From the minute a couple discovers about the pregnancy, there is a lot of curiosity about the due date. If you have done an online search for a pregnancy due date calculator, then you are aware of the number of different pregnancy calculators available online. If all those options have befuddled you then you are in the right place. Understand the different types of due date calculators right away.
LMP:
The most common method is to use the date of last menstrual period for these calculations. The primary reason, for using this method in a due date calculator, is that every woman trying to get pregnant remembers it well. Everyone may not know the exact date of conception, but LMP is pretty easy to remember. So, the pregnancy calculator makes it easier to narrow down the ovulation period. That's how they predict the due date with relative accuracy.
However, it operates under few assumptions. For example; this type of calculation presumes that your menstrual periods are regular. Then, it factors in 266 days for pregnancy and 14 days for ovulation.
Naegle’s Rule:
This is more accurate method of calculating a due date. That’s why it is a preferred method of most obstetricians. The gestation period and method of calculation is a bit different. But, it is fairly accurate. That’s why; it is used in a pregnancy week calculators too.
Ultrasound:
This is an important test for pregnancy. It is not seen as a pregnancy due date calculator . That’s why it does not fit easily into this list. But, it is a useful indicator nonetheless. The size and development of the fetus make it a fairly predictable one. An ultrasound in a first trimester is a good enough to predict a due date.
Conception date:
Some pregnancy week calculators use conception date & get you an accurate estimate. But, this is the most important part. It is an estimate either way.
The actual due date can get affected by several factors. They cannot be incorporated into a pregnancy due date calculator online. So, it is an estimate and a usually predictable indicator to plan around. Would-be parents and their families are fairly excited about this day. But, it is an approximate date. You can keep the emergency bag ready. You can buy clothes for the baby. But, actual delivery will happen on its own time. A would-be mom will need to wait for the “right” time to bring the bundle of joy in life.
Author Bio :- Chaya Bharadwaj is a mother of a new born, who lives in Bangalore with her husband. She is a graphic designer by profession. But she loves to write about this experience of pregnancy and motherhood. So, every now and then, she takes time out to help pregnant women and mothers by writing on topics like pregnancy due date calculator and its alternatives.
Category:
Health
natural birth