What date would you go with to work out when to induce?

[~Kaz~]

I have been given three different due dates over the course of my pregnancy.

My first (and the one I've tended to keep for myself) was based on the date of my LMP which was 24th May 2008. This gave a due date of 28.02.09 assuming a 28 day cycle. My cycle after coming off the pill varied between 28-30 days (over a 6 month period).

The very first ultrasound I had at 8 weeks gave a EDD of 02.03.09.

A later ultrasound (I think it was at 13 weeks) gave an EDD of 28.02.09.

My last ultrasound at 20 weeks gave an EDD of 26.02.09.

My doctor has always gone with the date of the latest ultrasound. So for the whole second half of this pregnancy, he has been working off the 26th as my due date. I haven't really argued because it was only a difference of a couple of days and I didn't think it would be that important.

Fast forward to now and I have been booked in for an induction on Monday night (09.02.09). The doc says I will be 11 days overdue by then. This was with my consent at the time because I had started to worry about fluid levels and placental functioning but now I am having second thoughts that this could be too early and I should wait until later in the week. I might only be 9 or even 7 days overdue based on the other dates.

I somehow always knew I would go overdue but I didn't think I'd be contemplating induction. The synto scares the cr@p out of me! Which due date would you use to work out how overdue I am?

Thanks for any replies!

[alioops]

I would go with the latest date. According to US and LMP I am supposed to be due on the 18th, but I know when I Oed and my MW is happy to go with my O based date. If you are concerned you can ask for a wellbeing scan to make sure bubs is fine.

[[M]umma[M]ia]

They always went with my LMP date with me. Even tho bub was measuring just ahead dates at every scan.

[meow]

I would go with the last date possible to avoid rushing baby along. So that would be 2nd March. Early ultrasounds are supposed to be the most accurate for dates anyway so I think it makes it a logical choice of dates.

[~Kaz~]

Thanks for your replies girls. I have been told that all of these dates are "accurate" as they're all 'early' in the preg (i.e. first half) but I have also read that the really early scans are the most accurate.

I think I will try to get an u/s tomorrow and then, if all looks ok I will push the induction back a few days. The doc wanted an u/s done on Friday but it was nearly 3pm and he couldn't get me in so then somehow we were talking induction on Monday. After I left I felt a little rushed. I also want to know if he thinks there is some medical reason for needing to deliver this baby sooner.

[bronners]

If you also ask for a fetal heart scan (cartiography/CTG) then your doc/the midwives can assess if bub is happy and healthy. It can then become a pretty good tool for negotiation! I was reading the policy for induction at the women's (it is online) and they suggest that if an expectant mother does not consent to induction by 40 +14 then they are to be offered the CTG scan every second day to ensure bub is ok. It is really in your hands, you can push for only having an induction if there is medical necessity. Good luck