The Importance Of A Pregnancy Due Date Calculator

A recent survey found that more than 42% of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned. Even when a pregnancy is planned, a lot of women are uncertain about the exact date of conception, which means that they have no way of predicting their due date. Being able to calculate your due date helps to plan your delivery so that everything goes smoothly at the time when your baby finally makes his or her appearance in the world.

It is natural for most pregnant women to want to know their due date. In fact, this is the first thing most mothers-to-be want to know the moment their pregnancy is confirmed. According to doctors, a normal full term pregnancy should last 280 days or 40 weeks from the first day of the pregnant mother’s last menstrual period. It is possible to compute the due date manually. All you have to do is add seven days to the first day of your last period, and then add 9 months to it. For instance, if your last period was on the 5th of January, add 7 days to it; that would be 12th of January. Now, add 9 months to this. So, your due date is 12th of October.

However, if you are not in a mood to deal with numbers and dates, all you need to do is use a due date calculator. An automatic pregnancy calculator accepts the date of your last period, and it does all the hard work for you and comes up with the day you can expect your baby’s arrival, all in a matter of a few seconds!

You will find good pregnancy due date calculators in websites dedicated to expectant mothers. In almost all the cases, you will have to fill in some simple information, like the date of your last period, the average number of days your cycle lasts etc. Then you can simply punch the calculate button, and your date will be returned in the blink of an eye.

If you want the most accurate results from the pregnancy due date calculator, it is important to know the date of your monthly cycle accurately. The more accurate the data you feed in, the better accuracy the results will have. Of course, in case your pregnancy is not planned, or if your monthly cycles are irregular, then, it may be difficult for you to provide the exact date. Even in such a case, you will be able to get a qualified guess.

The most important function of a pregnancy due date calculator besides satisfying your curiosity is that it enables you to prepare for the arrival of your baby. You may need to take up maternity classes, get your nursery fixed up, ask for leave from work or solicit extra help from your family or friends. Your doctors too need to be prepared for the arrival of the baby. A heavily pregnant woman may develop sudden complications. Being aware of the due date helps doctors prepare for induced labor or a ‘C” section, if necessary.