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PREGNANCY DUE DATE CALCULATOR
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Gestational Age:
What is an estimated due date of pregnancy?
An estimated due date (EDD) of pregnancy is the date that a healthcare provider calculates as the most likely date that your baby will be born on. The healthcare provider predicts that spontaneous onset of labor is expected to occur around this date. This date is usually calculated based on the date of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP) and the average length of a pregnancy, which is around 40 weeks (280 days) from the first day of the last menstrual period. Most pregnant mothers don’t realize that both menstrual and ovulation weeks count as the first two weeks of your pregnancy. This is a rough idea of when your baby might arrive.
Knowing this little but extremely important piece of information can keep the mother one step ahead on her baby’s development. However, you must know that the calculator is a general guide and every pregnancy is unique and the result is always an estimation rather than a fixed date. Approximately, 60 out of 100 pregnant people give birth on or before their estimated due date.
How can due date be estimated through last date of menstruation?
The due date of a pregnancy can be estimated using the Last Menstrual Period (LMP), most gynecologists and obstetricians use the Naegele’s rule; this method involves adding 280 days (or 40 weeks) to the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period. The majority of pregnancies lasts between 37 to 42 weeks. Remember, 60 out of 100 women give birth on or before their due date.
What is gestational age (How far along are you in your pregnancy)?
Gestation is the period of time between conception and birth, during this time, the baby grows inside the womb. It literally means “how far along are you in your pregnancy?” It is measured in weeks and days dating from the first day of your last menstrual period to the current date.
A normal pregnancy can range from 38 to 42 weeks. Infants born before 37 weeks are premature (pre-term) and infants born after 42 weeks are post mature (post-term). The American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that even an ultrasound confirming gestational age through fetal measurements (baby measurements) in the first trimester carries with it a +5-7 days error.
How far along are you in your pregnancy?
However, gestational age using an ultrasound is the most accurate method of predicting your due date. Your doctor will use an ultrasound to measure the size of the baby’s head, abdomen, and thigh bone. This gives an impression of your baby and womb’s overall health. If the baby’s gestational age findings (weight, length, head circumference) match the calendar age, the baby is said to be appropriate for gestational age (AGA). AGA babies have lower rates of problems than babies that are small or large for their gestational age.
How long can you go past your due date?
A typical pregnancy lasts between 37 and 42 weeks, lasting beyond 42 weeks is called “post-term,” or “past due-date.”
Your health, unique pregnancy progress and doctor may help you reach 41 weeks without any intervention. However, most doctors run a range of lab tests and ultrasounds to ensure that a 41 weeker baby is active and healthy. Using an ultrasound, the amount of amniotic fluid is measured to confirm whether the baby is healthy and active in the womb. If the results are good, the pregnancy is allowed to progress further till the mother moves into labor. If, however, the baby is in any kind of distress, the doctor may discuss options of inducing labor.
It must be remembered that a pregnancy that reaches 41 to 42 weeks is one that is not ranging towards being “risky” for the mother and the baby, so discussing options to induce labor with your doctor is something to think about. This is especially important for women who are post the age of week 40.
Early Pregnancy Symptoms
During early pregnancy (first few days and weeks), the body goes through many changes as it prepares to nourish and support the growing fetus. These could be:
- Missed Period: Missing your period may mean many things; but amongst one is the fact that you might be pregnant. Remember that this could be an easily misleading observation if you already have irregular cycles.
- Tender breasts: Some women may notice that their breasts feel fuller and heavier, and may experience mild to moderate pain and discomfort. Nipples may also become more sensitive and may darken in color.
- Nausea with or without vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms in early pregnancy. The exact cause of these symptoms is not known but its thought to be related to an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
- Increased urination: the transitional change in hormones increase blood flow to pelvic regions and kidneys, which leads to more frequent urination.
- Fatigue: hormonal changes and emotional stress leads to the feeling of fatigue in early pregnancy. This is a very common symptom amongst a lot of pregnant women.
- Other symptoms include moodiness, bloating, light spotting, cramping, constipation, food aversions and nasal congestion.
Many of these signs and symptoms aren’t very special when it comes to pregnancy and could be because of innumerable other causes. Likewise, there is a very high chance you could be pregnant without experiencing any of these symptoms. On the other hand, a lot of these symptoms are very common to a pregnant woman and knowing this would help you prepare for their arrival in time.
