Do Dr's need an exact due date or is a guess enough?

Hi girls
Well i found out we are expecting #2 on the weekend.
I had a blood test done on monday and the dr said that it showed i was 'around 4 weeks'.
Now he hasnt given me a due date and wants me to have a scan for dating.

THe problem is we are having severe financial problems atm and we dont have $115 laying around for the scan. (we are moving in with my in laws in 5 weeks which will cost us $4k in removalist costs and storage for our furniture) as we have no house to live in anymore.

So when you visit the hospitals and they ask for your due date - is it enough to say sometime in late october?

I mean they always go on - if overdue they give you 10 days b4 inducement etc.. but if you dont have ANY idea when you are due and all the dr says is oh you around around 4 weeks? that could mean give or take an extra week over that you can be over cooking bub if that makes sense.

What else can you do to work out a due date?

Congratulations hun!!!! :confetti: How exciting! If you are going through the public system I would think that the scan would be covered? Not 100% sure but I went public and all my scans, including a dating scan were covered.
Good luck!

I would say its not needed. For one thing, its all an estimation anyway so even a dating scan won't give you a 90% accurate "date" do you remember your last AF and what day you started? Thats the more accurate by far but even then it gives you a few weeks either side. Human gestation is between 38-42 weeks so thinking you are around 4 weeks is fine ;) You could choose a date & stick with that, but you don't have too.

If you are unsure of your dates, then they will require a dating scan so they can determine your EDD (the hospital where I'm giving birth required this). They don't go on guesses. I too thought the dating scan was covered.

Thanks Tanstar?
Are you in brisbane at all?

We went through the midwive clinic in a public hospital with dd #1 and had to pay for all our scan - diagnotic ones ie, dating, nuchal translucany and morphology.

The only time i didnt have to pay for a scan was when there was something wrong and bub had to be checked.

My doctor is bulk billing where i am atm. BUt moving to brisbane in a few weeks i have no idea where to go?

thanks Jodi but no it isnt covered.
It is $115 and medicare reabate around $50 of that.

If the doctors need a dating scan but you cant afford it - what do they expect from you?

Christy - so you think i can just pick a date and go off that? Would it be better to pick a date a closer to 5 weeks then so that they dont let me go to far over? As for the whole - when was the date of your last menstrual period. the answer is September 8th 2006. lol.... so that would make me amazingly overdue! lol so cant use that!

hi there, a dating scan isnt needed, but it just helps with booking in for your NT scan if u want that done, why dont u ask for a imaging company that bulk bills, i am not sure if there are any in brisbane, but there a few on the gold coast, i am PM u the details if you want

I had a dating scan and recently a morphology scan and both were bulk billed. Not sure where in Brisbane you are, but you can use your scan referral anywhere, doesn't have to be the place the doctor says.

QScan bulk bill, I used the one at Cleveland, but they have 7 locations in Brisbane. That was for my dating scan.

For my second scan I used Queensland Radiology (I think thats what it is called) in Rochedale and it too was bulk billed.

No, you are not required to have a dating scan at any hospital. There are some people who choose to go through their entire pregnancy without any scans at all - it is a perfectly valid option, especially if there are no health concerns for your baby.

LMP is usually considered reliable enough, but even if your cycle is not an easy one to predict, or if there are other factors, you can't be forced to have a dating scan if you don't want to.

However, if you do want to, and it's just the money, I'd consider ringing local ultrasound places and politely explaining your circumstances, and seeing if they offer a rebate only fee for the ultrasound - essentially, they only charge you the medicare portion, which is then refunded by medicare, so you don't end up out of pocket.

OH thanks girls!

At the moment i have to drive 50km to the nearest sonagrapher to get a scan as i am living in central QLD - the next closest town is 300km.

I will be moving to brisbane when i am 10 weeks. WOuld this be too late for a dating scan? I know it has to be in a certain time doesnt it to be most accurate?

I will note down QScan Sarah thanks. Did you just need a referral from your dr and thats all?
i wonder if i can use my referral up here down in brisbane?

yes thats all u need

they say the most accurate time for a dating scan is about 7-9 weeks.
there is also lifespan imaging

Yes thanks mummatotwo.
I will contact lifespan as well - what a cool name lol.
Is that who you are using?

I will be guessing i will be around 10 weeks... hopefully wont be too late.

nah i am using another one, but i dont think they have clinics in brisbane.

I had a dating scan at 14 weeks so it is not too late, although they said it wasn't ideal.

All I needed was a referral, didn't matter what doctor it was from.

A dating scan is usually done earlier than 10 weeks and is usually used for working out your exact date for getting the NT scan done. If you are not having that done (for downs and other genetic diseases) then I wouldn't worry about it. If you are getting the NT done then you should get it earlier as scan places can book out way ahead for this particular scan especially if there aren't many around your area. Word of warning - if you do get the NT done its more expensive than a dating one plus you get billed for the blood tests as well.... and if they then recommend an amnio (like they did with me) you'll be up for about $1000 for the BT's, the scan and the procedure itself (you get about 1/2 back).

My dating scan was bulk billed - I'm not sure why but I had also had a little spotting so it might have been because of that but anyway, it cost me zilch.

I didn't have to pay for my dating scan.. it was bulk billed. I think the dr ticked the viability scan box on the form too tho. I think if it's a medical reason it can be bulk billed, otherwise it may cost? Don't really know tho!

thanks girls
the only reason it isnt bulk billed is because this sonagrapher is the only one in 300km.
So he can charge what he likes.
If i wait for a bulk bill when i am in brisbane then i will 10 weeks

I was under the impression that one scan a trimester is covered by medicare...thats what my scan place says on their website ... Obstetric Ultrasound (Pregnancy Ultrasound) | X-Ray & Imaging

I didn't think there was really any reason to have a scan done before 12 weeks unless you're having pain/bleeding etc...?

Thanks liesha
Private sonagraphers can charge what ever they like over the medicare rebate.

I had spotting for 1 week ending tuesday 12th feb.

I guess the question was - they say have your 12 week scan ... if you dont know your due date how do you know when you are 12 weeks?

they usually do the 12 week scan (or the NT if you are having that done...?) at 11-14 weeks, so you have a pretty big margin of error, and they can have a look at an approximate date then too.

Thanks Leisha
Yeah what i might do it see if i can get a 10 week scan - bulk billed then it doesnt cost me anything.
Have the NT at 13 weeks - should have an idea then when 13 weeks is and then the 18 week scan.

If you had some spotting you should have no trouble getting the doc to order a bulk billed one (as long as the scan place bulk bills, don't know if they have to). If you do get one at 10 weeks they will be able to give you your due date without any problem then you'll know when you are due to have the NT. Someone in my belly buddy thread went for their first scan only to find out they were 3 weeks further along than she thought so it's well worth checking to make sure you don't miss out on your chance of testing if you want it.

thanks satya
I am seeing the sonagraphers wife tomorrow for morning tea.
So i will ask her if he can do ti bulk billed for me.
Otherwise i will wait until i drive to brisbane in 3 weeks

Hi there, try googling savage xray they are in brisbane city and they bulk bill for ultra sounds and xrays going by there website- just give them a call and find out for sure. hope this helps and good luck .