And to add more fuel to the fire - with the constant use of ultrasounds
for dating instead of the last period and the "wheel", that date can
vary. Ultrasounds use measurements of the fetal bones to determine
gestational age. And those are based on descriptive studies. IN the
end, it is sometimes hard to get at a baby's true date until you look at
his Ballard score - and even then, people argue! Makes you wonder what
is the measure of truth?
-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Regina M. Roig-Romero,
Bs Ibclc
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 7:14 AM
Subject: Redefining natural...and due date
Kathy said, "I had an acquaintance once who said she had a "natural
birth" because she had not had any pain medications prior to her
surgical delivery."
Words and terms we used to take for granted are being redefined right
before our very eyes. For example: I have learned not to ask the
question, "What was your baby's due date?" (or variations of same) Why?
Because when I do the answer I get is the date they'd scheduled the
c-section for...at which point, most of the time, the baby was 37 or 38
wks gestation, not 40.
Sooooo...:::sigh:::...I have learned to be much more specific, for
example (assume this is a phone call):
Me: So, when was your baby due? (I slipped up, forgot that in the dead
of night the term "due date" has been changed to mean "the date I was
supposed to have my c-section)
Client: Oh, Thursday October 2nd. (They might or might NOT add, "We
scheduled the c-section for that day but then blah-blah-blah happened
and I had to have him early.")
Me (with or without her very illuminating addendum): And when would he
have reached 40 wks gestation?
Client (without missing a beat - either that or she has to think real
hard about it, because that date is a nebulous thing she long ago forgot
had any significance): October 16th.
So if I don't ask, I think that a child born on, say, September 29th was
due later that same week, rather than 2.5 wks later.
:::sigh::: Pass the chocolate....
Regina M. Roig-Romero, BS IBCLC
Senior Lactation Consultant
Miami-Dade County Health Dept WIC/Nutrition Breastfeeding Program
7785 NW 48 ST, Suite 300
Miami FL 33166
(786) 336-1333 x162
(786) 336-1345 fax
(786) 336-1336 Breastfeeding Helpline
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