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Expert: - 8/30/2009


Question
QUESTION: Hello Catherine,  I just have a quick follow up question from a previous question I asked. My previous question pertained to paternity. GF's due date is Nov. 4th and we had sex on Feb.22, and you stated that based on the dates that it's quite possible I'm not the father since she would have had to of conceived around Feb. 11 or so. My follow up question is this, is it possible she ovulated late? And if so, would that be why the due date is off 11 days? They did go by an ultrasound so the due date is accurate I suppose. But another thing that raises a flag is that she started having pregnancy symptoms less than a week after we had sex and from what I've read it takes a couple of weeks to to start getting those. I don't know, I'm just confused because at first she was saying it wasn't mine and now she's saying it is.

ANSWER: Mark,


The early ultrasound is too accurate to be off 11 days.  Period.  It has a margin of error of only +/- 3 days.  If she had ovulated late, the ultrasound would have confirmed this and given her a later due date.  

She also wouldn't have typically experienced pregnancy symptoms only a week after intercourse - it usually takes about 7-10 days for implantation to even occur and typically it would be a week or two after that before any possible symptoms would be noticeable.


Best,
Catherine

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Catherine, I definitely have to do a dna test but in the mean time the suspense is killing me so sorry for being a pest. Her last LMP was actually on January 30th so if she conceived about February 11th wouldn't that show that she in fact ovulated 2 days early instead of 11 days late? sorry, this is the last question and thank you for all your great help.

Answer
Mark,


I understand that the wait is difficult.  Her conception date would have been around the 11th (there's a margin of error on early ultrasounds of a maximum of +/- 3 days), meaning she could have ovulated early, but not 11 days late.



Best,
Catherine

Childbirth

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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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