The Truth about “Due Dates”  

In our Hypnobirthing course, we prefer to use the terms estimated due date, due month, or guess date. ⁠The thing about due dates is they’re inaccurate!⁠ Did you know that a full-term pregnancy is anywhere from 37-42 weeks!⁠

Why are “due dates” inaccurate?

Due dates can also be inaccurate because every woman is unique we have: 

• Uncertain Conception Date: If the exact date of conception is unknown or if there is variability in the menstrual cycle, it can be challenging to determine the precise gestational age of the baby.
• Ultrasound Margin of Error: The margin of error in ultrasound dating can be a few days to a week, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.
• Lack of Regular Menstrual Cycles: If a woman has irregular menstrual cycles or experiences irregular ovulation, determining the due date becomes more challenging.
• Inaccurate Last Menstrual Period (LMP) Date: The due date is often calculated based on the first day of the last menstrual period. If this date is not accurately known or if the woman has irregular periods, it can affect the accuracy of the due date calculation.

What does the research say?

Dr Sara Wickham goes deeper into the research behind due dates; click here to read. 

⁠It is nice to know an estimated time when your baby will arrive in this world however, due dates also put a lot of pressure on the birthing mother. 

• You have the pressure of friends and family asking if you have had the baby yet. ⁠
• Pressure from your healthcare providers pushing an induction on you.⁠

⁠Due dates were first calculated by Netherlands professor Hermann Boerhaave in the 1700s. They were calculated by adding 7 days to the last period and then adding nine months. ⁠

⁠At the end of the day, it is up to your baby when they decide when they’re ready to enter this world. ⁠

⁠If your pregnancy has no special circumstances put trust in your body and your baby as they know when it is the best time to birth.