Due date – calculate when you will be born. Childbirth and the date of delivery

Proven content

Accurate timing of delivery is very difficult, although it is an important landmark in monitoring the proper course of pregnancy and the process of fetal development. There are several methods for scheduling your due date. The doctor will determine it based on the patient’s interview and tests. The mother herself can also use a simple mathematical equation to determine the due date.

Due date – which week of pregnancy?

The term of childbirth and the date of conception is 280 days. It is generally accepted that childbirth should occur between 38 and 40 weeks of pregnancy. If the baby is born earlier, he will be premature and most likely need to be placed in an incubator. In turn, the birth of a child after the due date will be the result of the so-called transferred pregnancy. However, is this a cause for concern? No, if these are slight deviations, because determining the due date depends on several factors.

Ideally, the due date should be counted from the day of fertilization. However, it is not always easy to determine such a day. The discrepancies result from several factors depending on the woman’s body. The length of the cycle that influences the timing of delivery is just one of them.

See also: “Carrying over pregnancy increases the risk of cerebral palsy”

Due date – calculator from OM

The Birth Calculator, or the pregnancy calculator, is a simple algorithm that will allow you to determine the approximate due date. The mathematical operation is based on the rule of the German gynecologist Franz Naegele and is one of the most popular methods of calculating the date of birth of a child.

Calculating the due date from OM (last menstruation) assumes that the pregnancy lasts 9 monthsthat is 280 days, i.e. 40 weeks from the date of the beginning of the last menstruation. Thus, the starting point for the indication of the due date will be the day of conception, which occurs approximately on the 14th day of the menstrual cycle. The method provokes a certain margin of error and is not always suitable for irregularly menstruating women.

If the expectant mother prefers a faster method of calculating the due date, she can use the numerous online birth calculators. It is enough to enter the date of the 1st day of the last menstruation in the designated places, as well as the approximate length of the menstrual cycle. The algorithm in the same way, according to Naegele’s rule, will indicate estimated date of deliveryand sometimes also the current day or week of pregnancy.

USG and due date

Another way to calculate your due date is the midwife’s ultrasound, which is the popular ultrasound. It is performed by a gynecologist in the first trimester of pregnancy, around the 7th or 8th week.

The date of delivery with ultrasound is determined on the basis of the CRL parameter – parietal-seat length. This is the distance from the tip of the fetal head to the lower border of its buttocks. In addition, the doctor can bring closer the due date, observing the symptoms characteristic of the next stages of pregnancy.

In determining the due date, the CRL will help especially in women who have irregular periods, i.e. those who find it difficult to calculate the date using the Naegele method. It is also important that the measurement is made in the first three months of pregnancy, because in its subsequent stages, due to many factors, fetal growth becomes an individual process.

Ultrasound examination with CRL is used not only to determine the date of delivery, but also for subsequent measurements during follow-up visits. On its basis, it is determined:

1. BPD – bi-invasive dimension of the fetal head,
2. TCD – fetal cerebellum dimension,
3. FL – the length of the femur.

Due date – OM and USG

Which method of determining the due date is more effective? Definitely an ultrasound examination, because it is scientifically based and based on the experience of a gynecologist. It is a solution for all pregnant women. On the other hand, calculating the due date of OM will work for women with regular menstruation, especially those with a 28-day cycle. In other cases, the deviation may be significant.

Due date – other methods of calculation

It happens that women in advanced pregnancy come to the gynecologist when it is impossible to use the CRL parameter. Sometimes it is not possible to determine the date of delivery during the visit in the first trimester due to the inappropriate position of the fetus in the uterus. Then it is worth paying attention to other symptoms. Among the characteristics of pregnancy and the fetus that can guide the doctor to the due date of delivery are:

1. in the period of 2 to 8 weeks after fertilization, the uterus and cervix are loosened,
2. from the 10th week through the Doppler apparatus and from the 18th week through the medical stethoscope it is possible to hear the fetal heartbeat,
3. from the 20th week in the first pregnancy or from the 16th week in the following weeks, you can feel the fetus moving,
4. in the 24th week of pregnancy, the bottom of the uterus reaches the level of the navel.

