| YOUR
DUE DATE
When
am I due? When is the d-day?
Every
pregnant women asks this question. The doctors refers to the
due date as EDD. This means the Expected Date of Delivery.
It helps the mother to plan herself for child birth and also
for the new arrival in her life.
The
EDD may prove correct only in 50% of expectant mothers. If
your menstrual cycles have been regular and of a 28 days duration,
you will probably deliver close to your estimated date. If
they have been of a longer duration, you are likely to go
beyond your EDD, and in case of irregular cycles the due date
does not work at all, then a ultrasonogram in pregnancy will
be a better indicator.
Determination
of Due Date
Pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks from the first day of your last
menstrual cycle or 38 weeks after your conception.
Based
on LMP (Last Menstrual Period)
If the cycles have been
regular of 28 days duration, then add 9 months 7 days to the
first day of your last menstrual cycle. e.g.
if the LMP is 1st January, then EDD will be 8th October.
This is the most commonly used method.
Other
Methods of
Calculation of
EDD
| A. |
Based
on Conception
Probably
does not work out for most women. |
| B. |
Based
on Abdominal Examination
The
size of the uterus, can sometimes accurately determine
the period of gestation. |
| C. |
Ultrasonography
This
method is the most accurate, for the doctor can measure
the baby’s various parts in the USG (Ultrasonography),
which helps in estimating the stage of foetal development
and consequently the due date. |
|
