Introduction
Pregnancy is an exciting journey for the parents-to-be, and finding the baby’s due date is even more exciting. But how do you use a pregnancy calculator?
Firstly, what is a pregnancy calculator? A pregnancy calculator or due date calculator is used to calculate the due date, which is the estimated date of the baby’s birth, typically given by the gynecologist.
In this article, let us discuss in brief the pregnancy calculator and how it is used to calculate the baby’s birth date.
When should I take a pregnancy test?
Although pregnancy tests are sensitive enough to detect HCG levels in the urine as easily as a day of missed periods, it is important to wait a week after your missed periods to get proper results.
Pregnancy calculator: How is the expected delivery date calculated?
The pregnancy calculator calculates the EDD 9 months and 7 days from the first day of your last period.
Ideally, a baby is born 9 months and 7 days, or 40 weeks, after getting pregnant. The first day of pregnancy starts on the first day of your last period.
Say, for example, that if you had your last period on the 1st of January, ovulation typically happens around the 14th of January.
If you have intercourse around the time of your ovulation and if the sperm fertilizes the egg, you get pregnant.
So the first day of pregnancy starts from the first day of your last period, which is the 1st of January.
So the due date will be 40 weeks from the 1st of January, which is around the 7th of October.
What is an estimated due date during pregnancy?
An estimated due date, or EDD, is the predicted time of birth of the baby when a woman becomes pregnant.
What is the first day of the last period?
The first day of the last period is typically used in the pregnancy calculator to calculate the baby’s EDD, or estimated due date.
As discussed above, if your last period was on the 1st of January and you get pregnant after having intercourse during the ovulation time of the same month, January 1st is the first day of your last period.
If you have gotten pregnant by the IVF method, the regular pregnancy calculator might not be accurate for you. Most of the embryo transfers happen either 3 or 5 days after the egg retrieval and fertilization process.
So, if you have had a 3-day transfer, your EDD is 263 days from that date, and if you have had a 5-day transfer, your EDD is 261 days from that particular date.
Will my due date change?
Yes, it might change for some people if the EDD is calculated only based on the first day of the last period.
During the first ultrasound in the first trimester, the gynecologist sees the baby’s growth and gives the EDD, which remains constant and does not change even after the prenatal scans.
Conclusion
One of the major reasons why it is important to track your periods is to track ovulation and time them with intercourse to increase the chance of conception.
Although the EDD is given by your healthcare professional, it doesn’t mean that your baby will be born exactly on that day. The actual due date can be a week or two before or after your EDD.
There are a lot of apps and sites such as conception calculator, free ovulation calculator and pregnancy test calculator with which you can easily track tour EDD. But the final EDD will be shared by the gynecologist after the first ultrasound.
It is important to not miss any of your prenatal visits and to consult with a gynecologist if you feel something is off.
For consultations with the best gynecologist in Chennai, Dr. Deepthi Jammi, contact Jammi Scans at 7338771733.
Jammi scans previously known as Chennai women’s clinic.
FAQ:
1. How do I calculate my pregnancy?
To calculate your pregnancy or EDD, add either 40 weeks, 280 days, or 9 months, 7 days, from the first day of your last period.
2. How do you calculate the actual pregnancy?
A typical pregnancy lasts around 9 months and 7 days. Although the exact due date cannot be predicted, it will be a week or two around the estimated due date, or EDD.
3. What week of pregnancy am I in?
To calculate the week of your pregnancy, it is important to know your first day of the last period. If your last period started on the 1st of January, it is the first day of your pregnancy.
4. How do I calculate the day I got pregnant?
With natural conception, the exact date of pregnancy cannot be found. But it would be around the time of your ovulation. If you have regular periods, the 14th day of your period is when ovulation typically occurs. The days around ovulation are when you will be the most fertile.
