How to track your due date

Calculate your due date: How to find your baby's due date

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First day of my last period

BabyCenter's Due Date Calculator

Use our pregnancy due date calculator by plugging in either the date of your last menstrual cycle or the date you know you conceived. The calculator will do the rest.

How is my due date calculated?

There are several ways your due date is determined. If you happen to know the day you conceived, you can count 38 weeks from that day to find your due date. (Human gestation takes about 38 weeks.)

But very few expectant moms know exactly when they conceived. Even if you only had sex once during your fertile period, you wouldn't conceive on that day unless you happen to be ovulating. Sperm can live for up to five days inside your fallopian tubes. So, it could be up to five days after you have sex that you release an egg (ovulate) and it gets fertilized by a waiting sperm. That's the day you conceive.

So, without knowing the day of conception, how does anyone determine a due date?

First day of your last period

The most common way to calculate your pregnancy due date is by counting 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). And that's how most healthcare providers do it.

If your menstrual cycle length is the average length (28-day cycle), your menstrual cycle probably started about two weeks before you conceived. This explains why pregnancies are said to last 40 weeks instead of 38 weeks.

This method doesn't take into account how long your menstrual cycle actually is or when you think you might have conceived. But generally speaking, women typically ovulate about two weeks after their menstrual cycle starts. And women are more likely to know when their last period started than the day they ovulated.

Conception date

If you do happen to know precisely when you conceived – say, if you were using an ovulation predictor kit or tracking your ovulation symptoms – you can calculate your pregnancy due date based on your conception date. Just choose that calculation method from the pulldown above and put in your date.

Note: Again, you don't necessarily conceive on the day you have sex.

IVF transfer date

If you conceived through IVF, you can calculate your due date using your IVF transfer date. If you had a Day 5 embryo transfer, count 261 days from your transfer date. If you had a Day 3 embryo transfer, count 263 days.

Can my due date change?

Your healthcare provider might revise your due date if your baby is measured during a first trimester ultrasound scan and found to be much bigger or smaller than expected for gestational age. This is more likely to happen if you have an irregular menstrual cycle length that makes it hard to pinpoint the date of conception.

Your healthcare provider will measure your baby during that ultrasound exam to figure out how far along your baby is and then provide you with a new due date.

What if I already know my due date?

If you already know your due date, you can use this calculator to see your pregnancy timeline. It will tell you when you'll hit various milestones, and when you may be due for prenatal tests and prenatal visits. You'll also find what your baby's sign and birthstone will probably be and which famous people were born on your due date.

How likely am I to give birth on my due date?

Of course, a due date calculation is always approximate, whether it's from our tool or from your doctor or midwife. Only 1 in 20 women delivers on their due date. You're just as likely to go into labor any day during the two weeks before or after.

Want more information about how the weeks, months, and trimesters of pregnancy are counted? See our pregnancy timing chart.

How soon can I take a pregnancy test?

With all this talk about pregnancy due dates, you may be wondering when you can take a pregnancy test. To ensure you get the most accurate reading, it's best to wait a few days after your missed period to take a pregnancy test.

At-home urine tests measure the amount of hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) present in your body. If you take a pregnancy test before you miss your period, you may not get an accurate result, despite what some tests advertise.

If you're getting a blood test in your provider's office, you may get results sooner. These tests also measure the amount of hCG in your bloodstream, but they're more sensitive than at-home urine tests. Blood tests may be able to detect pregnancy six to eight days after ovulation.

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When can you feel baby move? Fetal movement explained.

Feeling your baby kicking is one of the highlights of pregnancy. But when can you feel your baby move, and what does baby movement feel like? The truth is that baby kicks are more like flutters at first, and you may not feel your baby move until halfway through pregnancy. But by the third trimester, your baby will be making some big moves that are impossible to ignore.

When can you feel baby move?

You probably won't feel your baby kick until sometime between 16 and 22 weeks, even though they started moving at 7 or 8 weeks. (You may have witnessed the acrobatics if you've already had an ultrasound.)

Veteran moms tend to notice those first subtle kicks, also known as "quickening," earlier than first-time moms because it's easier to distinguish your baby's kicks from other belly rumblings (such as gas) if you've been pregnant before.

Your build may have something to do with when you'll be able to tell a left jab from a hunger pang: Thin women tend to feel movement earlier and more often.

Once you can feel your baby moving, it will probably be a few more weeks until your partner can feel the baby kick.

What does baby movement feel like?

Women have described the early sensation as feeling like popcorn popping, a goldfish swimming around, or butterflies fluttering. You might think those first gentle taps or swishes in your belly are gas, but you'll recognize the difference once you start feeling them more regularly.

Once you've reached your third trimester, you won't be able to ignore your baby's jabs, rolls, and kicks. As they get larger, you may see a pointy elbow or knee moving across your belly or feel a full-on somersault.

Every pregnancy is different, so it's hard to say exactly what you'll feel and when, but here's a rough guide.

