What are the chances my due date was off, 40 weeks, 3 days. please please please read?

Question

Ok, so I am 40 weeks, 3 days pregnant. I didnt know I was pregnant until I was almost 16 weeks along b/c I had experienced bleeding around the same time as my period wouldve been for two months...Anyways, I know that ultrasound dating is most accurate for due dates, but the earlier this is done, the more accurate it's considered. Well, here I am, supposedly 40 weeks, 3 days. I have not lost my mucus plus, had my "bloody show", I have not dilated what so ever yet, and generally just don't feel hugely pregnant. If I dont go by next thrusday my doctor is going to induce which is fine because I am very very eager to meet this little one. However, given my pregnancy scenario, how likely does it sound that my due date might be off by a couple of weeks? (I do NOT know my LMP, which is why they went by ultrasound)

hahaha ad, too funny. I feel like a dork, spending my weekend nights posting non stop on Yahoo Answers, but hey...hahaha thanks for remembering me!

Answer 1

If this is your first baby, a study done by Harvard found that first time moms tend to go a week later than their due date. I didn't dialate at all until the day I went into labor.

Answer 2

What method did your doctor use for deciding that you were carrying a big baby? Did she palpate your belly with her hands or did she use an ultrasound? Ultrasound machines are over a pound off over 50% of the time. (A fact I read from the book Pushed) EVERYONE I know who was told that they were having a "big baby" (including me) ended up with babies under 8 pounds, one even had a baby under 7 pounds and her doctor was the the most insistent! 39 weeks isn't too early to go into labor, but the questions really is, what kind of labor and delivery do you want to have? If you are excited about seeing the baby and ready, by all means, this is your choice. Inductions can lead to unnecessary c-sections if progress isn't made at a regular rate or if the baby becomes stressed by the contractions. (Earlier induction can increase the risk of fetal stress, too.) If you want to try to have a natural labor, there is no reason to induce, I would NEVER encourage anyone to accept pictocin without an epidural, it's simply cruel. If labor is already "moving along" you can opt to encourage it naturally by stimulating your nipples, walking, eating pineapple, and having sex. These methods of induction are far less stressful to the baby and often equally effective. Ultimately the choice is yours. What do you want? Somethings to consider are listed in sources. Good luck with your delivery no matter what you choose. May you have the best outcome possible, a happy, healthy baby! (P.S. One advantage to having a bigger baby is that they can eat more and sleep longer!!!)

Answer 3

It is VERY likely that the due date they gave you is off. They calculate due dates using measurements of the baby's head that they take during the ultra sound. If the baby is slightly larger than average, then the due date could be off. That is just one scenario. If you are having your first baby...first babies are notorious for taking their good ol' time!

If it makes you feel better, I have 2 children and I was at least 40 weeks with BOTH of them. Each one was born the day before I was scheduled to be induced. They just needed a little threat!

If your doctor isn't worried, than I wouldn't be either. He/she has done this hundreds of times and I would trust their judgement. If you are seriously concerned, call and ask for you appointment to be moved up (I am assuming you are going once a week at this point).

Good Luck. Enjoy the last few days of sleep and treasure the coming weeks and months. They seem like they last forever, but they dont!

Answer 4

The ultrasounds are generally right on when early. They could possbilely give or take up to 10 days if done in second trimester. I know that I went kinda insane waiting for him to come, lol. I tried castor oil.. aka.. not worth it. It caused braxton hicks with contractions lasting over an hour! I tried Raspberry Leaf Tea. I tried so many things. In the end it was walking fast and long that did it. He was so beautiful. Congradulations:) Your ultrasound shoulndt be off more than 10 days either way

Answer 5

You poor thing!

Sometime babies just don't want to come out. My friend went over by 12 days. And still hadn't dilated or anything. She was induced then, it was only induced at 12 days because the hospital was booked out!

They may have buggered your date up though.

Answer 6

Ultrasounds are pretty accurate. A full term pregnancy is anywhere from 38 - 42 weeks so your just fine. If you were 2 1/2 weeks past your "due" date then I'd wonder but you sound fine. And I wouldn't induce unless medically necessary. Labor is harder....from experience.

Answer 7

There are many tests that will help. It is not unusual for one to be late. I know someone who went 10 months with each of her 3 kids. Good luck.

Answer 8

Due dates are not exact. Only 5% of women give birth on their due dates. Not to mention the fact that the average length of pregnany, when women are left the hell alone and not induced, is actually 41 weeks, 1 day - NOT 40 weeks. ( http://topics-az.parenthood.com/articles.html?article_id=848 ) . Just relax and let nature take its course - you will have this baby soon.

Answer 9

if your ultrasound was done at 16 weeks odds are it is not off by more than a week

after 24 weeks they can be off by almost 2 weeks (because babies start to grow at different rates around then)


Good luck

Answer 10

i think your imagining things...nobody stays pregnant that long...LMAO, im sorry courtney i couldnt help myself :) i know my baby was measuring 5 days behind my due date at my last ultrasound...dont know if that really matters or not...i knew my lmp thats what makes it even more frustrating. we can be miserable together ok?