Why Can USG HPL Change? Turns Out These Are 6 Causes, Mom!

Are you curious and wondering why the USG HPL changes?

Indeed, it is best that the Estimated Date of Birth or HPL is one of the things that every pregnant woman needs to pay attention to.

Usually, your obstetrician will calculate your EDD during prenatal care .

This EDD date will guide you and your obstetrician in determining the gestational age, controlling each phase of fetal development and determining the type of delivery you will choose.

That is why it is important to determine the HPL as accurately as possible.

However, sometimes, doctors often determine the HPL USG to change the date. So some mothers may experience HPL with a different date than expected.

In fact, as many as 26% of people have changing HPL dates during their pregnancy. 

To understand this problem further, here are things that mothers should understand regarding changes in USG HPL along with their medical explanations. 

Why Can the EDD Date of Pregnant Women Change?

The HPL date calculated manually from the last menstrual period often does not match the due date estimated by ultrasound . This is what causes the HPL date to change. 

PagesVery Well Familywrites, in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, the first ultrasound may be the most accurate tool for calculating the gestational age of the fetus . 

The estimated due date predicted by the initial ultrasound has a margin of error of around 1-2 weeks.

The doctor will usually keep the manual due date (which is generated by calculating the last menstrual period date) if the ultrasound EDD date is within that error margin.

If you cannot remember the date of your last menstrual period, an early ultrasound can give you a more accurate EDD date.

An ultrasound examination is also helpful if your menstrual cycle is irregular .

Regardless of how your pregnancy progresses, remember that your EDD is ultimately just an estimate.

Every pregnancy is different, with some babies showing specific things that make them arrive early, while others may even be much later than their due date.

What are the causes of changes in the EDD date?

Here are some common reasons why your baby’s arrival date may have to change, as explained by the page What To Expect.

1. Experiencing Irregular Menstruation Before Pregnancy

Before you got pregnant, were your periods irregular?

If yes, this is a common problem that makes it very difficult to determine the EDD date using the last menstrual date method.

That is why an ultrasound examination is often necessary to determine the gestational age.

2. Your First Examination Relies on Doppler

Many pregnancies are first confirmed by a Doppler heart monitor , not an ultrasound. If this is the case for you, your doctor’s initial timing may be off.

Ultrasound to determine the initial EDD is usually performed around 6 to 9 weeks.

Ultrasound at these times can provide the most accurate estimate of the EDD date, because it is measured based on the size of the embryo or fetus .

3. First Ultrasound in the Second Trimester

Did you have your first ultrasound in the second trimester?

If so, this is another reason why your EDD date has shifted.

An ultrasound performed during the first trimester (not the second) provides the most accurate prediction of the EDD date, according toAmerican College of Obstetrics and Gynecology(ACOG).

5. Above Average Fundus Height

At every pregnancy check-up, your doctor will measure your fundus, which is the distance from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus.

This number is closely correlated with the progress of the pregnancy. It is possible that the size of your uterus is not in sync with the standard growth chart.

And if your fundal measurement drops by three weeks or more, in most cases your EDD date will shift as well.

6. Have Abnormal AFP Levels

Between weeks 14 and 22, your doctor will likely recommend a blood test to screen for AFP, short for Alpha fetoprotein, a protein normally produced by your baby’s liver and yolk sac; levels of which vary widely throughout pregnancy.

While high AFP levels sometimes indicate a potential genetic disorder, another possible reason is that your EDD was miscalculated.

The EDD Date is Incorrect, Should You Worry?

If your initial ultrasound gives you an EDD that is more than 1.2 weeks later than expected, there is a good chance that everything is still fine.

You may have just gotten pregnant earlier or later than you thought (which can happen if your menstrual cycle is completely irregular or if you misremember the date of your last period).

As long as the ultrasound results show good fetal growth and no signs of problems, there is no reason to worry if your doctor changes your EDD.

Recalculation of EDD Date with USG

Your doctor may want to repeat the ultrasound to make sure that your pregnancy is progressing as it should.

Assuming that the next ultrasound shows clearer fetal growth to confirm the EDD.

Your doctor may revise your EDD date to match the first ultrasound prediction.

Does the Change in Due Date Affect Mom’s Prenatal Care?

Changes in your due date do not significantly affect your prenatal care.

In reality, your routine will continue as usual and you should still schedule pregnancy check-ups with your doctor.

If your EDD date changes, try to stay calm, you don’t need to worry too much.

Remember, whatever date and day your baby is born it will always be a special time.

The thing to understand is, there is no sure way to know your baby’s exact arrival date until he or she is actually born.

Enjoy every element of surprise and uncertainty in your pregnancy process.

This is also the fun part of being a parent,you know, Mom!

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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia