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Due date - don't get it?
Effaaa
Hi ladies!
I'm now more than 13 weeks pregnant. My due date is March 1st. But there's something I don't quite get...
I read everywhere that the due date is determined based on the dating scan between 10 and 12 weeks. Meanwhile, I've already had a few scans because I had bleeding early in the pregnancy. I have a very irregular cycle and can't say exactly when I ovulated (somewhere between June 2nd and 5th, I guess).
At the first scan in early July, they said I was 6w1d pregnant. At that point, the estimated due date was already set to March 1st, and the OB-GYN said "this won't change anymore." I actually found that weird, because I'd heard from many friends and colleagues that their dates could still shift. Plus, if I calculate it assuming my ovulation was on June 5th, I'd be less far along than 'normal'.
Two weeks later, another scan. By calculation, I should have been exactly 8 weeks then, but the measurement showed 8w3d. At the next scan, we were a day behind schedule again, and at the last scan last week, there was another day added. So that makes a difference of 5 days, yet the date stayed on March 1st.
I don't really get it. Is it not changing because it's "just an estimate anyway," or should I just assume the baby is actually ahead of schedule and we'll probably have a big baby? My husband (1m97) and I (1m80) aren't small ourselves. I've heard of a growth spurt around 12 weeks, but this was really systematic. I know it doesn't matter much in itself, but we've had a lot of losses, and honestly, I'm really scared it might go wrong again, even though we've passed the 12-week milestone and everything seems fine.
What are your experiences with this? Thanks in advance!
I'm now more than 13 weeks pregnant. My due date is March 1st. But there's something I don't quite get...
I read everywhere that the due date is determined based on the dating scan between 10 and 12 weeks. Meanwhile, I've already had a few scans because I had bleeding early in the pregnancy. I have a very irregular cycle and can't say exactly when I ovulated (somewhere between June 2nd and 5th, I guess).
At the first scan in early July, they said I was 6w1d pregnant. At that point, the estimated due date was already set to March 1st, and the OB-GYN said "this won't change anymore." I actually found that weird, because I'd heard from many friends and colleagues that their dates could still shift. Plus, if I calculate it assuming my ovulation was on June 5th, I'd be less far along than 'normal'.
Two weeks later, another scan. By calculation, I should have been exactly 8 weeks then, but the measurement showed 8w3d. At the next scan, we were a day behind schedule again, and at the last scan last week, there was another day added. So that makes a difference of 5 days, yet the date stayed on March 1st.
I don't really get it. Is it not changing because it's "just an estimate anyway," or should I just assume the baby is actually ahead of schedule and we'll probably have a big baby? My husband (1m97) and I (1m80) aren't small ourselves. I've heard of a growth spurt around 12 weeks, but this was really systematic. I know it doesn't matter much in itself, but we've had a lot of losses, and honestly, I'm really scared it might go wrong again, even though we've passed the 12-week milestone and everything seems fine.
What are your experiences with this? Thanks in advance!
Replies
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Ellis #2
Those dates are calculated based on averages, so if your baby grows a bit faster or slower, your due date could shift by a few days. Normally, they calculate from the start of your cycle (so 2 weeks before conception), but with an irregular cycle, they look more at development earlier on. I wouldn’t pin myself too much on that calculated due date, since only 4% of women actually give birth on that exact day. If everything goes well, your baby would be born between 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after your due date, so there’s plenty of flexibility anyway.
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