Understanding Your Pregnancy Due Date
Your estimated due date (EDD) is one of the most important pieces of information in your pregnancy. It guides your antenatal care schedule, helps your healthcare provider monitor your baby's growth and development, and determines when interventions like induction of labour might be considered.
How Naegele's Rule Works
The standard method for calculating a due date is Naegele's Rule, developed by German obstetrician Franz Karl Naegele in the 19th century. The formula adds 280 days — exactly 40 weeks — to the first day of the last menstrual period. This assumes a 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. If your cycle is longer or shorter, the due date is adjusted accordingly, which is why entering your accurate cycle length matters.
Why Your Due Date Is an Estimate, Not a Deadline
Research published in the journal Human Reproduction found that only around 4–5% of women give birth on their exact due date. A full-term pregnancy is defined as anywhere between 39 and 40 weeks and 6 days. Early term is 37–38 weeks, late term is 41 weeks, and post-term is 42 weeks or beyond. This means a two-week window around your EDD is entirely normal.
The Role of Ultrasound in Dating
A dating scan performed between 11 and 14 weeks (the first-trimester combined screening) measures the baby's crown-rump length (CRL) — from the top of the head to the base of the spine. This measurement is highly accurate at estimating gestational age, particularly before 14 weeks. If the ultrasound date differs from your LMP-calculated date by more than 7 days, your healthcare provider will typically adjust your due date to match the scan.
Support a Healthy Pregnancy with the Right Supplements
Folic acid, iron, vitamin D, and omega-3s — explore our pregnancy nutrition range, trusted by expectant mothers.
Key Antenatal Milestones to Watch For
Early pregnancy brings the booking appointment (8–12 weeks), first-trimester combined screening (11–14 weeks), and the anatomy scan (18–22 weeks) where major structural abnormalities are checked. In the third trimester, growth scans monitor the baby's size, and from 36 weeks your provider will check the baby's position in preparation for birth. Knowing these milestones helps you prepare and ensures you don't miss critical appointments.
