Determining the Estimated Due Date

If you are an expectant mother probably you may wish to know the gestational age and your pregnancy age.

This is necessary to make all the necessary arrangements and you want to be ready for the day arrives.

Another important factor you may want to consider is regarding your maternity and paternity leave – you need to have a clear idea of when you are going to take your leave.

How do we calculate gestational age

There are two ways to calculate the gestational age, but what is gestational age?

It is important not to confuse the below 2 terms:

  • Gestation is the time frame between conception (fertilization of the ovum by the sperm cell) and birth, which is around 266days of gestation.
  • Gestational age is time frame between the first day of the last menstrual period and the current moment in a woman’s pregnancy.

How do you work out how far pregnant you are?

If you want to work know your due date and how many weeks are you pregnant click in the below link

>>>  Pregnancy calculator  <<<

2 was to determine the estimated due date

Previously we mentioned that you can calculate the due date with a pregnancy calculator, but you can also find out with an ultrasound.

Find below some specification of each one:

 2.2 pregnancy calculator 

  • Determine the due date
  • Calculate the likely conception date
  • Calculate the end of the first and second trimesters
  • Find out for how many weeks have you been pregnant
  • Estimate the fetal age
  • Calculate how many weeks you will be pregnant on a given date
  • Calculate on which date you will be pregnant the specified number of weeks, and
  • Determine the likely conception date and due date

You should know that pregnancy calculators are always approximate

2.3  ultrasound

Your obstetric can also find out the gestational age via an ultrasound.

Ultrasounds can also give a relatively accurate estimation of gestational age using mathematical calculations known as fetal biometric measurements.

But, is also unreliable because they do not necessary coincide with the gestational age of the baby,  some babies may be tiny or unusually big.

The following measurements of the fetus are taken:

  1. The fetal biparietal diameter (BPD),
  2. Head circumference (HC),
  3. Abdominal circumference (AC),
  4. Femur length (FL), humerus length (HL),
  5. And the crown rump length (CRL).

Determining the Estimated Due Date

Why you need to know the gestational age at delivery

If you are thinking of doing certain types of prenatal paternity tests or a DNA baby gender test you will need to ensure you know how long you have been pregnant.

This is because these DNA tests can give inconclusive results if taken earlier than a certain time in pregnancy.

Therefore, you must know an estimate date of your due date (EDD) which you can find out with the pregnancy calculator or the ultrasound.

Prenatal Articles