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Childbirth/couple of questions

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Expert: - 11/11/2009


Question
I have a couple of questions about early ultrasounds. How accurate are early ultrasounds after 8 weeks? Can the doctors tell the difference between a 9w 6d baby and a 10w 5 day baby or no because in just a day the baby will be 10 weeks? My doc told me that the day I thought I got pregnant matched up perfectly with my ultrasound, how far off could they be? I thought I got pregnant on 9/3 or 9/4 ( I had unprotected sex on 9/3) and on 11/3 I had an ultrasound and it said I was 10w 5days. My last period was 8/3 and my cycles are usually 35-46 days, so i figure I had to be having a 46 day cycle and ovulated on 9/3, does that sound right to you. The problem is, I was raped on 9/9, luckily he did use a condom and they couldn't find any traces of semen, so i guessing it did not break but you just never know. I was just wondering when my doc said my dates matched up perfectly with my ultrasounds if they could have still been off by 5 days. Although I have read that early ultrasounds are off by only, at the most, 3 days. I am so scared that the rape resulted in my pregnancy and I'm seriously thinking about aborting the baby but I'm scared that I may not be able to get pregnant again. I am 29 and have never been pregnant before. The dates are just too close for me. I am so stress and have already been in the hospital twice. Can i trust my doc when she said she thought I got pregnant from my 9/3 encounter and not from the rape?" Thank you for your help."

Answer
Madison,


I'm so sorry for what you must be going through.  I can only offer my condolences - I have no idea how hard it must really be.


To answer your questions, no a 9week 6 day baby & a 10 week, 5 day baby do not look the same.  Early ultrasound is typically off by less than +/- 3 days.  It is the most accurate way to date a pregnancy, especially when done between 8-10 weeks.


I agree with your doc 100% - your dates match up perfectly.  Based on your ultrasound, you most likely conceived on 9/3.  


Everything fits perfectly with 9/3 and given that a condom was used with the rape and no sperm present, the odds are virtually 100% that you indeed conceived from the 9/3 encounter.



I wish you all the best, mentally, physically and emotionally through this trying time.



Best,
Catherine

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Catherine Beier MS CBE

Expertise

I can provide evidence-based information and current research findings concerning childbirth and pregnancy. My specializations include natural childbirth, pregnancy and birth interventions, fetal positioning, labor induction, choosing a care provider, midwives, homebirth, unassisted birth, natural pain relief, medications in pregnancy and birth, informed consent, understanding the risks and benefits of childbirth choices, doulas, waterbirth, childbirth methods, childbirth education classes, cesarean section, and VBAC.

Experience

I have been a childbirth educator, mother, author, public speaker, researcher, and birth advocate for the past 9 years. I am also the author of Giving Birth Naturally, a site dedicated to natural childbirth and pregnancy information. I publish evidence-based articles on pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and post-partum care. I'm also a mother of three children, two daughters and one son all born naturally. To learn more about what normal birth looks like, view the natural childbirth video of my son being born at home unassisted.

Publications
My book, Birth Outside the Box, was published in 2007.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in communication disorders with an emphasis in child development. I am also an independent childbirth educator.

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