Due Date Calculator — Pregnancy Due Date

Calculate your pregnancy due date, current trimester, and key milestones based on your last menstrual period (LMP) or conception date. Uses Naegele's Rule — the same method used by OB-GYNs across the USA. Free, instant, no sign-up required.

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Pregnancy Due Date Calculator

Based on LMP or conception date — Naegele's Rule

days
Estimated Due Date
Enter your LMP date above
Current Week
Trimester
Days Until Due
Conception Date (est.)

Due Date Calculator: How Pregnancy Due Dates Are Calculated

A pregnancy due date is calculated using Naegele's Rule, developed by German obstetrician Franz Karl Naegele in 1812 and still used by OB-GYNs, midwives, and hospitals across the United States today. The formula adds 280 days (40 weeks) to the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). This accounts for the fact that ovulation and conception typically occur around day 14 of a 28-day cycle — meaning the first two weeks of your counted "pregnancy" technically precede actual conception. Only about 5% of babies are born exactly on their calculated due date, but roughly 80% are born within 2 weeks of it. Your healthcare provider may adjust your due date based on an early ultrasound measurement — the first trimester ultrasound (8–12 weeks) is the most accurate dating method.

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters: First trimester (weeks 1–13) covers early fetal development — the most critical period for organ formation and when miscarriage risk is highest. Second trimester (weeks 14–27) is typically the most comfortable — morning sickness subsides and fetal movement becomes noticeable (quickening) around weeks 18–22. Third trimester (weeks 28–40+) is characterized by rapid fetal growth and preparation for birth. Full-term birth is defined as 39–40 weeks; early term is 37–38 weeks; preterm is before 37 weeks. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends elective delivery not before 39 weeks unless medically indicated.

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First Trimester (Weeks 1–13)

The embryo implants around week 3–4. Morning sickness peaks around weeks 6–9. The heartbeat is detectable at 6 weeks by vaginal ultrasound. By week 12, all major organs are formed and miscarriage risk drops from ~15% to ~2%. First prenatal visit is typically scheduled at weeks 8–10.

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Second Trimester (Weeks 14–27)

The "golden trimester" — energy returns, nausea decreases. Anatomy scan ultrasound at 18–20 weeks checks for abnormalities and can reveal sex. Fetal movement (quickening) typically felt at 18–22 weeks for first pregnancies, 16–18 weeks for subsequent ones. Glucose screening at 24–28 weeks checks for gestational diabetes.

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Third Trimester (Weeks 28–40+)

Rapid brain and lung development. Fetal kick counts monitored from week 28 — 10 movements in 2 hours is reassuring. Group B Strep screening at 35–37 weeks. Most hospitals recommend delivery between 39–41 weeks. At 42 weeks (post-term), induction is typically recommended.

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Prenatal Care Schedule

Standard US prenatal visit schedule: Every 4 weeks through week 28. Every 2 weeks from weeks 28–36. Weekly from week 36 until delivery. Total: approximately 12–14 visits for uncomplicated singleton pregnancies. High-risk pregnancies have more frequent monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard method is Naegele's Rule: add 280 days (40 weeks) to the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), then adjust if your cycle differs from 28 days. For a 32-day cycle: due date = LMP + 280 + 4 = LMP + 284. The first trimester ultrasound (8--12 weeks) is the most accurate dating method and may adjust your due date by up to 5--7 days. Gestational age is measured from LMP -- so at "2 weeks pregnant," conception has not yet occurred.
Only 5% of babies arrive exactly on their calculated due date. Approximately 80% are born within 2 weeks (before or after). The "due date" is better understood as a midpoint of a 5-week window (weeks 37--42). Full term is 39--40 weeks; early term is 37--38 weeks; late term is 41 weeks; post-term is 42+ weeks. Induction is typically recommended at 42 weeks (14 days post-due date) to avoid increased risks of placenta aging and stillbirth.
Gestational age is counted from the first day of your last menstrual period -- so you are "2 weeks pregnant" before conception has even occurred (conception happens around week 2--3). Fetal age (embryonic age) is counted from actual conception -- approximately 2 weeks less than gestational age. All standard due date calculations, prenatal tests, and fetal development milestones use gestational age. When doctors say "you are 12 weeks pregnant," they mean 12 weeks of gestational age.
Naegele's Rule (1812): LMP + 280 days. It assumes a 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. This calculator adjusts for your actual cycle length. Alternative methods: Ultrasound dating (most accurate, especially before 12 weeks -- measures crown-rump length). IVF dating: adds fixed days based on embryo age at transfer (Day 3 = +266 days, Day 5 = +261 days). For irregular cycles or IVF, always rely on your OB-GYN's ultrasound dating over formula calculation.
Schedule your first OB or midwife appointment as soon as you confirm pregnancy -- ideally at 8--10 weeks gestational age. Early appointments confirm intrauterine location (rules out ectopic), establish dating, check blood type and Rh factor, screen for genetic conditions, and start prenatal vitamins guidance. If you have risk factors (previous miscarriage, age 35+, chronic conditions), some providers see patients as early as 6--8 weeks.

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