Due Date

Whether you are a first-time mother or a mother-to-be for the sixth time, you have a right to be curious. As a mother-to-be, the excitement can sometimes be overwhelming. With so much to do, and so little time (it seems), most mothers want to know how long they have to prepare for their child's birth and feel most comfortable when they have a date with which to work.

Your due date can be calculated in two ways, depending on if you know the first day of your last menstrual period or the date of conception. The latter is often considered two weeks from your last menstrual period. To calculate this on your own, add 280 days to the first day of your last menstrual cycle. This estimation is based on the assumption that your cycle length is 28 days; otherwise, an adjusted calculation is made.

If you want to be prepared when your friends and family ask you how "far along" you are, being that an "I don't know" or shrug of the shoulders often don't go over well with too many people, several due date calculators are available online. These simple tools can help you estimate when you should be expecting your child. Otherwise, be prepared for the follow up question, "When will you know?"

For more helpful information, and for an estimated due date, visit the Pregnancy Due Date Calculator and 4Women.gov Duedate Calculator.

Also be sure to find out what happens in your Pregnancy Week By Week.