Conflicting Due Dates? Understanding Your Baby's Arrival

Question
well i got a pregnancy test done dec. 26th 2005 and that doctor said i was due july 28th than 2 weeks later i went to a new doctor that i wanted to deliver my baby and they said the baby was to small so they changed my dut date  to aug. 28th and iam not sure what to belive now because my baby is normal size to be 36 weeks preganut but i already lost my mucases plug and i feel so ready to have my baby and she already dropped what should i do ann

Answer
Hi Ann,

Congratulations!

Due dates are actually called "EDD" for "Estimated Due dates. no one tells you this, though!

What probably happened with them changing the due dates so much is you probably did not know the first day of your last period before you got pregnant. This happened to me and it is very common... I never did really keep track of when I got my period, so when I found out I was pregnant, i had no clue how far along I was.  So they go by the size of the baby in the ultrasound to determine how far along you are.

If the baby is measuring properly for 36 weeks right now, you really have nothing to worry about. Losing the mucus plug doesnt mean you are going to go into labor though... and it is a good thing the baby "dropped", this will only help you and this means she is getting ready to make her way into this world.

You MAY start dilating early, and you can walk around dilated for weeks. I always did. It again doesnt mean you will go into labor. I was 3 centimeters dilated for 3 weeks before I went into labor with my daughter 12 years ago.

I TRULY know exactly how you feel. The last month of pregnancy always seems to go by so slow, but trust me the baby will come out sooner or later.  

So, what should you believe?  No one can really tell when a baby will be born. They seem to decide all on their own. Your body is definitely starting to get ready for birth, and it could be tomorrow, next week or it could be August 28th! it is impossible to tell.  All I can say is, drink lots of water, do not let your self get dehydrated, and walk walk walk if you are allowed to. Stay active as much as you can and dont let yourself get overheated; be careful outside. Are you allowed to swim? Swimming can take the pressure off of your body for a little while.

hang in there...only a little while left.
Good luck!
andi