Medically reviewed by Cheryl Axelrod, M.D., ob-gyn
BabyCenter's Due Date Calculator
Use our pregnancy calculator by plugging in the date of your last period, the date you conceived if you know it, the timing of your IVF transfer, or your first ultrasound date. The Due Date Calculator will do the rest!
How is my due date calculated?
There are several ways your due date is determined. If you happen to know the day you conceived, you can count 38 weeks from that day to find your due date. (Human gestation takes about 38 weeks.)
But very few expectant moms know exactly when they conceived. Even if you only had sex once during your fertile period, you wouldn't conceive on that day unless you happen to be ovulating.
Sperm can live for up to five days inside your fallopian tubes. Meaning it could be up to five days after you have sex that you release an egg (ovulate) and it gets fertilized by a waiting sperm. That's the day you conceive.
Sowithout knowing the day of conception, how does anyone determine a due date?
First day of your last period
The most common way to calculate your pregnancy due date is by counting 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) (or choosing that option from our tool’s menu above). And that's how most healthcare providers do it.
If your menstrual cycle length is the average length (28-day cycle), your period probably started about two weeks before you conceived. This explains why pregnancies are said to last 40 weeks instead of 38 weeks.
This method doesn't take into account how long your cycle actually is or when you think you might have conceived. But generally speaking, women typically ovulate about two weeks after their menstrual cycle starts. And women are more likely to know when their last period started than the day they ovulated.
If you know the first day of your last menstrual period, you can use our Due Date Calculator to predict your estimated due date.
Conception date
If you do happen to know precisely when you conceived – say, if you were using anovulation predictor kit or tracking your ovulation symptoms – you can calculate your pregnancy due date based on your conception date. Just choose that calculation method from the pulldown above and put in your date.
Remember, you don't necessarily conceive on the day you have sex.
IVF transfer date
If you conceived through IVF, you can calculate your due date using your IVF transfer date. If you had a Day 5 embryo transfer, count 261 days from your transfer date. If you had a Day 3 embryo transfer, count 263 days. Or select "IVF" from our Due Date Calculator method choices.
Ultrasound scan
If you want to try a different method for calculating your due date and are among those who have at least one early, first trimester ultrasound, that scan in your doctor’s or midwife’s office can help you and your practitioner pinpoint when your baby is expected to arrive.
The timing of an early ultrasound can sometimes more accurately date the pregnancy than your last menstrual period, conception date, and other methods. Just choose "ultrasound" from our Due Date Calculator dropdown menu.
Remember, however, that not all pregnant women will have an ultrasound at their first prenatal appointment or another early check-up. Some practitioners perform them for all expectant patients, while others only do them if your due date can’t be calculated by the usual methods or determined via a physical exam.
They might also do early ultrasounds if you have risk factors including previous pregnancy complications, a history of miscarriages or other pregnancy losses, irregular periods or trouble conceiving, various chronic health conditions, or are 35 or older.
Can my due date change?
Your healthcare provider might revise your due date if your baby is measured during a first trimester ultrasound scan and found to be much bigger or smaller than expected for gestational age. This is more likely to happen if you have an irregular menstrual cycle length that makes it hard to pinpoint the date of conception.
Your healthcare provider will measure your baby during that ultrasound exam to figure out how far along your baby is and then provide you with a new due date.
What if I already know my due date?
If you already know your due date, you can use this pregnancy calculator to see your pregnancy timeline. It will tell you when you'll hit various milestones, and when you may be due forprenatal tests and prenatal visits.
You'll also find out what your baby's sign and birthstone will probably be and a few famous people who were born on your due date.
How likely am I to give birth on my due date?
Of course, a due date calculation is always approximate, whether it's from our pregnancy calculatoror from your doctor or midwife. Only 1 in 20 women delivers on her due date. You're just as likely to go into labor any day during the two weeks before or after.
Want more information about how the weeks, months, and trimesters of pregnancy are counted? See ourpregnancy timing chart.
How soon can I take a pregnancy test?
With all this talk about pregnancy due dates, you may be wondering when you can take a pregnancy test. To ensure you get the most accurate reading, it's best to wait a few days after your missed period to take a pregnancy test.
At-home urine tests measure the amount of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) present in your body. If you take a pregnancy test before you miss your period, you may not get an accurate result, despite what some tests advertise.
If you're getting a blood test in your provider's office, you may get results sooner. These tests also measure the amount of hCG in your bloodstream, but they're more sensitive than at-home urine tests. Blood tests may be able to detect pregnancy six to eight days after ovulation.
Read more:
- Your pregnancy, week by week
- Your first trimester pregnancy checklist
- Pregnancy Weight Gain Calculator
- Ovulation Calculator
- See all tools
