Curious To Know Your Due Date
Estimated Date of Conception: Dec 03, 2021
This is based on the cycle length provided, not an average cycle length of 28 days, however it is still an estimate.
You are 23% of the way through your pregnancy.
Weeks 1 & 2 of your pregnancy is Nov 20, 2021 – Dec 03, 2021
Baby Conceived
Week 3 of your pregnancy is Dec 04, 2021 – Dec 10, 2021
Implantation occurs
Your baby is a tiny ball of several hundred cells that are rapidly multiplying and burrowing into the lining of your uterus. The cells that become the placenta are producing hCG, the pregnancy hormone. It tells your ovaries to stop releasing eggs and keep producing progesterone. Once there’s enough hCG in your urine, you’ll get a positive pregnancy test result.
Week 4 of your pregnancy is Dec 11, 2021 – Dec 17, 2021
Positive Pregnancy Test
Your baby is an embryo made up of two layers, the hypoblast and the epiblast. The primative placenta is developing and preparing to provide nutrients and oxygen to your growing baby. The amniotic sac is developing and will surround and protect your baby while it continues to grow.
Week 5
Week 5 of your pregnancy is Dec 18, 2021 – Dec 24, 2021
Your embryo is now made up of three layers, the ectoderm, the mesoderm and the endoderm which will later form all the organs and tissues. You might start to feel the first twinges of pregnancy such as tender breasts, frequent urination, or morning sickness
Week 6 of your pregnancy is Dec 25, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
How To Use The Due Date Calculator:
Few things can compare to the rush and excitement of when you take a pregnancy test and read out the positive result! Once youâve processed the news that youâre going to be a mom, your thoughts will naturally turn to planning and one of your first questions will no doubt be: when is my due date? Use these three simple steps to find out how far along you are in your pregnancy:
Keep in mind every pregnancy is unique and the result will be an estimation rather than a fixed date.
Why Pregnancy Is Counted From The Last Menstrual Period
Pregnancy is counted from a women’s last menstrual period because the start of a period is easily observable and usually known to a woman whereas the date of conception is much less likely to be known.
Historically, the first day of the last menstrual period became the date from which pregnancy is counted even though conception occurs about two weeks later.
The LMP formula is good for working out an initial age of pregnancy but ultrasound is more accurate. The age of pregnancy may be revised following your ultrasound scan.
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When Should I Call My Doctor
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A due date calculator helps you plan for your babys arrival. Keep in mind that a due date calculator is only an estimate. Youll need to see your provider to confirm the date. Your due date may change when you have a prenatal ultrasound. Your provider may even change your due date more than once during your pregnancy, but it usually only changes by a few days. Knowing when to expect your new family member allows you to prepare mentally and physically. An accurate due date also helps your provider monitor your health and the health of your baby.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/07/2021.
References
How To Calculate Your Due Date If You Dont Remember When Your Last Period Was
The second you see a positive pregnancy test result, it’s only natural to start doing the math to figure out the delivery date. After all, it’s handy to know how much time is left before the baby’s arrival. But how can you calculate your due date if you don’t remember when your last period occurred? There are some workarounds, thankfully.
Why is this missed period so important, anyway? For the most part, it makes the whole calculation process much easier. Because most pregnancies last for approximately 40 weeks, the easiest way to estimate the due date is to figure out the last menstrual period and add 40 weeks to that, as noted in What to Expect. It’s simple enough, but not everyone keeps detailed records of menstruation, and some people have irregular periods that are notoriously difficult to track.
There are plenty of other ways to guess a due date, however. âThe best way to calculate an estimated due date when you donât know the date of the last menstrual period is by ultrasound,â as doula Christine Strain, CD , tells Romper. âEarly ultrasounds are one of the most accurate ways to date a pregnancy .â
Another way is to guess the babyâs conception date. âIf the person knows the date of the sex that led to conception that would be another way to estimate it, but it could be off by several days as sperm can live for several days in the Fallopian tubes,â says Strain. Although not as exact as ultrasounds, itâs still a helpful tool to have in mind.
Experts:
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Dating Pregnancy Using Ultrasound
Ultrasound in the first trimester is the most accurate method of dating pregnancy. During the scan, baby is measured and the age of pregnancy is estimated by comparing baby’s size against recorded averages. If there is a significant difference between gestational age according to LMP and gestational age according to the ultrasound, you may be given a new gestational age and due date based on the ultrasound measurements.
