When is my Baby Due?
Calculating your due date is probably the first thing most elated new moms-to-be do. (Don't be alarmed if you find yourself working out your estimated delivery date weekly - its quite common, when overcome with excitement and apprehension !!) Here's how to do it:
Go back three calendar months from the first day of your last period and then add on seven days.
e.g. First day of your last period:
March 13.
Go back three months:
February 13, January 13, December 13.
This brings you to:
December 13.
Add on seven days:
Your due date is December 20.
One woman's cycle may differ quite significantly to the next, so
when calculating your estimated delivery date, bear in mind the
length of your menstrual cycle. Conception is normally assumed to
have taken place around the fourteenth day of your menstrual cycle.
The estimations above were calculated for a 28 day cycle, and if
your cycle is longer than this, your delivery date may well be
later. For instance if your cycle runs into 33 days, the expected
date of delivery will be five days later than above. This is because
in a longer cycle, ovulation occurs later, with the same being true
in reverse - if your menstrual cycle is shorter than 28 days, your
expected delivery date will be earlier.
Between the 12th and 16th week of your pregnancy your doctor may do
an ultrasound scan, which is the method used to find the most
accurate confirmation of your date and to detect whether any
abnormalities exist.
