Accuracy of birth certificate/records

[holly]

In your experience, how reliable is birth data recorded by medical professionals?

I have always assumed that a birth time taken from a birth certificate or medical records was extremely likely to be accurate. However I wonder what circumstances could lead to the birth time being recorded inaccurately.

Obviously the clock in the delivery room could be wrong, the nurse required to write down the time could have estimated or plainly made an error, perhaps immediately after birth the baby or mother had emergency complications that required full medical attention so that the birth time was jotted down later on from memory....

In your opinion, is there any chance a professionally recorded birth time could be wrong?

[Carole]

There is a certain order to do things in the delivery room once the child is born. There is someone responsible for recording the time of birth, even in the case of ulterior complications. Of course, there is always a chance for a professionally recorded birth time to be wrong, I think we all should take for granted that a variation of 10 minutes in our birth time could be possible due to multiple factors.

The only way to correct this is with time. When you are aware that an error could have ocurred, and you are into Astrology, then you start a process of rectification of your own chart. This rectification should be done in the most honest way possible, since what we are after is our true astrological identity.

Of course, there are people who can be absolutely sure of their birth time. Those whose parents are Astrologers or are aware of the importance of recording the exact birth time of their children.

Carole

[dancinglight]

The time of delivery is always carefully noted and recorded. The baby receives an apgar score so even if the baby is 'flat' they would know when the resucitation (and timing of the 1 minute apgar) started.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apgar_score


What I wonder about is the accuracy of the clocks in the delivery room or OR suite.

The clocks in our neonatal unit are all a bit different... the gap between the slowest and fastest being almost four minutes This has legal implications if we are resucitating a baby and people are viewing different clocks as they give medications/chart procedures, etc.

As for the astrological concerns, well, there's always rectification of the chart. It's not cheap, though....my instructor (I'm taking classes from a professional astrologer) says it's a pretty time consuming---and therefore, more costly --process, although there is good computer software out now that makes it easier than it used to be. LOL, my instructor has been an astrologer for many, many years, used to do everything without the benefit of a computer. I can't imagine doing that!

[Arian Maverick]

This really makes me want to convince my local hospital to adopt the atomic clock in all of its delivery rooms. Virgo precision or else! :38:

Arian Maverick

[CalicoDreams]

I always wondered this, too. Because I was born with a heart issue, I turned blue immedietly after being delivered and was then rushed away to another hospital where they could provide suitable care for me. Unless someone was there looking at the clock with a piece of paper and a pen, I will always wonder if my birth time was accurate.

[Sag Moon]

Today records are more meticulously kept and followed then before the 60's I'd say.

I had a Catholic Chinese dr. who was my godfather and I am sure my birthtime is accurate to within 2-3mins.

I have a hard time believing some charts I have seen of people especially famous actors of the past.The further we go back the harder it is to see the accuracy of the times. Some are toss ups although there have been great rectifications done.

[holly]

It's such a shame that the most pivotal piece of a natal chart is dependant on such a questionable bit of information.

There are so many people in my life I would love to examine a chart for, but I will never be able to because the time is either unattainable or unreliable. My own birth time is recorded on my mother's delivery summary, yet I still wonder how accurate it truly is.

[johnmike59]

And how about Daylight Savings Time? I was born in September 1959 at 12:50 PM - my Ascendant is Scorpio, but IF DST was in effect, then my Ascendant would not be the same!

I suppose I should find out whether or not DST was in effect in NYC in 1959!

As for the accuracy of the time of your birth, I think your mother is probably the most reliable source! My mother went into labor at 11:30 AM and within 90 minutes, she gave birth! So, if you can, ask Mom!