Baby movement at 16 to 19 weeks

You'll probably notice faint and fluttery feelings in your womb around this time. If you've been pregnant before, you'll be more familiar with this sensation and quicker to identify your baby's movements.

If this is your first pregnancy, it may take a bit longer before you realize that those gentle bubbling or popping sensations are actually your baby moving! It may be easier to feel your baby when you're sitting quietly or lying down.

Baby movement at 20 to 23 weeks

You may notice gentle kicks and jabs. As the weeks go by, you'll gradually feel stronger and more frequent movements, and you'll come to recognize your baby's unique pattern of activity. If you don't feel your baby moving, tell your doctor or midwife.

You may find that your baby becomes more lively as the day goes on, kicking, squirming, and somersaulting the most in the evening when you're relaxed. Some moms notice their baby moving a lot right after they eat, especially if they have a sugary treat. But studies haven't found a link between what you eat and your baby's activity level.

Baby movement at 24 to 28 weeks

Your amniotic sac now contains up to 26 ounces of fluid. This gives your baby plenty of space to move around freely, so you may feel like your little one is doing elaborate acrobatics routines in your womb. Limb movements may feel punchy, while whole-body movements may be smoother. You may even notice your baby jumping at sudden noises, or you may feel repetitive jerking movements when your baby gets hiccups.

Baby movement at 29 to 31 weeks

Your baby is likely to be making smaller, sharper, more definite movements, such as strong kicks and pushes. You may also occasionally feel a shaky movement, like a shiver, as your baby shakes a hand, shoulder, or elbow.

Depending on how your baby is positioned, you may feel the kicks up under your ribs, in the center or side of your belly, or very low in your pelvis. Some women report kicks to their cervix – which feel uncomfortable but are totally normal. Don't worry, no matter how strong your baby's kicks, they're safe inside and won't do any damage.

Baby movement at 32 to 35 weeks

As your baby grows and has less room to move, you may notice that the type of movement you feel changes, perhaps becoming slower but lasting longer.

Baby movement at 36 to 40 weeks

As you approach your due date, your baby will get larger and won't have enough room for dramatic somersaults. After they move to a head-down position in preparation for birth, you may feel kicks in new places, like underneath your ribs on one side or the other. Your baby's movements may feel slower, but also harder and stronger. Jabs from their arms and kicks from their legs may feel uncomfortable or even painful.

It's normal to notice a change in the types of movement you feel in late pregnancy. But you should still be feeling your baby move right up until and even during labor itself.

How often should I feel my baby kicking?

At first, noticeable kicks will be few and far between. You may feel several movements one day and then none the next. Although your baby is moving and kicking regularly, many of their movements just aren't strong enough for you to feel yet. But those reassuring kicks will become stronger and more regular later in the second trimester or early in the third trimester.

Don't worry if your experience is different from your friends'. Every baby has their own pattern of activity, and as long as your baby's usual activity level doesn't decrease, chances are they're doing just fine.

Do I need to keep track of my baby kicking?

Once you're feeling kicks regularly, pay attention to how often your baby moves, and let your healthcare provider know right away if you ever notice your baby's activity level slow down.

Less movement in the third trimester may signal a problem, and your provider may want you to have a nonstress test, an ultrasound measurement of amniotic fluid, and possibly a biophysical profile to make sure everything is okay. (You may also have these tests as a routine part of your prenatal care if you have a high-risk pregnancy.)

Some providers recommend that in your third trimester, you spend some time each day counting your baby's kicks. There are lots of ways to do this, so ask your provider for specific instructions.

For example, your provider may suggest that you choose a time of day when your baby tends to be active. (Ideally, you'll want to do the counts at roughly the same time each day.) Then sit quietly or lie on your side and time how long it takes to feel 10 distinct movements – kicks, elbow jabs, and whole body movements all count. If you don't feel 10 movements in two hours, call your healthcare provider.

Learn more:

Pregnancy symptoms you should never ignore
Sex during pregnancy

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How to correctly calculate the gestational age and determine the date of delivery

It often comes as a surprise to first-time pregnant women that in obstetrics the gestational age is determined not in months, but in weeks. But the surprises do not end there - the fact is that the obstetric period is calculated not from conception, but from the first day of the last menstruation.

In fact, pregnancy occurs two weeks after the start of the obstetric period, at the time of ovulation, when the sperm meets the egg. Thus, the age of the embryo, or gestational age, differs from the obstetric one by 2 weeks down. nine0003

How long does pregnancy last?

The obstetric term of a term pregnancy is 40 weeks, or 280 days. It is on the basis of the obstetric gestational age that the doctor will prescribe tests and examinations for you, determine the date of maternity leave and calculate the EDD (estimated date of birth).

