Pregnancy Due date - How to Determine Expected Delivery Date?

The moment you find out that you are pregnant, the good news spread to family and friends. The very next question

that comes to everybody’s mind is when we are going to see new arrival or when are you due? The date that is given for pregnant lady’s delivery is called as EDD – Expected delivery date. Some of the people call it as Expected Delivery Due date. However, most of the babies do not arrive on their given due date, but though it is important for a doctor and for a pregnant lady to know about EDD because depending upon this, some important decisions are to be taken.

The date of pregnant lady’s last menstrual period is the most common, easy and traditional way to calculate the due date since the exact date of conception is seldom known. Generally, the due date is forty weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP)

It was Dr. Naegele, circa in the year of 1850 determined that the average length of the human gestational period is approximately 266 days from the day she conceived. He guessed that the average woman had menstrual cycles that lasted for 28 days and that she ovulated on the day fourteenth of her menstrual cycle. He studied the data and came up with a mathematical calculation for due date that is known formula for EDD. The calculation goes like this…

((LMP + 7 DAYS) – 3 months)) = EDD

For instance, if a lady has last menstrual period on January 1 the calculation will go like – ((January 1+ 7 days) – 3 months) = October 8. The year is to be counted accordingly. The child is suppose to born on October 8th. However, this date may not be the exact date but the period that is very nearer to her future delivery.

Dr. Naegele did not consider some factors such as not every lady ovulates on day 14. Other important factors like better nutrition, prenatal care, screening factors were also out of his sight.

These EDDs are calculated considering that the delivery period will go safe, smooth and without any accidents. This is the standard human gestational period, which can be disturbed or altered by many factors like premature delivery, abortion, miscarriage, postmature delivery and many more.

As the technology went with advancement, new techniques were developed and today, we have may high technologies by which, EDD are more accurate than before.

One of the best and reliable inventions, ultra sonography, not only tells you the EDD, but it also gives you picture of present baby’s condition. The positioning, fluid, umbilical cord and other organs can easily be visualized under the probe of ultra sonography.

Modern medicine often uses latest technology to know the due date of pregnancy. This is generally correct if the pregnancy goes easily with no hassles.

Computerization of almost all medical calculation has made them more reliable in many healthcare areas. All you need to do is the regular checkup with gynecologist. This will take care of you and your baby. The sonography will also report about your baby’s growth and organ development. Sonography is extremely useful in emergencies when a baby is needed to be delivered as quick as possible. Sonography also helps doctors to judge whether they should go for the normal delivery or they will need to go for cesarean delivery.

Due Date Pregnancy