How to count pregnancy due date?

While you can find many calculators online to find your due date, please remember they are just estimates. It is extremely important to get a dating ultrasound scan in your first trimester, as that is the most accurate way to confirm. If you have any unusual pain or spotting, please contact your doctor immediately.

The due date is typically 280 days from the start of your last period. As you calculate this timeline, it is also a great time to start planning a highly nutritious vegetarian diet full of iron, calcium, and leafy greens. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any prenatal supplements.

With my two kids, the due dates calculated by my last period and my first ultrasound were slightly different. Trust the ultrasound date more, especially if you have irregular cycles like I did. Also, remember that only about 5% of babies actually arrive on their exact due date, so keep a window of two weeks before and after!

Don't trust any random charts or grandmothers' predictions on the internet for your due date. Many cycles are irregular, which makes standard calculations highly inaccurate. The only safe and verified way to know your due date is to get a professional scan done by a qualified radiologist.