Changing due date

Diamond0323 · November 2016

They have been doing monthly ultrasounds to make sure baby is growing correctly. Yesterday I had one at 32&4. My only concern is that he is measuring in at 36&5. I know babies hit random growth spurts but this is the 3rd US in a row he has measured +3 weeks. Every doctor in the practice has wanted to change my due date except the one who is my primary OB. So I've been having nightmares of sitting down to eat Thanksgiving dinner and my water breaking (I'm having a RCS so that is not so posed to happen). Has anyone else ever had this happen? Is this little boy just huge or should I expect him early? HELP

slartybartfast · November 2016

This is one of the questions you're dying for an answer for but every situation is different. I know I've learned the earlier ultrasounds are most accurate for the 40 week due date estimation as they are least effected by the variability of fetal development throughout pregnancy. But 40 weeks is a norm - not a rule - so when your baby is good and ready for the world is completely individual. I'd say trust your practice and if you are super uncomfortable, try another practice for a second opinion. But they've seen all the pregnant women, not us, so I would definitely turn to them for guidance on weighing your options. The tough part I see is that sometimes it seems like OB's main focus is getting the best odds for delivering without complications while us moms often have more focus on the long view - the life long development effects that can come with a baby being born too early.

yellingbanana · November 2016

Babies are different sizes. All of my children (I'm on #3) have measured ahead. None of my due dates were changed because it is better to go off of your last period and the baby's gestational age rather than size alone. It's more important that your baby be properly developed than some sort of ideal size.
DD1 always measured a week and a half ahead to 2 weeks, she was delivered at 41 weeks weighing 8lbs 11oz.
DD2 always measured 1 week ahead, she was delivered at 39 weeks and weighed 8lbs 7oz.
This little guy of mine measured a week and a half ahead at the 20 wk anatomy scan. Since then, fundal height he has been measuring 4 weeks ahead. My due date has not been changed and I don't really expect it to, my babies are just big.

Also, predicting baby size and weight is a difficult and inaccurate process. I have a friend who ended up with a scheduled c-section for her second DD because according to the ultrasound the baby was going to weigh 11lbs!!! She ended up weighing 9lbs and 2oz.
So take their size and weight predictions with a grain of salt, they aren't always that accurate.

mrsmerc2015 · November 2016

yellingbanana said:

Also, predicting baby size and weight is a difficult and inaccurate process. I have a friend who ended up with a scheduled c-section for her second DD because according to the ultrasound the baby was going to weigh 11lbs!!! She ended up weighing 9lbs and 2oz.
So take their size and weight predictions with a grain of salt, they aren't always that accurate.

I was thinking this while reading your post, op. Ultrasounds are notoriously inaccurate at this stage in the game when it comes to measuring and, if my memory is correct, it can be as much as 2lbs each way. My little dude is measuring 2 weeks ahead pretty consistently but none of the OBs at my practice want to move my due date - we already have an rcs scheduled for 39 weeks as well.

I share your fear of going early - DS was born at 36w6d, which also increases my chances of going early this time. I freak out about it enough that DH (a medical professional) gets super annoyed with me! But we're having a house full for Thanksgiving and are burying my recently deceased MIL 6 days before my scheduled RCS (and will again have a house full)...not to mention the two other kids, getting my mom down here for backup, and my job! But babies will come when they're ready. Try not to stress about it too much (I tell myself that daily...hopefully it works better for you than for me

).

acreight13 · November 2016

I had the opposite problem with my DS and thinking his due date was too early. He came 18 days late. Remember that due dates are an estimate based on a 28 day cycle and the earliest ultrasound. Baby will come, as PP said, when he or she is ready.

millerclanx5 · November 2016

I agree with what everyone is saying. My son was measuring right on and I had him 3 weeks early and he was 9 pounds. They estimated him at around 6 when they did the ultrasound. Now with this one I am measuring 4 weeks ahead. But babies come when they are ready...the due date is just a date. Plus as far as size goes, my friends sister just had her baby only 4 weeks early and her son was 6 pounds 10 oz and is having troubles breathing...where my sister went past her due date and her son was 6 pounds 4 oz and breathed just fine. You cant measure everything when it comes to ultrasounds. It all comes down to trusting your Dr and your body.

sourlemon · November 2016

It's also not a problem if you go into labor or your water breaks before the scheduled date. the cs will just get moved to that day. it may not be quite as "relaxed" but it's not an indication for a panicked emergency c section.

My friends water broke and labor started 2 days before her planned c section. she went to the hospital, they stopped contractions, monitored the baby, and when the doctor was available (6 hours later) they did the cs. no biggie.

gowenc · November 2016

My doula told us to think of it as a due month - baby will come when it's ready, and that could be anywhere from two weeks before your due date to two weeks after.

tinattt23 · November 2016

@gowenc We were told the same thing about a due month.

This is is one of the reasons I'm strongly considering declining my 36 week ultrasound. I'm going to discuss with my OB, but unless there is some medical indication I'll likely pass on it. I don't need to be freaked about the possibility of a huge baby when the measurements really aren't that accurate. Or be pushed into an early induction because they think he'll be too big/I'm too small. Would love to see his little face again, but he'll be here soon enough. I can wait.

Diamond0323 · November 2016

Thanks everyone. After not sleeping and loosing my mind at the OB I saw the next morning I finally got some answers. They explained to me that my first US is the most accurate and my delivery date will not be changed unless labor occurs naturally. They also reassured me that if I did go into labor I wouldn't be completely knocked out during the cs like I was with DD. Then I was told to go take unisom and get some sleep before I stressed myself into more of a frenzy. The very understanding man I was yelling at made sure I understood that the US can be up to 1.5 pounds off in either direction and my baby shouldn't weigh more than 9lbs at the date I was given. I'm not as worried anymore, although I'm purchasing more 0-3 month clothes than newborn just in case.

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