Your pregnancy may also be dated by ultrasound measurement if an LMP formula was not appropriate for your pregnancy for any reason. LMP formulas are not suitable in several situations including the following: LMP is not known or is not certain, birth control pills were taken in the two months before LMP, the menstrual cycle is irregular, you are carrying multiples .
Although the age of pregnancy based on ultrasound measurements is more accurate than the age of pregnancy based on LMP, both are estimates and not definitive statements.
Acog Definition Of Pregnancy
- Early-term: 37 weeks through 38 weeks and six days
- Full-term: 39 weeks through 40 weeks and six days
- Late-term: 41 weeks through 41 weeks and six days
- Post-term: any pregnancy that goes beyond 42 weeks
Sometimes, when talking about twins or triplets, you will hear people say things like, Twins are full-term at 37 weeks. But this isnt truly accurate. All pregnanciesincluding twins, triplets, or morearent truly full-term until they reach 39 weeks.
While you might be at greater risk of earlier labor with twins, that doesn’t affect how the timing of labor would be classified.
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What Is Naegele’s Rule
For example, if the first day of your last period was August 11, 2021, you would:
- Add 1 year
- Add 7 days
- Move the date back 3 months
- Your due date would be May 18, 2020.
If your fertility app gives you a different date than the one calculated by your doctor, it most likely because it was based on the ovulation date and not the date of your last period. If you ovulated earlier or later than day 14 of your cycle, this would shift your due date accordingly.
Factors Affecting Due Date
With so much focus and excitement over an assigned day, youd think itd be an accurate numberbut its not always the case. The simple truth is that only 5 out of 100 women will deliver their babies on their actual due date.
Still, determining which week of pregnancy youre in is crucial to receiving good prenatal care and planning for your upcoming life change.
The majority of babies are born over a 35-day span, with birth occurring anywhere from about 37.5 weeks to 42.5 weeks. Due dates also not deadlines. You could have your baby a week later than your due date and still be considered on time.
There are many factors that can influence your due date. First, each pregnant person has their own predetermined schedule.Many people will tell you that their pregnancies were all about the same length. If you had two kids, each delivered around 41 weeks, your third kid is likely to arrive around 41 weeks.
People who are pregnant for the first time tend to go into labor later. Youre more likely to go a few days past your due date with your first baby.
And finally, some people are at risk of preterm labor. About one in 10 pregnancies end with premature delivery. Maternal risk factors for premature babies include having a previous preterm birth, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and even periodontal disease.
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Beginning Your Pregnancy Journey
Once youâve calculated your due date, you can get a better idea of when to expect your little one â and start to plan accordingly.
If you havenât done so already, one of the first steps you should take is to schedule an appointment with your doctor, who can confirm that you’re pregnant with a blood test and physical exam, and also help you establish a more precise due date.
At each following prenatal care appointment, you’ll be examined to determine the size of your uterus, and to monitor your little one’s development. Pregnancy milestones such as hearing your babyâs first heartbeat and seeing your baby via ultrasound will be a thrilling part of these checkups. Along the way, depending on what is observed, your pregnancy due date may be adjusted.
While your doctor will be able to advise you best, there are still plenty of things you can do as soon as you discover youâre pregnant. Explore the rest of our site to find out more.
How Certain Are Due Date Predictions
If theres one thing you can count on about having a baby, its that you can count on the unexpected. You might not find out your baby wont be born on their due date until they arrive early or, bless your soul, late. Or your doctor might adjust the due date during your pregnancy based on babys measurements. Well, only 1 in 20 women actually delivers on her due date. So, theres that.
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What Do I Need To Know About Using A Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
A due date calculator may not be completely accurate. This is especially true if you arent exactly sure when you had your last period, you have irregular periods or you dont know when you conceived. You should see your provider for a more precise test, such as an ultrasound, to confirm your due date.
How To Calculate Due Date By Ultrasound
Other than using a due date calculator based on your LMP, your doctor can also calculate your pregnancy due date by ultrasound, especially if you have an irregular cycle. When you go in to see your OB or midwife for your first prenatal appointment, theyll likely schedule you for an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy. During the ultrasound, the technician or physician will measure babys length, from crown to rump, to gauge how far along you are and calculate your due date. According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , a first-trimester ultrasound is the most accurate method to establish or confirm gestational age. If baby is much bigger or smaller than expected for the gestational age based on your LMP, your doctor will likely change your due date based on what they see on the first-trimester ultrasound.
