​​Thanks you for your question on CMS334, Cesarean Birth (PC-02). Estimated gestational age (EGA) advances as each day passes. EGA is often reported as weeks and days. For this reason, the logic requires that the EGA be assessed in the 24 hour period prior to delivery to capture the most accurate EGA. If a patient is seen in the doctor’s office one week prior to delivery, the EGA in the documentation from that visit will be out of date at the time of delivery. Also note that the logic requires the relevant date/time/period of when the assessment of EGA was done and not when EGA was documented. The EGA can be documented after delivery. The assessment time and documentation time can be different times.

The EGA is an estimate of the gestation age of the fetus. It is often document in an OB office/clinic to assist in the care of the expected mother and at what stage in development is the expected baby. Traditionally the EGA in Labor Delivery is often documented taking the information from the OB Chart or at some point before or after the delivery. Why the change to document the EGA prior to the actual delivery of the baby during the actual labor delivery encounter.