I don't understand - due date?

Question

I am 32 weeks pregnant, according to ultrasound, the doctor confirmed it yesterday.

How come, then, my due date is 30th April? I calculate that on 30th April I'll only be 38 weeks pregnant, not 40...

Can anyone help me out or explain? Or is it a discrepancy on the doctor's part?

Answer 1

Fobbygirl -

You are seriously misinformed! Babies are considered full term at between 37-42 weeks and induction is usually only considered if you go over 42 weeks or have a medical condition requiring early induction. An average first time pregnancy is 41 weeks, second and subsequent is 40 weeks. Babies do come when they are ready and to force them out two weeks before they are even due leads to tons of complications with baby and mother. Birth wise it leads to increases in epidural rate, episitotomy rate, increased likelihood of ventouse (vacuum) delivery or forceps, not to mention the increased risk of an emergency Csection!! The baby is more at risk of distress during labour, NICU and SCBU admission rates are higher, jaundice is more likely and there is also a risk that the baby's lungs are not yet mature enough for birth.

Babies take 40 weeks for a reason! Please don't let anyone be induced for no good reason! It's so dangerous! Nature knows best!! Only 58% of women have actually produced a baby by their due date - it is an ESTIMATE!

Sorry this is off topic but I couldn't let that comment go by.

Regarding your question, you really have to ask your midwife when your pregnancy has been dated from. Your due date is forty weeks from the first day of your last monthly period. For example the last day of mine last year was 5th feb, my daughter was due on the 12th November. She came naturally on the 19th, one week later.

There are some decent due date calculators below.

Also many people say to think in terms of a due month not a due date because babies are independent little blighters and like to take everyone by surprise!

Congratulations with your pregnancy and good luck with the birth, whether it's the 30th April, before or after! (AIm for the 25th April, it's a good day, that's my birthday!)

Answer 2

If you are due on 30th April then you are nearly 34 weeks pregnant.
At such a late stage of pregnancy, it's hard to date from an ultrasound as babies vary so much in their size.

Maybe the doctors where you are consider pregnancy to last 38 weeks?? It does vary throughout Europe.

Answer 3

Doctors normally calculate your due date from the date of your last period and in this case it's 40 weeks they add on the two weeks assuming that the date f conception is 2 weeks later when you are ovulating. This doctor may operate differently but white women have an average gestational period of 38 weeks. There is a new theory going around that black and asian women have a shorter gestational period so if you are either black or asian your doctor may be operating on this premis.

Answer 4

Are you counting your pregnancy from the first day of your last period? If not, that's probably where the difference is coming. You calculate pregnancy, from the first day of the last period......

Sometimes too if the ultrasound date is with in a week or two of a different date the doctor gives you, they won't move the date...it's rare than anyone actually delivers on their due date anyway.

Answer 5

the due date is just a guide, babies can be born two weeks before or two weeks after the due date safely (in most cases) try not to dwell on the date too much it will most probably come and go. I can't even remember my due date because I hung so many hopes on the due date first time around and it was torture having to wait an extra two weeks!! So I have made myself forget about the date for this baby, I am just going to wait for him to make his appearance when he is ready.

Answer 6

dr's can only guess on ur due date thats why when u get pregnant they ask when was ur last period. they can be off any where from a week or 2. and it goes either way. they are either early or late. thats why they measure u to try and get a measurement of the baby. but even thats wrong at times. u can have a small baby or a big one and that throws them off. the due date is just a date for u to get ready by... good luck

Answer 7

You should start by not wanting to get pregnant, just have sex everyday or every other day and don't think about getting pregnant, just have fun with your partner. Get more useful information and guides to get pregnant here https://tr.im/oQ9pF
after sex-put a pillow under your butt or prop your feet up on the wall so your pelvis is tilted
eat healthy
back off caffiene
workout, even if its just a 20 minute walk a day, be active.

Answer 8

A due date of October twenty 6th ability concept at around February 4th. yet it is only an estimate. relationship Ultrasounds are in many cases precise to a million week the two way. And the faster the ultrasound the extra precise it could be.

Answer 9

if you add 8 weeks on to your dates from now you will probably find that you are at 40 weeks on or around the 30th April

Answer 10

They calculate your due date from the date of your last period, not from the time of conception - that may explain the missing two weeks. Best of luck for the birth!