DA - what is it? Estimated date of birth by date of conception

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The moment a woman finds out she's pregnant, her worldview changes like magic. Especially if the baby is the first and desired. The future mother has no experience, therefore, along with joyful emotions, as the term increases, the number of questions also increases. Most of all I want to know exactly when the baby will be born.

If a visit to the doctor has not yet been scheduled, then you can find answers on specialized portals for parents. Many beginners find it difficult to understand medical terminology, so you can often hear the phrase: "PD - what is it?" We will try to answer this popular question.

Waiting for a miracle

At the very beginning of pregnancy, future mothers already imagine the day of discharge. In his thoughts, a beloved husband meets at the maternity hospital with a bouquet of flowers, and grandparents are touched by a tiny sniffing son or daughter.

But can everyone get together on the same day? What will the weather be like? And, in general, the day of the week? Toto answer all these questions, it is necessary to calculate the estimated date of birth.

PDR is calculated in several ways, which we will discuss in more detail.

Using ultrasound

Modern technologies make it possible to determine the sex of a baby even before it is born. Parents have time to come up with a name and buy things, a stroller and even redecorate the nursery in the most appropriate colors.

Ultrasound can also be used to determine the EDD. What does it give us, and when is the best time to do it? Experts say that it is most reliable to calculate the date of birth before the onset of 12 weeks. The equipment is able to show the time with incredible accuracy - literally up to one day.

Of course, during pregnancy, ultrasound will be prescribed more than once. But in the later stages, the PDR is calculated taking into account the size of the fetus. As a rule, the development of babies occurs individually, so you can no longer rely on this data.

For the attentive

The following method for determining the EDD is suitable for those who closely monitor the menstrual cycle and know when ovulation occurs. Estimated date of birth by date of conception will most accurately tell you when the baby will be born.

The only time a woman's body is ready to conceive is ovulation. At this point, a mature egg is released from the ovary. Some of the fair sex feel the onset of ovulation - increased attraction to a partner, pulling pains in the lower abdomen or unusual sensations in the chest. It happens inmid-cycle, which is 28 to 35 days.

If a woman marks her period on the calendar every month, then the estimated date of birth by the date of conception is determined quite simply. By the middle of the cycle, 280 days must be added. Inexperienced mothers think that pregnancy lasts nine months. However, the formula “date of sexual intercourse + 9 months” has nothing to do with reality.

Negele formula

The famous obstetrician Franz Negele studied the anatomy of the female pelvis, as well as the mechanism of childbirth. The question of the PDR (what is it, and the most accurate method of calculation) interested the German doctor no less.

Many of Naegele's studies are considered fundamental today. For example, most gynecologists in consultations still use the formula of a German colleague to determine the due date.

One of the first things that doctors find out during the appointment is the first day of the last menstrual cycle. Subtract three months from this date and add seven days. For example, if menstruation began on October 10, then the PDR is set for July 17. This calculation assumes a cycle of exactly 28 days.

The Naegele formula is incorrect to apply in case of an irregular menstrual cycle, so obstetricians have other methods in their arsenal.

First appointment

What is PDR, the gynecologist tells during the first visit. For a period of 3-4 weeks, an experienced doctor can correctly determine the date of birth during the examination. Normally, a woman's uterus haspear-shaped, and with the onset of pregnancy more like a ball.

As with ultrasound, the longer the period, the more difficult it is to determine the moment of the baby's birth.

First stirring

Sometimes it happens that it is impossible to determine the date of birth using the above methods. Another proven method comes to the rescue, which is already working at a later date.

You can determine the PDD after the first movement of the baby - usually this exciting moment occurs for a period of 18-20 weeks, depending on whether the woman gives birth for the first time or not. If an experienced mother felt the baby, then expect childbirth in 22 weeks. For the firstborn, 20 weeks should be added to the day of the first stirring.

Of course, some women claim to feel the baby in the early stages, for example, at 14 or 16 weeks. Experienced gynecologists doubt such hypersensitivity and most often attribute it to bowel contractions.

For the sake of curiosity

Why are future mothers so eager to calculate the EDD? What is this need, and is it so important when the baby is born? Sometimes the day of birth matters for superstitious women or for those who want to see just a “beautiful” date on a birth certificate. Some pregnant women do not want to give birth on holidays or choose a maternity hospital based on the closing schedule for the car wash. In other words, there is enough reason to worry about this important day.

Popular interactive services can calculate the gestational age by weeks. EDD calculators are also set up to determine the date of birth, and most often as inputyou must specify the number of days in the cycle and the first day of menstruation, after which pregnancy was diagnosed.

What influences the DA

In any case, you should take into account that the DA is just an estimated date, and no one can guarantee you a birth on that day. Experts believe that a pregnancy should last an average of 40 weeks, but few women give birth at term. For example, during multiple pregnancies, delivery almost always occurs earlier than obstetric prognosis. In addition, other factors also have an influence: high blood pressure, polyhydramnios, diabetes and more.

A small percentage of expectant mothers, on the contrary, are expecting a baby until the 41st or 42nd week. This is also within the normal range. Pregnant women are under the supervision of doctors who are ready to speed up the process a little at any time.