Pregnancy Calculator
Calculate your due date and pregnancy week based on last menstrual period or conception date. Track trimester milestones. Free pregnancy due date calculator.
Reviewed by CalculatorApp.me Health Team
Pregnancy Calculator — Complete Guide
Due date calculation methods, pregnancy weeks by trimester, Naegele's rule, fetal development milestones, and prenatal care timeline.
40 weeks
Average pregnancy duration
280 days
From LMP to due date
3
Trimesters of pregnancy
±2 weeks
Normal delivery window
How Is a Due Date Calculated?
A pregnancy due date (estimated date of delivery, EDD) marks 40 weeks — 280 days — from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). This convention is used because ovulation and conception typically occur around day 14 of a 28-day cycle, making LMP a consistent and verifiable starting point even when the exact conception date is unknown.
The standard formula is Naegele's Rule: subtract 3 months from the LMP date, add 7 days, and add 1 year. Only approximately 4% of babies are born on their exact due date — the normal range is 37–42 weeks (term pregnancy). Babies born before 37 weeks are preterm; after 42 weeks is post-term.
Ultrasound dating, particularly the first-trimester crown-rump length (CRL) measurement at 7–13 weeks, is considered more accurate than LMP-based dates — especially for women with irregular cycles. If ultrasound and LMP dates differ by more than 7 days (first trimester), the ultrasound date is typically used to set the EDD.
Due Date Calculation Methods
EDD = LMP + 280 days
or equivalently:
EDD = LMP − 3 months + 7 days + 1 year
Example (LMP = 1 March 2025):
Step 1: 1 March − 3 months = 1 December 2024
Step 2: 1 December + 7 days = 8 December 2024
Step 3: 8 December 2024 + 1 year = 8 December 2025
EDD = 8 December 2025
Adjust for cycle length:
Standard assumes 28-day cycle.
If cycle = 35 days:
Add (35 − 28) = 7 extra days
If cycle = 21 days:
Subtract (28 − 21) = 7 days
Accuracy: ±2 weeks for most womenNaegele's rule was proposed by Franz Karl Naegele in 1812 and remains the standard clinical calculation. It assumes a 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. It can be adjusted for cycle length variations.
If conception date is known: EDD = Conception date + 266 days (38 weeks from conception) Note: 280 days from LMP = 266 days from ovulation/conception (2 weeks later) Example: Conception: 14 March 2025 EDD = 14 March + 266 days EDD = 5 December 2025 When conception is known: • IVF transfers (exact date known) • Confirmed ovulation with testing • Single unprotected encounter IVF transfer calculation: Day 3 transfer: add 263 days Day 5 transfer: add 261 days
For IVF pregnancies, the transfer date is precisely known. Adjustments are made based on embryo age at transfer: a day-5 blastocyst transfer subtracts 5 days from the 266-day conception formula.
Pregnancy Trimesters — Week by Week
First Trimester
Weeks 1–12
- •Week 4: Positive pregnancy test possible
- •Week 5–6: Heartbeat detectable by transvaginal US
- •Week 8: Embryo becomes a fetus
- •Week 10: Basic organ systems formed
- •Week 12: Risk of miscarriage drops significantly
Most critical period for organ formation. Folic acid 400–800 mcg/day essential to prevent neural tube defects.
Second Trimester
Weeks 13–26
- •Week 13–16: Gender may be visible on ultrasound
- •Week 18–22: Anatomy scan (detailed ultrasound)
- •Week 20: Fundal height = 20 cm (navel level)
- •Week 24: Viability threshold (with intensive NICU care)
- •Week 25–26: Lungs begin producing surfactant
Often called the 'honeymoon trimester' — morning sickness usually resolves and energy returns. Fetal movements typically felt (quickening) at 18–22 weeks.
Third Trimester
Weeks 27–40
- •Week 28: Fetus is 36 cm, weighs ~1 kg
- •Week 32: Most body systems functional
- •Week 36: Considered 'late preterm'
- •Week 37: Full term begins
- •Week 40: Expected due date
- •Week 41–42: Post-dates monitoring begins
Baby gains most of its weight during this trimester. GBS screening at 36 weeks. Prenatal visits increase to weekly after 36 weeks.
Prenatal Visit Schedule
| Weeks | Visit Frequency | Key Tests/Milestones |
|---|---|---|
| 4–8 | First visit | Confirm pregnancy, blood type, CBC, STI screening, genetic carrier screening |
| 10–13 | Every 4 weeks | NIPT/cell-free DNA testing (optional), first trimester screening |
| 18–22 | Once | Anatomy ultrasound — checks all fetal organs |
| 24–28 | Every 4 weeks | Glucose tolerance test (gestational diabetes), Rh factor check |
| 28–36 | Every 2 weeks | Blood pressure, fundal height, fetal position |
| 36+ | Weekly | GBS culture (36 wk), fetal monitoring if post-dates |
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is a due date calculator?▼
Due date calculators based on LMP are accurate to within ±2 weeks for most women with regular cycles. The actual variation in gestational length is significant — only about 4% of babies are born on their exact due date. First-trimester ultrasound dating is more accurate and is used to confirm or revise the EDD.
What does gestational age vs. fetal age mean?▼
Gestational age is counted from the LMP (the clinical standard) and is typically 2 weeks longer than fetal age (counted from conception). When a doctor says 'you are 8 weeks pregnant,' they mean 8 weeks from LMP — your baby is actually about 6 weeks post-conception. All due date calculators use gestational age.
When should I take a pregnancy test?▼
Home urine pregnancy tests detect hCG from about 10–14 days after conception — typically around the time of a missed period. Testing too early may give false negatives. For most reliable results, test the first morning urine on the day of your expected period or after.
References & Clinical Sources
- ACOG Practice Bulletin. Methods for Estimating the Due Date. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017;129(5):e150–e154.
- Naegele FC. Lehrbuch der Geburtshülfe. Heidelberg: Mohr und Zimmer, 1812.
- WHO. WHO recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience. 2016.
- Mongelli M, et al. Influence of conception date on the accuracy of gestational age estimation. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1996;8(5):318–22.
Methodology, sources & limitations
This calculator uses a published formula and the values entered in the calculator to generate the result.
- Formula
- EDD = LMP + 280 days
- Jurisdiction & units
- Intended for US, IN, EU, GB, Global. Supports both units where applicable.
- Assumptions & limitations
- Results are screening or educational estimates based on the inputs you provide. They do not diagnose, treat, or replace advice from a qualified clinician.
- Review status
- Formula and automated QA completed June 21, 2026; independent professional review is pending. Next scheduled review: September 21, 2026.
Validation sources
- ACOG Practice Bulletin
- WHO Pregnancy Guidelines
Pregnancy Due Date Calculator — Answer & Method
Calculate estimated due date and pregnancy milestones using Naegele's rule.
Formula: Naegele's Rule
EDD = LMP + 280 days
Example Calculation
With LMP of January 1, 2026, the estimated due date is October 8, 2026.
Important limitation
This is an educational estimate, not a diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical advice.
Key Facts
- Naegele's rule estimates delivery at 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period.
- Only about 5% of babies are born on their exact due date.