A typical pregnancy is 9 months long which is about 38 to 40 weeks since conception. With a few calculations you can estimate an approximate guess on when your baby might deliver.
With the help of an estimated due date, you can plan your pregnancy better as well as prepare for your post pregnancy life with a baby accordingly. You can use either of the following method in order to estimate the due date:
First day of your last menstrual period
With the help of the last day of your menstrual period, to estimate your due date, all you have to do is add 40 weeks or 280 days to the first day of your last menstruation before pregnancy.
Another way to calculate it with the help of your period date is to subtract three months from the first day of your last period after adding seven days to it.
Date of Conception
If you had been tracking your ovulation cycle before the pregnancy you might know the exact date of conception as well. It is done by adding 266 days to the date of conception.
Ultrasound Scans
In case you are unsure of your last period and don’t have the exact date of conception, you can even resort to ultrasound scans to estimate your due date more accurately. You might have your first ultrasound scan around 9-12th week.
IVF Due date
Most In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) embryo transfers occur either on day three or day five. If you had a three day transfer, add 263 days to calculate your due date. Similarly, in case of a five day transfer your due date will be after 261 days.
Can you plan your due date?
Although you cannot plan when your natural labor is going to start or the moment you will give birth, you can plan around the weeks or months that you might deliver. Tracking your ovulation and menstrual cycle, you can maximize the chance of getting pregnant during a certain season or month.
Change in due date
It is normal for your due dates to move and change. Only about 4 percent of babies are actually delivered on the estimated date.These dates are only estimates and not exact predictions of when you might give birth. Therefore, in most cases deliveries will range between 2 weeks prior or after the due date.
References:
- Due Date Calculator: https://www.whattoexpect.com/due-date-calculator/
- Due date calculator: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/finding-out/due-date-calculator/
- Pregnancy Due Date Calculator: https://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-due-date-calculator