Due date issues

efortune

I know that due dates are not an exact science but I have 4 due dates. May 1, 4, 7, and 11th. Depending on who took it. The 7th and the 11th are 100% wrong (I wouldn't have even been pregnant yet when I got my first positive and it doesn't line up at.all. with my cycle), but the birth center picks the "latest" one to avoid induction pressures. They won't listen when I tell them I go EARLY and that a late due date is very, very bad for me, as even a matter of days could boot me from delivering with them. I know they have to look out for themselves (if I went early and the baby had problems b/c I wasn't as far along), but it's frustrating when they refuse to change the due date even with sonogram evidence (I've had two sonograms placing my due dates at May 1 and May 4).

I'm so worried I will go at 36 weeks again (or 36 weeks according to them anyway) and they won't deliver my baby. They keep telling me not to worry as they can "fudge" the dates at the end, but why would they "fudge" it when there is solid proof that their date is WRONG? (By solid, I mean my knowledge of my cycle, date of positive test, and sonograms to back it up)

When asked how they would handle it if I went into labor at 36 weeks, they said they would stop labor. I would refuse this, knowing that their date is wrong and that my true 36er was 100% fine and developed. 

 Now I am worried I am wasting my time on a birth center delivery, and I should switch back to my OB. At least then I would know who is delivering my baby, right?

 Uugh...

 

(Also, I have earlier children due to a short cervix and what my last OB claimed as a shorter gestational period)

Mrs.Greeko

I had a similar issue with this pregnancy.  My due date based on my LMP (and semi-chart) was 11/23, but since my cycles are normally longer the birth center adjusted it accordingly and put it at 11/27 initially.  Then I had an u/s at 19 weeks that put the due date at 11/17 and the birth center was trying to go by that.  I had a very long conversation with my midwife at about 22 weeks and we discussed when I thought my due date should be and why and when I had a positive test and when I had sex and all that.  Based on that conversation they put my due date as 11/23. 

I think you should again talk to the midwife at your next appointment and make sure they understand what day you got a positive pregnancy test, what days that cycle you were having sex and if you know when you ovulated even better. 

My first baby went 11 days overdue so I was initially concerned about risking out at 42 weeks which is why I agreed to the later due date, but then when the u/s came back with an earlier date I started to get worried about being less than 37 weeks and risking out because they thought I was less than 37 weeks so I wanted the most accurate due date so I would have far less chances of risking out. 

cecilyandgautam

Did you keep a chart of your fertility signs when you conceived? They should be willing to at least consider that as evidence of when you conceived, instead of guessing based on LMP if you're irregular. Also, I think it's standard to use the first ultrasound for dating purposes as they get more inaccurate the further along you are - it's not standard in your practice? It was at the OB practice I started out at and with the midwives I'm with now. The DD I calculated via charting lined up just 2 days apart from the DD calculated via the 1st u/s.

If there's a way you can get in touch with the head midwife at the practice to explain how important it is to you to have an accurate DD on file, she might be able to help. If she's not willing, I think that says a lot about the practice.

efortune

I had a dating done with the midwife and the date was May 11. It was the oldest machine I have EVER seen in my life and I could barely even see a baby on it! I explained that day was impossible, but they didn't listen.

I went the very next day to my OB for a second opinion, and they had a very advanced machine that gave a date of May 4. This lined up to exactly what my cycle pointed to.

My 14 week NT gave a date of May 1, which I know is not as accurate.

I spoke to the head midwife and the front office manager, and both will not take the second opinion OB scan or the NT scan date.  Even after explaining over and over again that with my "issues" and history, the baby will be lucky to make it to 37 weeks, much less the 38 weeks plus it will have to be to make it to their may 11th estimate

I am seriously thinking I will just switch back to my old OB. I really wanted an out of hospital birth, but at least I know my OB delivered my other two beautiful children. Early or not.

efortune

I did keep a chart of my signs, but she didn't really look at it or consider it as proof of anything.

cecilyandgautam

efortune:

I did keep a chart of my signs, but she didn't really look at it or consider it as proof of anything.

I'm sorry about the stress of this - it's really frustrating when your team won't listen to your evidence, for me at least. There are 2 birthcenters covered under my insurance in my area and I started out at one where the midwife didn't know what natural family planning was, didn't know what to do with a chart, and seemed to be in disbelief that I could know the exact day I conceived (my husband & I were living in 2 different cities at the time so it's not rocket science!) and overall, she just seemed to not approve of our family planning decisions. Well, it didn't take me long to switch over to the other BC!! Sounds like you just have one to choose from though so I'm sorry it's not working out. Your OB sounds quite good though.

pc150805

I'm having a similar problem because no one will believe me that my cycle is not 28 days long. I know it is 32. I was charting and paying really close attention to my cycle when I got pregnant so I know. Even the u/s matches what I say but they still won't listen. It's driving me crazy and it's throwing off everything! I'm on progesterone and no one will tell me when to go off of it because they can't get my dates right. They had me scared to death that I was having another m/c early on because the baby "wasn't measuring far enough along" when I asked them what the baby was measuring it was right on with what I expected. They made me come in again before they would agree that baby was fine. I don't understand why they argue with us!! Sorry that turned into my own mini rant. I feel your pain!!