What Is a Pregnancy Calculator, and What to Expect from It?

A pregnancy calculator will certainly help you in assessing your due date based on your ovulation period and other factors.

A Pregnancy calculator is a device that functions to determine the due date of birth. It provides the date by using the information of the woman’s previous period, date of ultrasound, date of the IVF transfer, and the date of conception.

What Is a Pregnancy Term, and What Is Due Date?

The term ‘Pregnancy’ describes a complete period for the embryonic development inside the mother’s womb. During this time, the complete nourishment of the offspring is done by the mother. 

The mother encompasses from foetus-stage to a well-developed baby. This period lasts for around 280 days. , which is (40 weeks or nine months) approximately, and it varies from person to person. 

WHO (World Health Organization) described that a normal and healthy pregnancy time lasts from 37-47 weeks. 

With a pregnancy calculator, get an estimate on the Due date. However, they are heavily dependent on many aspects of a woman. These aspects include physical ones such as height, weight (at the time of birth), and age. 

It may also depend on the period of past pregnancies if any. There are some other natural aspects to consider, as well. Doctors are not able to pinpoint and study these factors. 

As a result, many parents are not able to precisely estimate the baby’s due date. 

How to Detect Pregnancy?

A woman can determine if she is pregnant or not with the help of a proper pregnancy test. It can also be found out by some of the most common pregnancy symptoms. 

These include skipped periods, frequent vomiting and micturition, enhanced body temperature, particularly in the lower abdominal area, tiredness, etc. 

While taking a pregnancy test, it backs up with other tests such as urine tests and blood tests. This is done to the detect presence of certain hormones, which are the ‘indicators’ of pregnancy as they are only present during that period (e.g., hCG).

The difference between them is that a blood test has more accuracy and precision than a urine test. However, it is very costly and time-consuming than a simple urine test.

What Is Conception Date?

Conception dates are significant when it comes to the precise estimation of the due date. A reliable and trustable EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery or Estimated Due Date) is essential, and for this, consider the date of conception. 

Count 266 days from that date, and the result is your EDD. Do this with your practitioner for safety and accurate results.

Date of IVF transfer 

In Vitro, Fertilization dates (or IVF dates) are used by women who have undergone IVF fertilization. Due date estimation can be done by counting off 266 days (38 weeks) from the IVF transfer date.

Ultrasound Scan

It is done very commonly for its accuracy. However, early and regular ultrasounds are not a common thing. 

They are only advised when you have an irregular menstrual cycle, had previous complications in pregnancy, had previous miscarriages, are of age more than 35, or lack of a proper due date. 

Several other factors are:

• The offspring’s heartbeat identification (heard during the 9th or 10th week)
• The first movement of the progeny (18th to 22nd week)
• Height measurement from the pubic bone to the upper part of your uterus
• Uterus size during your first pregnancy exam

How Does the Pregnancy Calculator Due Date Work?

A due date calculator will estimate and determine your date due based on the input given by the user. The only essential information that is to be given and entered is your previous periods’ first day and the duration of your menstrual cycle.

The four essential steps for using a due date calculator is as below:

1. Figure out the exact date of your previous period. Determining this is essential as this is the primary information used as a base for the device.
2. Determine your menstrual period. Although many pregnancy calculators keep a standard 28-day menstrual cycle, it is best to enter what you know to be certain.
3. Enter your conception date as an alternative and secondary choice. You can enter your conception date if you are looking for a Plan B. However, it is best if you are only assured and sure of that date. Enter other necessary details in the calculator.
4. Click a box that says ‘Find out!’

This is how it works:

• Pregnancy calculator will add a total of 40 weeks (280 days) to the given date of the first day of the previous period. It is done based on the assumption that a normal woman’s menstrual cycle period is 28 days (if not entered).
• For precision’s sake, the period of your menstrual cycle and the period of ovulation are considered to be the starting two weeks of your pregnancy.

By any chance are you to have your delivery on the given due to date, your baby shall not be 40 weeks old, but 38 weeks old. 

This is because the first two weeks of menstruation and ovulation have already been considered. 

How Precise Is the Due Date from the Pregnancy Calculator?

Consider the data and statistics given below:

• pregnancy calculator by the due date.
• pregnancy calculator from the due date.
• 90% of the babies are in the category of being taken two weeks prior or post the due date.

According to the data given above, one can conclude that due date calculators roughly estimate the baby’s due date. This is due to some of the natural aspects that cannot be considered by a device. 

Any mother’s due date depends on the height, weight at the time of birth, and previous pregnancy reports. A calculator does not consider them. Pregnancies vary from person to person, and it is not universal. It is not always possible for the calculators to determine the due date accurately. 

The result will always be rough. It can also be when your menstrual cycle is not as considered by the device (i.e., 28 days).

How Does Pregnancy Calculator by Month Assess Your Due Date?

There are two methods to assess your due date individually:

Counting forward-Take the date of the first day of the previous period and count 40 weeks (280 days). The date you are with is your due date. 

This method may not work for women with an irregular menstrual period (i.e., not 28 days every month)

Counting backward-Take the date of the first day of the previous period and take off three months from it. Add another seven days with the result and adjust the year.

Conclusion 

A pregnancy calculator will certainly help you in assessing your due date based on your ovulation period and other factors. The due date is approximate based on the data entered in the calculator. 

Foetal variations display in the Pregnancy Calculator in days, weeks, and months. It is a helpful tool to keep track of your pregnancy.