by Jennifer Martens

Created on: July 03, 2007

Only nine months until a beautiful baby will enter your world! -Or will it be ten months? Or perhaps only eight? How do you tell when your baby will enter the world, especially if you have irregular periods? The doctor's office will perform an internal sonogram-don't worry; it doesn't hurt-to give a better idea of the ETA, expected time of arrival.

Do not be fooled into thinking this date is written in stone, however. It is just estimation, based on the baby's measurements. The trick to this is going by average measurements associated with gestational age. This may or may not be accurate.

As an experienced voice, I was told my due date was May 9 after an internal sonogram performed at my first appointment. I was approximately nine weeks along at the time. At the next appointment, however, which was earlier than the second appointment at four weeks, another sonogram was performed because a heartbeat could not be heard. The heartbeat was found, but suddenly it was estimated I was eleven days further along than originally told- and only three weeks had passed! They decided not to change the expected due date because they thought it was not enough of a difference. I measured large through most of my pregnancy, and went into labor at 38 weeks according to the doctors' time table. My baby was born weighing almost ten pounds (my first child was only seven pounds, born at 38 weeks), and all of her measurements equaled babies born at around 42 weeks!

Needless to say, I believe my original calculation was incorrect. Doctors insist the first ultrasound is the best estimate and most accurate, however, and stood by their opinion that she was only born at 38 weeks. Whether she was or wasn't, babies will come when their natural environment is induced into labor, whether by itself or by medication. Always be prepared that the date is just an estimate. It's more likely you'll know the exact season of the birth rather than the exact date. Plan ahead, get to know your body, and be prepared for your child-whether he or she comes early or late.

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