- How is my due date calculated?
- Most due dates use Naegele's rule: add 280 days (9 months + 7 days) to the first day of your last menstrual period. An early first-trimester ultrasound is even more accurate, especially for irregular cycles.
- How accurate is a due date calculator?
- Naegele's rule is right within about a week for women with regular 28-day cycles, but only about 5% of babies arrive on their exact due date. Most are born within two weeks of it — your provider may revise the date after an ultrasound.
- Can my due date change after an ultrasound?
- Yes. If an early ultrasound (especially before 12 weeks) shows a size different from your LMP-based date by more than 5–7 days, your OB-GYN may adjust the due date to match the ultrasound measurements.
- What if I conceived through IVF?
- For IVF, the due date is calculated from the embryo transfer date: add 266 days for a day-5 blastocyst transfer or 263 days for a day-3 embryo transfer. Tell your provider the exact transfer date and embryo age.