EDD, what is the point?!

[Tanya]

Why do we (women) continually keep moving our edds? I have read so many times in the passed few weeks about women being told their edd in earlier than they first thought due to "measuring bigger", even in a scan done in their 3rd tri, even though we all know that these measurements are notoriously wrong, so why do we move our dates? If we were told a later date I am not so sure we would be so eager to have it moved. Why don't we just go with the one date from beginning to end? How come CP's like to go with earlier dates? What is wrong with babies measuring "big"? Is there something wrong with big babies?

Sorry, but it makes me ANGRY!

Hormones?? LOL

[deletedit]

You need a fixed one for the line in the sand between prem and not prem for hospitals.

I first got an EDD of July 1st at my 8 week scan, then June 29th at the 12 week one. Noone has done any scans or came up with anything since then. The baby itself disagrees with both dates ...

Earlier dates are more accurate - as time goes on, that blob of cells becomes a little person that takes after the parents. Two huge parents make a huge baby that will measure way ahead on dates.

This whole measuring late in pregnancy seems stupid, every other story I hear is people being induced early or having a CS early because of a 'big' baby and it turns out to be either small or premature and ends up with all sorts of problems. Why not just let em cook until they're ready to come out on their own?

[jaspen]

I don't know the answer Tanya - whether its our internal justification for getting to meet our baby's sooner or ....... I have had three private births and thus three OBs and none of them have ever been anxious to change my dates if anything they shrugged off any differences from scans - they always went from the original LMP/Conception based date and just used the scans to check that bubs was growing and fluid levels were appropriate. They always stressed how inaccurate they could be from a dating perspective. Thinking on it we did use a change in date from a scan once but that was because I was violently ill and it allowed us to justify having a c/section at the local hospital rather than having to be moved to a more distant facility - it made 2 days difference to the outcome though not weeks.

[Loula]

I guess its easy for me. I know when i o'd lol or at least the IVF clinic does. i guess ppl just want to hold their baby's intheir arms so soon? but i do think you are right.

i think an EDD also causes some stress, as for if you go over.

[deletedit]

i think an EDD also causes some stress, as for if you go over.

Yes. My parents are coming to meet the baby tommorrow. What baby? Grrrrrrrr

[Kazzo]

I measured spot on with DD1 and went 1 week over due and had a 4.176kg bubs after been told all along she would be small. But would happily of waited as long as possible to have her without been induced.
This time my original date was the 5th of Nov by LMP, I know when I O so I was going with the 8th which the 12 week scan agreed on. My 18 week scan showed bubs was very small and that I was only 17weeks. This put it more then 10 days difference so yesterday I had another scan and it had bubs put back at the right size as the 8th of Nov. So it was put down to human error with the 1st 18 week scan. Hospital wants to go with the 5th though. I don't! I do not want to be induced 4 days earlier if it comes to that when I am so sure that the 8th is my due date. I know my bubs will come when she is ready to and I am happy to wait. I think that not many people are though these days.

[black_rose]

I have been lucky my ob goes with the date given at the 12 week scan and that's it. I always measure behind after that but the scans aren't as accurate later on, so I don't know why the EDD would be adjusted continually. I do wonder if I am a week earlier as the scans push me back a week later and then I measure inline with my LMP but it gives me an extra week up my sleeve before any intervention not that I have needed it with two pre term labours.

[krystals]

I'm with you Tanya, having had a number of scans over the last week, and being told several different things, especially with my first, it's just so confusing! All I'm taking from these scans is that bubs is growing well, his little heart is beating well and he'll be here whenever he decides to turn up! And Yes, I've been told he's a big 'un, but this just reassures me if anything... nothing wrong with it at all!

[Loula]

I don't think it's about not having a date but the need to change them so many times with each scan. Have a date and stick with it. Why should it change based on size?

[Rouge]

The most accurate date is the earliest scan, anything after that is fairly inaccurate. As for the placenta, they can monitor for deterioration, if they don't it's due to convenience not concern.