Doctors use the Negele formula to calculate the EDD. According to this formula, if we add nine months and seven days to the first day of the last menstruation, we get the estimated date of delivery. nine0003

Unfortunately, determining the gestational age from the first day of the last menstrual period is not a very accurate method. It is well suited for women with a stable 28-day cycle, but if your cycle is slightly longer or shorter, then the date of ovulation shifts, respectively, and the actual obstetric gestational age will differ from the established one.

The most accurate way to calculate the EDD is to add 266 days to the date of the last ovulation (if you know it).

How to confirm pregnancy, determine the duration of pregnancy and the date of delivery nine0007

By itself, a delay in the start of a new menstrual cycle does not necessarily indicate pregnancy - failures can be explained by diseases, excessive physical exertion or stress. Pregnancy must be confirmed with an hCG test or examination on a gynecological chair. 1) Blood test for hCG cycle or the woman will feel the first symptoms. Also, an analysis of the level of hCG in the blood allows you to determine the gestational age with an accuracy of about two weeks. nine0003

2) Home pregnancy test

Home pregnancy tests also work by measuring hCG levels, but they are less sensitive than blood tests. The most modern of them can not only confirm the presence of pregnancy a few days before the delay, but also indicate (not too accurately) an approximate date.

Tests of the old generation will show a more or less accurate result only after a delay, that is, after 2-4 weeks from conception. nine0003

3) Gynecological examination

A qualified gynecologist-obstetrician can diagnose pregnancy during an examination starting 3-4 weeks after conception, focusing on changes in the shape and size of the uterus, as well as other signs.

4) Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the most accurate way to diagnose pregnancy. With the help of ultrasound with a transvaginal sensor, it is possible to determine the presence of a fetal egg in the uterus already 1-2 weeks after conception (3-4 obstetric weeks), but fetal heartbeats can only be detected for a period of 5-6 obstetric weeks. It is possible to determine the gestational age with high accuracy (up to 2-3 days!) With the help of ultrasound only from 6-7 weeks. nine0003

If the delay, as well as the result of an hCG test or blood test, indicate that you will soon become a mother, do not rush to get an ultrasound right away. Wait another 2-3 weeks, then by ultrasound you will not only be accurately determined by the period, but will also be allowed to listen to the baby's heartbeat.

If you did not do an early ultrasound to confirm pregnancy, then for the first time you will encounter this study at the 10-14th week. At the same time, the exact gestational age and PDR will be established or corrected for you. During pregnancy, you will need to undergo such an examination at least twice more. This will happen at 20-24 and 30-34 weeks. However, it is worth saying that ultrasound in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters may have an error in determining the gestational age. The PDR established according to them may differ from the real one by 2-3 weeks. That is why it is so important not to miss the first screening and do an ultrasound on time. nine0003

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How to calculate due date. Calculate gestational age by week

Our online pregnancy calculator will help you calculate gestational age by week and find out when your baby is due

Start date of last menstrual period

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Calculate the due date

It is impossible to calculate the due date with absolute accuracy. The estimated day of delivery is calculated as follows: the first day of the last menstruation + 280 days . This is an average date, usually delivery occurs in the next plus or minus 10 days . Learn more about the calculation of the PDR.

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How to calculate due date

What is EDD?

EDD is an abbreviation commonly used by physicians for the phrase "estimated due date".

How is the expected date of delivery (ED) determined?

How to calculate the due date correctly? Pregnancy from conception to the birth of a child lasts about 266 days, or 38 weeks. Since the date of conception, as a rule, is not exactly known, in modern obstetrics it is customary to calculate the gestational age from the first day of the last menstruation, i.e. you need to calculate the date of birth by menstruation. With this calculation, it is approximately 280 days, or 40 weeks, since ovulation and, accordingly, fertilization usually occur two weeks after the start of the cycle. Ultrasound equipment is also set up for the same calculation of the gestational age, therefore, if menstruation is delayed by 4 weeks, the doctor will most likely report 8 weeks of pregnancy (whereas only about 6 weeks have passed from the moment of conception). nine0003

Accuracy of due date calculation

How to calculate exact gestational age? You can calculate the approximate date of birth of a child if you know the date of the last menstrual period. The estimated due date (EDD) will be 280 days (40 weeks) after the first day of your last period. However, only 5% of children with normal pregnancies are born on the “calculated” day, another 85% are born within a period of plus or minus a week from this date, and another 10% are “late” or “hurry” for another week. It is believed that a healthy pregnancy can last from 38 to 42 weeks. nine0003

Duration of pregnancy

How to correctly calculate the duration of pregnancy? The duration of pregnancy depends on many factors, including the individual pace of development of the child, as well as the duration of the woman's menstrual cycle. So, for example, if the cycle duration is less than 24 days, then childbirth can occur 10-15 days earlier than when calculated according to the formula "1st day of the last menstruation + 280 days", while the child will be fully mature and healthy. And if the menstrual cycle lasts more than 32 days, then the pregnancy can drag on for 10-15 days, and this will not be considered overdose.

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