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Got a Due Date From a Pregnancy Ultrasound? Is It Really Accurate?

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Prapti Chauhan
Got a Due Date From a Pregnancy Ultrasound? Is It Really Accurate?

As a soon-to-be-mother, you want to know everything about your pregnancy. This includes knowing the due date. Having that information within your grasp helps in planning out the details. Besides, you want to know when you will cradle your baby in your arms. At first, your gynecologist will try to figure out the date, basing the predictions on the last day of the last period. However, this method has its limitations. If the menstrual history is not known, this method becomes redundant.

Over the years, another method has emerged as the new favourite. A pregnancy ultrasound can help determine the due date even without the menstrual history. It also gives a closer look into the development of the fetus. Despite the advantages, how accurate is a pregnancy ultrasound? Keep reading to find out.

How Accurate is a Pregnancy Ultrasound? 

Now, you should get frequent ultrasounds. Firstly, it gives you a safe option to know the measurement of the cervix. It even provides your gynecologist with enough information to know when you will undergo labour. The main reason why pregnancy ultrasounds are growing in popularity is that they are risk-free. Not to mention how incredible it can be to watch your baby on the screen. However, due dates are rarely accurate, and that's the case with ultrasound scans as well. 

Can Your Due Date Change During Pregnancy? 

An early ultrasound scan can predict the due date with a fair amount of accuracy. Since the gynecologist has no way of knowing the date of conception, they rely solely on your menstrual cycle to figure out the due date. Needless to say, taking an ultrasound scan is the optimal choice. However, in the first semester, the date can differ by more than a week. As new information comes to light, the gynecologist can change the due date based on the pregnancy ultrasound. If the fetus is showing healthy development, then there is no need to worry if your doctor decides to change the date.

Are Early Pregnancy Scans More Accurate Than The Later Ones?

Depending on when you take the ultrasound scan, it can show different due dates. Going by the statistics, ultrasound scans done early on are more accurate. That is why doctors always refer to the earlier scan when determining the due date. In the later stages of pregnancy, the dates predicted may not be accurate. So knowing the correct due date can ensure a safer delivery.

When in the womb, the baby's development is hard to monitor. With the help of an ultrasound scan, you can witness the growth of the fetus. Make it a point to get scans done frequently so you know what to expect at the time of delivery. Before marking the due date on your calendar, you should know that the actual due date may slightly differ from the predictions made by a pregnancy ultrasound. That said, as long as your soon-to-be-baby is healthy, you have nothing to worry about.



Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops content on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare, the benefits of cord blood banking, umbilical cord lining, and more.

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