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How Do I Calculate My Due Date
You can calculate your due date by using:
The date of your last period
You can calculate your due date if you know the first day of your last menstrual period before you got pregnant. Your due date is 40 weeks after the day you started your last period.
This method is a good way to estimate when your baby is due because many women remember the day they started their period. But it might not always be accurate, especially if you have an irregular menstrual cycle or are on birth control.
The date you conceived
If you know the exact day you conceived, you can use that information to figure out when your baby is due. Count ahead 38 weeks from the day you got pregnant. That day is your due date.
This method is only accurate if youre sure about the day you got pregnant. You may only know the specific day you got pregnant if you know when you ovulated. Ovulation happens when your ovaries release an egg. Usually, women ovulate about 14 days after the first day of their period. You can track your ovulation by:
- Taking your basal body temperature around the time when you think you might be ovulating.
- Tracking your ovulation symptoms, such as ovulation pain and cervical mucus.
- Using an ovulation predictor kit. These kits use your urine to detect when youre ovulating.
How Is The Due Date Calculated
Generally, most women ovulate about 2 weeks after the first day of their period and will conceive shortly after. On average pregnancy lasts anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks, the Pregnacare Due Date Calculator will use this information to generate an estimated due date.
Despite every care being taken to ensure the accuracy of this calculator the information contained in this tool is neither designed nor intended to serve as medical advice. We advise consulting your GP,midwife or healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
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Determining If Labor Is Premature
Babies who are born too early are at risk for numerous health problems. There are steps we can take to slow or halt preterm labor. With that said, there are also risks to the medications used to stop preterm labor, both to the mother and the baby.
You and your doctor have to decide together when the risks of allowing labor to continue to outweigh the risks of intervention. This is partially determined by knowing which week of pregnancy you are in.
There are also risks to the baby and mother if a pregnancy goes on for too long. Post-term pregnancy is when birth does not occur by week 42 . If this happens, your midwife or doctor may decide to induce labor.
What Is A Due Date
It takes about 38 weeks for human babies to develop fully in the womb. Your due date is the day youre expected to give birth based on this 38-week gestation process.
But keep in mind that healthcare providers consider a pregnancy to be full-term anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks. Babies can be born at any time, and many factors play a role in determining when you go into labor and when your baby will actually enter the world.
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Average Length Of Pregnancy
While 40 weeks is the average, its not unusual to deliver your baby earlier or later. In the past, 37 weeks was considered to be a full-term pregnancy. This definition carried implications on as two when it would be safe to induce labor or schedule a cesarean section.
However, we now know that being born at 37 weeks can increase health risks. Its not nearly as risky as being born before 37 weeks, but its not ideal either.
In response, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has created new definitions to describe the timing of labor:
How Was The Due Date Calculated In The Past
Heres where modern science comes in clutch. The reality is some women didnt know they were pregnant until they either missed quite a few periods or their belly popped. Thats not to say women were completely flying in the dark during pregnancy. While German obstetrician Franz Naegele came up with Naegels Rule resulting in the 280-day gestational model we use today, the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle documented the average human pregnancy was 10 lunar months. With a lunar month spanning 28 days, that figure added to 280 days exactly.
Aristotle didnt discover something revolutionary, even for his time. Ancient civilizations have used the lunar calendar to date pregnancies for centuries, counting roughly 10 moon cycles as a full-term pregnancy and working backward to the womans last menstruation cycle.
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Will I Get A More Accurate Due Date Later In The Pregnancy
You will have your first appointment with the midwife, the ‘booking appointment’, between 8 weeks and 12 weeks pregnant. Here you will be given a scan and receive an accurate date for your baby’s birth. But if you’re impatient to know when your baby will arrive, then our pregnancy calculator tool gives you an estimate due date without the wait.
Not pregnant yet?
Disclaimer About The Calculator
Our calculator strives for the highest accuracy, but your pregnancy progress may differ from the calculator’s results for several reasons including possible miscalculation errors in input data individual variations in the timing of ovulation, and/or conception.
The information provided regarding pregnancy progress and fetal development is a guide through the weeks. It is not specific information for a specific individual but serves as a general guide only. As each pregnancy differs, any dates, weights, and lengths should be considered general information for interest only.
Our week-by-week guides use both standard and metric units of measure including pounds and kilograms.
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