My doc picks up his phone all the time but he says excuse me and the nurse explained that he was on call in the OR as well.  

Good for you for wanting to be comfortable.   I know that there's a controversy over inducing labors because doctor's no longer want to wait 3 or more hours.  I believe the netflix documentary was done by Ricky Lake.   Check it out its interesting.

lisaren

It seriously annoys the fuck out of me when anyone tells a pregnant woman anything about their pregnancy in reference to "what's the big deal" or " you're over reacting" seriously. Make a comment but leave out the sarcastic eye roll tone.


But... I'm glad you are going to another office. She sounds like she didn't listen nor did she even acknowledge you.
And nobody expects a Dr to be on call 24/7.but the way you worded it, it sounds like it could potentially be a dr you do not know.

hiketheworld

I was afraid this exact thing would happen to me so I took my ovulation date, subtracted two weeks and told my doctor that was my last period, even though it really was three weeks prior to ovulation. I lied and don't regret it a bit.

The doctors I've checked out wont let you go a week past your due date, so the date definitely matters if you want to avoid induction as long as possible.

ccam

I knew I ovulated late as well. So at my first u/s they went by what the baby measured. It was closer to when I estimated that I ovulated so we went with that date, not my LMP.

Either way, that Dr sounds pretty bad so getting another appt was definitely a good choice.

hjenni

My MW changed my due date based on my ultrasound and it was only off from my LMP by 4 days. I think the ultrasound ones are probably more reliable since it's actually measuring the baby. I'm glad you're changing doctors. She sounds like a douche. 

MrsAdventure

I am happy to hear you are looking for a new doc. Having someone you can trust is a big deal. I got lucky with my OB, but way back when I first went to see her with my first pregnancy, I had it in my head that if she wasn't right, I wouldn't stick around 'til the end. Lucky for me, she's awesome.

This pregnancy, my LMP and EDD were spot on, both said 11.11. I was reasonably certain of when I O'd, and that was confirmed by both the LMP and dating scan. But my periods had been a little odd since my D&E so I wasn't 100% sure. However, there was really only about a 5 day window I could have O'd, since DH and I had limited hanky panky that month as we were both too exhausted most of the time, lol.

At my second US, LO measured 3 or 4 days ahead, but my doc wasn't at all concerned, and during my NT scan, she measured right on track. I think when they are so incredibly tiny, there are a lot of variables to consider and so docs don't want to get carried away changing due dates every visit unless there is a drastic difference in predicted dates. That being said, I totally get your concern about being induced early based on LMP verses EDD. Kudos on trying to find a doctor that is right for you.

SweetMelissa5

While I would probably share your concerns about her bedside manner and communication skills, I personally wouldn't be upset at her not changing your due date or possibly not being present at the baby's birth. As others have said, many OBs have a policy to only change the due date if the difference between LMP and ultrasound is a week or more. I would definitely remind them of the discrepancy closer to the end if they start talking about induction though. As for potentially not being there when you go into labor, that's never been an issue for me since both offices I've used for my pregnancies had multiple doctors with one always on call, so it's never been a guarantee that I'd have a specific doctor at the births of my babies.

Anyway, based on her attitude, I don't blame you at all for wanting to switch, but I would be aware that the other issues you have are likely not going to be restricted to this one doctor.