Last updated: July 2026
Understanding Your Pregnancy Timeline
Finding out you are pregnant is one of the most exciting moments of your life. Naturally, the very first question everyone asks is: "When are you due?" Our Pregnancy Calculator uses standard medical formulas to give you an estimated due date (EDD) and break down your trimester milestones.
How Naegele's Rule Works
Obstetricians and midwives calculate due dates using Naegele's Rule. This formula assumes a standard 28-day menstrual cycle and a 280-day (40-week) gestation period.
The math is: First day of LMP + 7 days - 3 months + 1 year = EDD
Because every woman's body is different, our calculator allows you to adjust the average length of your cycle. If your cycle is 32 days long, ovulation likely happens later, meaning your due date will be pushed back by 4 days compared to a 28-day cycle.
A Worked Example
Say your last period started on January 1, and you have a typical 28-day cycle. Adding 280 days gives an estimated due date of October 8. If your cycle runs longer, say 32 days, that same January 1 start date shifts your due date about 4 days later, to around October 12 — because a longer cycle usually means ovulation and conception happened later too.
When to Use Your Conception Date
If you were tracking your ovulation perfectly (using basal body temperature or ovulation strips), or if you conceived via IUI, you may know the exact day of conception. In this case, you can bypass the LMP calculation entirely. The due date is simply Conception Date + 266 days. If you conceived via IVF and know your embryo transfer date specifically, our IVF Due Date Calculator is built around that date instead for a more precise result.
Gestational Age vs. Fetal Age
One of the most common points of confusion in early pregnancy: the "weeks pregnant" you'll hear from your doctor (gestational age) is counted from your last period, not from conception. Since conception typically happens about two weeks after your last period started, your baby's actual age is roughly two weeks younger than your pregnancy week count. This isn't a discrepancy or an error — it's just the medical standard, and it's the same convention this calculator, your doctor, and every dating ultrasound will use.
What Happens at the First Ultrasound?
While our calculator provides an estimate based on your dates, your healthcare provider will confirm this date during your first "dating ultrasound" (usually around 8 to 12 weeks). Because early fetal growth is highly predictable, the ultrasound technician will measure the crown-to-rump length (CRL) of the fetus. If the ultrasound date differs from your LMP date by more than a few days, your doctor may officially change your due date to match the ultrasound.