You're pregnant! The next question is: When is the baby due? Calculating the pregnancy due date is not complicated. There are several methods to calculate your estimated due date, but we all know that babies have their own timetables and most don't arrive on the estimated due date.
The age of the developing baby is called the "gestational age." Since the exact date of conception is seldom known, the date of the mother's last period is often used to begin calculating when the baby is due. The normal due date is 40 weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period
Another way to calculate the pregnancy due date is from conception, if known. Since ovulation and conception usually occur two weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period, the pregnancy due date is 38 weeks from conception.
Probably the most accurate way to confirm the baby's gestational age and calculate the due date is by confirming one of the above methods with an ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to measure the baby, and these measurements are used to calculate gestational age. This test is non-invasive and can be performed as early as 5-6 weeks after the last menstrual period. The most accurate results are obtained between 8-18 weeks from the beginning of the last menstrual period. The results of the ultrasound, combined with the calculated date from the first day of the last period, provide a relatively firm due date.
Women whose periods are irregular encounter difficulty using the first day of the last period or conception methods and usually must rely on the ultrasound examination. However, if the baby is unusually large or small, even the ultrasound may not provide enough information to estimate the due date.
Maria writes for Pregnancy Due Date, a site that tries to information for expectant mothers. For more great pregnancy articles, visit our Pregnancy articles archive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|


There are a lot of resources on the internet, in... Read More
Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during... Read More
Ectopic is another way of saying "out of place". An... Read More
WHY LACK OF SUPPORT?Several years ago, ACOG, American College of... Read More
Weight control is a prevalent concern for many women after... Read More
Pregnancy is not without its side effects. During pregnancy your... Read More
"Just eat a few saltines and you'll be ok".I don't... Read More
Perhaps the number one complaint of women trying to watch... Read More
Pregnancy is one of the pivotal moments of a woman's... Read More
Are you a first time expectant mum wandering around the... Read More
One of the best things you can do to prepare... Read More
New mothers sometimes experience "postpartum blues." This is understandable. Pregnancy... Read More
EPIDURALS CAN SAVE YOU FROM THE "HORRORS" OF CHILDBIRTHIt is... Read More
It happened during the ninth month of my first pregnancy.... Read More
If you are a pregnant mother or soon will be,... Read More
Many women have questions about the types of food that... Read More
Exclusively pumping breast milk is best thought of as an... Read More
During pregnancy your nutrition needs are going to increase. Even... Read More
Every woman gains weight while she is pregnant. This is... Read More
When I was in my early 20's, I read Adele... Read More
We know the fetus is experiencing whatever is going on... Read More
It is important that you remember that weight gain is... Read More
Every pregnant woman has experienced the pregnancy blahs. I can... Read More
I coached as my wife was delivering our third child.... Read More
The second biggest question you will ask yourself as a... Read More
Most women like to go shopping. However, sometimes pregnant women... Read More
If you have celiac disease and are well controlled because... Read More
Quite often expectant fathers get bent out of shape over... Read More
My first experience with bedrest was at 30 weeks into... Read More
That depends, say the experts, on a number of things... Read More
There are three distinct stages of pregnancy, called trimesters, each... Read More
The foundation of fitness for a mom is her abdominal... Read More
EXERCISE SAFELYThe first thing to understand when you exercise during... Read More


Many mothers are addicted to caffeine and cannot handle going... Read More
So you need to gain weight but don't want to... Read More
Remember as with any weight loss and exercise program, moderation... Read More
"Just eat a few saltines and you'll be ok".I don't... Read More
There are so many changes the body undergoes during pregnancy... Read More
Pregnancy is one of the pivotal moments of a woman's... Read More
Many factors affect the development of a fetus into a... Read More
FOLIC ACID ? AN OVERVIEWFolic Acid, also know as Vitamin... Read More
Looking for healthy lifestyle pregnancy information? Here are some steps... Read More
The average woman will gain between 25 and 30 pounds... Read More
Obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to have... Read More
Have you ever wondered what makes women tick? Well among... Read More
When I became pregnant I planned to run throughout my... Read More
Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can... Read More
Have you considered hiring a doula for added support during... Read More
Pregnancy is a time where you have to be careful... Read More
A baby whisper is a Dr. Mommy who inspires and... Read More
The shock and stress of having a baby born prematurely... Read More
One point can't be emphasized enough. Weight loss takes time... Read More
Pain is the word most associated with labor. Women go... Read More
By the time my husband and I finally got pregnant... Read More
If you have been drinking up until the point when... Read More
Am I pregnant? This is often one of the most... Read More
There are three stages of pregnancy. These are the first,... Read More
When I was in my early 20's, I read Adele... Read More
This is it - the finish line. You and your... Read More
With Kegal exercise, your pregnancy can be more comfortable before,... Read More
CONCEPTION TIPSConception takes place in three basic stages: ovulation, then... Read More
Studies show that most women do not get enough daily... Read More
Your breasts are now twice their normal size.One of the... Read More
Every woman gains weight while she is pregnant. This is... Read More
It is important that you remember that weight gain is... Read More
Labor and childbirth was an amazing, positive experience for me,... Read More
Pregnancy |