Whose due date to I go by?

I was at the Dr. this week and based on my babies measurements they have me at 24 weeks. However, based on my cycle (which is very regular) I am 26 weeks. They were in agreement with my cycle until a few weeks passed. They have done this to me with every pregnancy becuase my babies measure smaller. Well, I just have smaller babes and neither my DH or I are big people so the chances of our babies being big are slim. Each time with my singletons they changes my due date and the baby came almost right on target with my original due date based on my cycle.

Not that the weeks are not important with singletons (because they are) I just feel that you have to focus even more on how many weeks you are with multiples. We have been told to be ready for arrival anytime after 30 weeks. So whose 30 weeks do I go by...mine or theirs? I just feel so much more confused this time. Maybe it is just because I have double the hormones!

Just needed to vent and hear some opinions from other moms. Thanks.

 

I´d go by your 30 weeks as they will arrive first and you won´t have any surprises but I´d also be prepared to go to their 30 weeks just incase. If you know you have smaller babies then I´d trust your instinct.

I always counted by my LMP. DS measured earlier but DD measured on track for a singleton. I begged to be induced as I couldnt stand the discomfort anymore!

GL for the rest of your pregnancy

 

Hmm i have never had this happen my son was right on track and so are the twins but i think you should go with your due date !!!

 

My due date based on my LMP was Sept. 30th and was October 3rd based on u/s measurements. My Dr. told me they go by the LMP due date unless the u/s measurements are more that a week off, then they go by the u/s due date. Don't know if this was just his way or not.

 

Since you want the babies to cook as long as possible, I would go with their due date. My doctor was hoping we'd make it to 36 weeks so she kept me on bedrest until then. If you happened to be in a situation like that and went with your 36 weeks, you might really only be 34 weeks, KWIM? So I'd err on the side that trues to keeps them in longer (not that any of us can control that, but psychologically you could have a goal of keeping them in two weeks longer if you go by their measurements). That probably makes no sense. If you hit 38 weeks by their measurements and you think you're 40 weeks, then maybe I'd start to think induction.

 

I had the exact same problem. Using my LMP, my due date would have been May 30th. At my first ultrasound (20 weeks), the peri said I wasn't due until June 12th. There is no way I was 14 days off with my calculations, but I couldn't convince anyone, so the doctors used their due date because my girls were small and I just smiled and didn't argue. My girls consistantly measured on schedule for the revised due date of June 12th, but when they were born at 34 weeks 2 days, they were developmentally way ahead of most 34 weekers. They were small (only 4 and 5 pounds) but had no NICU time or medical intervention.

So... I really do think I was 36 weeks pregnant when I had them. It didn't end up mattering much for me in the end, but if you stay pregnant longer than I do, you might care if it means a scheduled C-section too early or an induction "too late". I would use their calculations up until their 36 week date (when you'd be 38 weeks on your schedule). But after that, use your dates so that you don't end up cooking your babies until 40 or 42 weeks!

 

That would be a little confusing. I'd go by your due date.

 

I remember early on in this pregnancy the first ultrasound I had (at 6 weeks) they were a day off what I had. However I was temping and knew when I concieved them. A day really doesnt matter. My point is is when I was around your time and had a u/s they were measuring bigger than what I was, however they never changed the due date as weights fluctuate throughout the pregnancy as well as measurments. Did you have an earlier u/s? I would go by the first one. My babies right now are still measuring big for their weeks but they are just big babies, not that they would change the dates. If nothing else, go by the docs 'cause thats what they will go by for measurments and labor.

 

Since you know your due date based on your cycle, that is definitely what I'd go with. Ultrasounds after the 1st trimester are not a good indicator of due date because every baby grows differently.

 

As someone who doesn't have regular cycles I disagree with going by lmp. Because it's possible you ovulated a bit late, then implanted a bit late, which would account for babies being a few weeks off.

That being said, the earlier u/s are more accurate than later on u/s, my ob said late u/s can be off by as much as 2 wks. So if you had an earlier scan that agreeds with your LMP date then I would go by that.

Oh I just checked and you said your earlier scans agreed with your lmp, then I would go by that!

 

Hmm, I was always told first u/s due date is the best