The nine months of pregnancy do not just pass swiftly for an expectant mother. From the moment you take a pregnancy test, questions begin: How do I calculate the weeks of pregnancy? What is the best way to know the due date? Although the method of calculating pregnancy and the due date in months, days, or weeks differs from one pregnant woman to another, in this article, we will show you the correct way to calculate the duration of pregnancy and predict the due date.
Why you should calculate the gestational age
In the past, women did not worry about knowing the weeks of pregnancy, nor were they anticipating the date of birth. Everything was approximate, as the woman expected to give birth to her child after about nine months. But today's modern woman has apps for everything, and her life is more organized. She tracks her menstrual cycle, counts her ovulation days, has a full agenda, and her life is more organized.Here are some benefits of tracking your pregnancy and due date:
- Be ready for pregnancy symptoms at every stage.
- Track symptoms and predict when they will end.
- Knowing what is prohibited and permitted in each trimester.
- Monitoring the growth of the fetus at every stage.
- Determine travel dates during pregnancy.
- Purchase pregnancy products appropriate for each stage.
- Choosing a maternity hospital.
- Visit the hospital and see the hospital’s delivery room.
- Enroll in prenatal and birthing classes.
- Preparing for breastfeeding.
- Packing the hospital bag.
Predicting your due date is essential to prepare for birth steps such as:
How long is the pregnancy?
The average pregnancy period ranges from approximately 38 to 40 weeks; for some women, it can go up to 42 weeks. However, a late birth may have harmful complications for the mother and child; also, giving birth before week 37 is considered a premature birth and may cause adverse complications as well.
How to calculate the due date from the last period
It is important to note that this method of calculating pregnancy depends on the duration of the menstrual cycle, which varies from one woman to another and may also be irregular. But if you want to calculate your pregnancy from your last period, follow these steps:
- Determine the date of the first day of the last menstrual period.
- Calculate the average duration of your menstrual cycle from the first day to the first day of your next period over the past six months.
- Calculate the ovulation date by determining it approximately in the middle of your menstrual cycle.
- Determine your fertile period and add forty weeks to this date; you will get your approximate due date.
What is a pregnancy due date calculator?
It is a tool for calculating pregnancy weeks and getting an estimated due date. It is usually used to help women assess the period of ovulation fertile days during the menstrual cycle, to help them determine the fertile period and predict the appropriate days for pregnancy to occur or to avoid it.
Its working principle is based on the average length of the menstrual cycle and the date of the beginning of the previous menstruation, where the potential ovulation period is calculated, based on this information, to be able to determine the days when the body is usually at its highest levels of fertility during this period.
The types of pregnancy calculators vary, including phone applications and some websites that provide this tool. With the increasing demand for pregnancy planning, calculators have evolved, as some may contain additional features such as tracking physical symptoms, hormone levels, and other factors to increase the accuracy of determining the ovulation period.
However, the pregnancy calculator is an estimation tool and should not be relied upon as a 100% sure way to avoid or get pregnant. It is a simple tool that helps understand the personal pattern of the menstrual cycle and ovulation period. Its accuracy is affected by the individual factors that each woman experiences.