Date of delivery – twin pregnancy

A multiple pregnancy is considered a high-risk pregnancy. After the 20th week, it requires increased medical care, as well as special care during childbirth. It is assumed that the optimal date of twins’ delivery is:

1. from the 34th to the 37th week in the case of a common placenta,
2. from week 37 to week 39 for a separate placenta.

The delivery of twins is most often associated with the indication of a caesarean section, as complications can arise suddenly and at any time. However, it is possible to give birth to the forces of nature. However, the due date of delivery must always be strictly controlled.

Due date – in vitro

Pregnancy resulting from in vitro fertilization is and lasts the same as a naturally initiated pregnancy. It is about 280 days with an average of 38 to 42 weeks. How to calculate the due date from IVF or insemination? The beginning is considered to be the 1st day of menstruation in the cycle in which fertilization took place.

It is worth noting, however, that in the process of infertility treatment, women are often given hormones that may deregulate the menstrual cycle. In this case, the day of IVF is considered the ovulation stage. From it, 14 days should be subtracted, which theoretically give the date of the menstrual cycle. It is she who sets the point of reference for determining the due date.

After determining the date of the beginning of the cycle (menstruation), the OM method can be used, as for the date of delivery from natural fertilization.

See also: «Everything you need to know about IVF»

The due date – does it work?

While an ultrasound scan and a gynecologist’s opinion are more likely than the due date calculator, there is always the possibility of confusion. How much can the due date change? Rather, it is about a maximum of 2 weeks earlier or later. So an earlier labor or a few days late shouldn’t worry.

However, if these differences are greater, you should see an obstetrician. Consolation for mothers-to-be may be the fact that only about 5 percent are born according to the due date of delivery. kids.

CTG and due date

KTG is a routine test for pregnant women. They are performed when the due date is approaching, and then every 2-3 hours until the actual delivery. CTG examination consists of two elements:

1. tocography – monitoring uterine contractions,
2. cardiography – recording the fetal heart rate.

It is assumed that the norm is 110-150 fetal heartbeats per minute. When this frequency is maintained during term, delivery may occur.

How is the test performed? A pregnant woman nearing the delivery date lies on her side so as not to constrict the vena cava, and remains motionless as standard for half an hour or more if the doctor orders it. An external sensor of an ultrasound probe or an electrocardiograph is placed on her abdomen.

However, the due date of delivery is not the only way to perform a CTG test. The earliest can be done in the 25th week of pregnancy and if necessary, repeat them every 2-3 days until delivery. Such situations include:

1. long-term or frequent abdominal pain during pregnancy,
2. vaginal bleeding
3. diagnosed hypotrophy in the fetus,
4. arterial hypertension or a kidney problem in a pregnant woman,
5. transferred pregnancy,
6. abdominal trauma during pregnancy,
7. serological conflict.

In these cases, and in the light of the upcoming delivery date, it is determined whether the fetus is alive, whether it is adequately oxygenated, and whether placental insufficiency has developed.

Due date – what to do?

When your due date is approaching, you should be vigilant and not panic. What might the coming resolution herald? Symptoms include, but are not limited to:

1. lowering of the abdomen and regular contractions,
2. pain in the sacral spine and thighs,
3. clearer baby movements,
4. frequent urination and diarrhea
5. departure of the mucous plug and departure of the amniotic fluid,
6. spotting,
7. greater appetite.

If the due date is approaching, should you go to the hospital? If, for many reasons (e.g. your baby is too big to be born naturally), your obstetrician has ordered a caesarean section, you should come to the hospital for an appointment. However, if there are no such indications, it is better to stay at home and relax.

