Due Dates Are Over Due For A Re-Brand
I think it’s about time we re-branded Due Dates for good. Due Dates are not only totally out of date (no pun intended), but they are inaccurate 96% of the time and usually do more harm than good by putting unnecessary pressure on mums.
So… how did we come to getting these EDDs (estimated due dates)?
Well, way back in 1744 (I’m not joking), a professor from the Netherlands worked out the EDD based on 100 pregnant women’s records. He took the dates of their last period and added 7 days and 9 months. Alternatively, you can add 280 days from the first day of your last menstrual period. It’s also important to know, that all of these dates are based off the presumption that every woman has a 28 day cycle and ovulates on day 14, which we know is wildly inaccurate.
“Estimated due dates are just that: estimates. They are not appointments. They aren’t use-by, sell-by or best-before dates”
So, despite all the wonderful advancements of modern medicine and science, we are still using old mate’s method from the 18th century and using it to determine when a baby will be born, when it’s time to induce, and how big or small a baby (and a mother) should be against these dates.
But, as Dr Sara Wickham puts it in her book about due dates “estimated due dates are just that: estimates. They are not appointments. They aren’t use-by, sell-by or best-before dates”.
The problem is, we have so much pressure on these dates for many reasons, and they can be more harmful than helpful. Firstly, we have societal pressure. The constant “when are you due?!” comments, friends putting the date in their calendar to remind them to check in on you, your mum’s friends wanting to know the exact date just… because.
Then, we have pressure from the hospital system. Majority of first-time mums are induced purely for going beyond their EDD. We know that induction carries it’s own set of risks, which often outweigh the risks of going beyond the EDD considering a normal pregnancy is classed between 38-42 weeks, but this is rarely communicated to women.
Lastly, we have our own internal pressures. Being pregnant isn’t easy, and when you’ve been doing it for 9+ months, you’re just excited to meet your baby. Not to mention, the added anticipation, wanting to have some ounce of control and to plan your final weeks, not to mention the worry and doubt that creeps in when you wonder if your body will ever do it on it’s own (it will).
So with all this in mind, I propose a rebrand to Due Dates and I have some alternative options:
Due Month:
This is a much more broad way of speaking to your date. It provides those around you who are eager to know your EDD with a period of time that is still quite specific, yet holds less pressure on you as the mama.
Due Window:
The window of time can be referred to as your dates between 38 and 42 weeks. It comes with a sense of control (“I will have a baby between X and X”), yet allows for flexibility in between.
Due Season:
I low key LOVE the due season. If you’re in the middle of a season and you’re guaranteed to have a baby in it, this is an amazing way to tell people your due date while keeping the actual date to yourself. I think “I’m having a Summer baby” has a great ring to it, don’t you?
Due Year:
This is for the mama’s that really want to leave the date totally out of conversation. When anyone asks you your due date you can respond “late 2024” or “early next year”. OOOOFT, this is such a flex.
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