EDD, what is the point?!

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? :wall: What is wrong with babies measuring "big"? Is there something wrong with big babies?

Sorry, but it makes me ANGRY!

Hormones?? LOL

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?

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

:) 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!

this is why i am so happy that i know when i O'd lol! both scans came back with different EDD. But I am happy and confident in my due date based on Ovulation (I charted extensively lol).

From Naturally Inducing Labour - Natural Induction Methods

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According to a study on ‘The length of uncomplicated human gestation’ by the Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, they found:

“For primiparas (first child), the median duration of gestation from assumed ovulation to delivery was 274 days, significantly longer than the predicted 266 days. For multiparas (more than one child), the median duration of pregnancy was 269 days, also significantly longer than the prediction. Moreover, the median length of pregnancy in primiparas proved to be significantly longer than that for multiparas”

Why hasn’t my baby come yet?

There are several reasons baby might not be ready to come, including

Miscalculation of estimated due date – ultrasound has a margin of error in regards to due date calculation, which is not based on your own, individual baby, but mathematics. Therefore dates may be miscalculated. This is especially the case in later ultrasounds when genetics take over and baby grows at his or her own rate.
The inaccuracy of ultrasound

First trimester: 7 days
14 – 20 weeks: 10 days
21 – 30 weeks: 14 days
31 – 42 weeks: 21 days

Source – The Lie of Your EDD

External or psychological factors – including the mother feeling stressed, in an unsafe environment or frightened. The effect of adrenaline in the body can potentially slow or stall your labour.
A medical or health problem. This is why it’s important you see your medical carer regularly when you are overdue. If you’re feeling stressed, overly-anxious or if you think external/psychological factors may be a problem, finding someone to talk to about this may help a great deal.

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The Lie of the EDD: Why Your Due Date Isn't when You Think - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

My dates only varied by a day with DD1, so I went with the one in the middle of the 3.
With DD2 & DS they measured 4 days ahead, but I still went with the original LMP dates. DD1 went from the 29th to the 25th. She didn't come til the 5th of the next month!
This time I have gotten the same date at both the 8 week & 20 week scans. All I know is that my bub will come when its ready. The date means nothing to me anymore. Just early October, thats what I tell everyone :)
I do have a friend on FB who was the same as me, but she moved to 2 weeks before me, then somehow she's another week further, putting her 3 weeks further all up. I don't know how it keeps changing so dramatically :dunno:

My EDD changed 3 times during my first pregnancy and kept freaking me out. It kept going backwards by 2 weeks. Although by 20 weeks my baby was measuring large, but we stayed with my later date (thankfully!!).
In the end, I gave went in labour spontaneously at 39+4 (which would have been 41+4 had we gone by original dates... so I tahnkfully missed out on the 10 day over induction!!).
With DD, I knew my exact dates, but my first scan suggested otherwise. Thankfully I was wiser, and went with the later date, giving myself extra time to get bubs out. I ended up going into labour at 38+4 (which would have been 39+4 had I gone with earlier dates).

It only took me the one pregnancy to work out EDD was an absolute CROCK.
If I was ever to get pregnant again, I'd be doing what I did with DD and giving myself more time to avoid intervention.

[\QUOTE]It only took me the one pregnancy to work out EDD was an absolute CROCK.
If I was ever to get pregnant again, I'd be doing what I did with DD and giving myself more time to avoid intervention.[/QUOTE]

That's what I thought I could do, but the hospital wont budge. I guess If it comes to an induction date 14 days from the 5th of Nov my car may just have to break down:doh: or something along those lines;).

My EDD was changed the other day from a TYPO issue.. was the 11/08/2010 and was ment to be 1/08/2010 So i am glad of the 10 day change as having SPD IS really hurting me!

I know that the baby is going to come whenever they are ready. I have had a few scans this time to check a few thing and my last was today and my baby is measureing BIGGER!!! LOL I know for a fact that they will not change my dates and i don't want them too, i would rather go into labour naturally then be induced as i know its my best chance to have a vaginal birth and is heaps better for the both of us. Although a BIG baby is not ideal i don't know how accurate ultrasounds are anyway!!!! I have had and 8pound 2 oz baby and a 7p 6oz and honestly it hurt just as much LOL!!!! So really what is the difference they are going to come out one way or another. I agree your first EDD should be it and that is it!!!!!!!!!!!

Ive been wondering the same thing Tanya, as it sems some women get their dates changed with each scan. babies don't all grow in the same straight-line pattern - it makes no sense to continuously move the goal posts.
I have 2 dates. one based on my transfer (5/12) and one on an early scan (11/12). Since i was induced at 42 weeks las time the midwife agreed it made sense to go with the later date to give us more time.

I have a date based on my 26 day cycle. I was going to go with a date based on a 28 day cycle but given I have an IM we decided to go with the "right" date so we know where abouts baby should be at and just see what happens.

Both my children have measured 6 days earlier at their scans but I've always stuck with the date based on my cycle- buys more "overdue" time anyway.

Correct me if I am wrong, but dont you also need to have a fairly accurate due date so they dont let you go too long and risk the placenta starting to deteriorate?

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?

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.

I knew exactly when I conceived both girls so I knew what my EDD should be - the early scans were out from my date by 1 day each time (so neither here nor there). It never changed during either pregnancy. Having said that neither baby arrived on the EDD.

I think if you have no idea when you have ovulated and have taken a while to find out that you are UTD (eg. you are 12 or so weeks along before you realise) then I can understand why the dates might change but it is a bit strange to just keep moving dates based on the size at an u/s.