It is normal before birth to have irregular contractions (although it is worth observing them and recording the frequency and duration of their occurrence) or the secretion of mucus (plug), sometimes with blood. However, from the onset of these symptoms to the delivery, even if the due date is past, it may take from several hours to even several days.

But what if the due date is approaching and there are no contractions? First, it could be because of a wrong termination date. Second, each child develops at its own pace, and comes into the world when it is ready for it. Therefore, one should not be stressed. If in doubt, you can consult your treating physician, for example during a routine CTG test.

The indication to go to the hospital to the maternity ward is the suspicion of stopping the movement or reduced mobility of the fetus, as well as exceeding the 42nd week of pregnancy.

See also: «Layette for the hospital. How to prepare? »

What to do when the due date has passed?

It is rare for labor to start on a date set by your doctor. But what if the due date has passed and nothing is happening? From the date of delivery, a woman should be under the constant care of a doctor who regularly performs CTG examinations to monitor the fetus. So don’t panic if the results are correct.

It’s definitely easier when it comes to the due date of the second child. Experienced ladies are calmer and more patient. Debutants, on the other hand, should not be afraid to tell their mothers, grandmothers, aunts or friends, as it was in their case. Someone’s experiences can reassure the mother-to-be that nothing bad is happening.

Obstetricians will give your baby about 2 weeks after the due date to come into the world. However, when it strikes 42 weeks, they send the pregnant patient to the hospital’s pathology department of pregnancy, where labor-inducing measures are taken.

Due date – how to speed up the delivery?

However, many women after their due date are looking forward to delivering them. There are several natural methods that can help speed up your labor.

1. Sex. This method is effective and pleasant when the due date is over and the baby is still in the belly. Penetration is a form of natural massage of the cervix, and prostaglandins in semen induce contractions.
2. Caressing the breasts. The stimulation of the nipples provokes the release of oxytocin into the blood, which causes uterine contractions.
3. Moderate exercise. In the case of exceeding the due date, a brisk walk or climbing stairs will also work. Keep in mind that this is not about making you tired and out of breath, but moving around to release endorphins. They will not cause contractions, but they will improve your mood and relax.
4. A decoction of raspberry leaves. Drinking regularly for a few days should trigger contractions. However, please note that this is not a raspberry drink!
5. Deep enema. The least pleasant method, but most likely the most effective. It is performed by a midwife.
6. Conversation. Lack of labor after delivery may also result from a psychological block – fears of delivery, fears of coping with the child. That is why it is worth talking to your loved ones, telling them about nagging issues. A psychologist can also help.

Due date and the phases of the moon

There are legends about the influence of the moon on the date of birth. It is said that with the approaching full moon, there are more and more pregnant women in the delivery wards. Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence that this thesis is true.

This does not mean, however, that the length of pregnancy and the due date of birth have nothing to do with the moon. Well, it is often said that pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, which is … 10 lunar months. Both of these units of time can be converted into 280 days.

Date of delivery and sick leave

The law gives the expectant mother 270 days of sick leave for illnesses related to or not related to pregnancy. Many women go on sick leave in the 6th and sometimes even the 3rd month of pregnancy. It is timely, usually valid until the declared date of delivery. After the baby is born, the woman goes on maternity leave.

But what if the expectant mother has L4 and the delivery date is over without labor? In such cases, you can go to a gynecologist or other doctor who is authorized to issue the certificate and ask for an extension of the L4. However, if 270 days are used up and the child still does not appear after the due date, the pregnant woman goes on maternity leave under the law. However, it cannot last longer than 6 weeks.

After giving birth, the weeks used will be deducted, so de facto maternity leave (time spent with the baby) will be shorter.

It is worth mentioning that a pregnant woman receives 100 percent. basis for the calculation of remuneration – for the first month from the employer, and then from ZUS. It is a sick leave, and therefore not because of the pregnancy itself, but due to diseases and ailments related to it or occurring simultaneously. Therefore, a pregnant woman may be inspected by ZUS.

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