Pregnancy Due Date

Pregnancy Due Date
A typical pregnancy lasts, on average, 280 days or 40 weeks - starting with the first day of the last normal menstrual period (LMP) as Day 1. An estimated date of delivery (EDD) can be calculated as follows:

determine the first day of your last menstrual period

count backwards three calendar months from that date

lastly, add one year and seven days to that date

here's an example: your last menstrual period began on July 19, 2013; three months prior to that month would be April 19, 2013. Adding one year and seven days will give you your pregnancy date: April 26, 2014.

this number just gives you an approximation, since few women actually give birth on their calculated due dates. Anytime two weeks before or two weeks after the due date is considered a normal pregnancy.

Other ways to estimate your due date or how far along you are in your pregnancy include:

the size of your uterus; the uterus size conforms to the stage of pregnancy you are in

the first time the fetal heartbeat is heard with a Doppler device normally occurs at 10-12 weeks of pregnancy

the top of the uterus, known as the fundus, will reach the bellybutton at about week 20

 

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Once you've figured out your due date, hear what to expect from other women in the forum