Determining Length of Gestation When Uncertain

Yes, dr can do a hcg,a hormone count and they have a chart to tell them where about you are. Not generally done unless requested.ALso they can tell by ultrasound, not usually done until between 8 and 12 weeks, this is the best time to hear baby's heartbeat. At least in my experience with my 5 kids. Best wishes!

Yup. Generally speaking, at least :) They're usually pretty close to dead on.

With mine, I had wonky periods...so I could have been anywhere from 4 weeks to 16 weeks. First ultrasound placed me at 11...but because I come from a tall family (all over 6 feet) they suspected it could be as early as 10 weeks), 2nd seemed to indicate that they were dead on, and I delivered at 38ish weeks (but had had the "check please, I'm done" feeling that goes along with the last week or two of pregnancy for a few weeks prior to birth). To a 10lb little boy.

My nurse midwife cracked up, and said she was going to take the ultrasound tech by the ear. He was holding his head up on his own, had unusual muscle tone, would make eye contact, and DID NOT want his arms or legs bound in any fashion. "38 weeks, my a**" she said "Let's try 42." She was joking of course. Well, at least, I THINK she was joking.

An 11 week ultrasound, btw, makes it look like you're going to be delivering an "alien cat". No lie. I remember the terrible choice between laughing out loud and being horrified. I STILL crack up when I see those pictures. "Meow. Take me to your leader."

Yes the doctor can via ultrasound. The ultrasound allows doctor to see the size and measure with what is typical size for a pregnancy of 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks along, etc...
Once you are around 19+ weeks your baby's organs are formed and visible through ultrasound, so another ultrasound is made to measure the organs and determine gestation age and detech abnormalities as well. Good luck and enjoy your pregnancy.

high-tech: by measuring the baby in-utero. Low tech can be allpied b/w 20 and 38th weeks of gestation: the hight of the fundus measured in centimeters is ~ weeks of gestation.
V.

Hi F.,
A doctor can give you an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of your baby. They use the ultrasound to take pictures and measure the baby from crown to rump as well as the gestational sack and the yolk sack. Additionally, they will check for a heart beat, which can appear as early as 4-6 weeks. All of these things together will help them to determine your baby's gestational age.

Yes, they normally do this via an Ultrasound by measuring the size of the baby.

They can estimate how far along you are but its not exact. For instance with my third I "knew" when I got pregnant but when I had my ultrasound they said I wasn't that far along and changed my due date to the end of Feb. well I had thought it was due the first week of Feb anyways he came the end of January and the doctors got all freaked he was a preemie had neo-natal in the delivery room he was totally fine more like 10 days early not 6 weeks as they thought. It gives you a ball park idea. Good luck!!

the first ultra sound is when they measure length of fetus and can guess the age.

Definitely, they can. From what I remember of my own pregnancies this is part of the prenatal check up. Not all women (like me) have a normal period or even keep track of their cycles. With this is mind, trying to determine the 'age' of the baby is part of the procedure. I didn't know I was pregnant for a while. I didn't know I was five/six months along during my first appointment. I thought I was only a month maybe two. But they doctors did a ultrasound, took measurements, listened to the heart beat, and a whole bunch of regular stuff. When she was done, I was informed that I was much further along that I thought.

Yes they can.
With me, even at my vaginal sonogram at 6 weeks, they told me the approximate weeks/age my "baby" was... based on measurements/size etc. The heartbeat was already there too, for me.

In later ultrasounds... they will get a more "accurate" due date... and these things can be more or less totally accurate, or not.
With my first pregnancy, the due date was adjusted at my subsequent ultra-sounds... but only by 1 week.

All the best,
Susan

they will do an ultrasound and can also measure the hormone levels in your blood.

F.,

Yep, they sure can. With a pelvic exam they can feel and measure by squishing around, and an ultrasound. Presto.

Wendy

A doctor will be able to give you the approx age and due date of the baby according to the length of the baby as observed via ultrasound in the early stages. When pregnancy is further along, he can tell by the measurement of the uterus. However, this is only approximate and not 100% accurate.