The due date is both an exciting and stressful time for expectant mothers. It is a time of excitement and nervousness for mothers. While it is a sign that they will meet their baby after 10 months of pregnancy, they are also faced with the choice of delivery method and various worries for mother and baby. In clinical practice, we often see pregnant mothers and their families feeling scared and anxious as they approach their due date, especially when there are concerns and questions from relatives and friends, which adds to the anxiety of pregnant women.
It is important for pregnant mothers and their families to understand what is the due date? What is the relationship between due date and delivery time?
First of all: it is important to have a concept: for pregnant mothers, the due date is an exact day, but for obstetric delivery, the due date is a range, from 37 to 42 weeks, which are full-term pregnancies. The due date is not a precise date of delivery; scientists have calculated that only about 53% of women give birth on their due date. A due date does not mean that the baby will be born on that date, but is only an approximate time, and births within three weeks before and two weeks after the due date are considered normal. The due date can remind you of the time frame for the safe birth of your baby, but do not look at the due date as a precise date. At 37 weeks of pregnancy, you should always be ready to give birth, but do not be too anxious, listen to its nature, such as to 41 weeks of pregnancy there are no signs of labor, the conditions should be hospitalized for observation or induction of labor in due course.
Secondly, it is also important to calculate the due date, especially for pregnant mothers who have irregular menstruation in the past and need to correct the due date.
The main methods of calculating the due date
1.Calculation according to the last menstruation: add 9 or subtract 3 to the number of the last menstrual month, and add 7 to the day. if you use the lunar calendar, the calculation method of the month is the same, and the day is changed to add 15.
2. Calculation based on the day of fertilization: If you know the day of fertilization, 38 weeks (266 days) from this day will be the expected date of delivery. For those who know the day of ovulation using basal body temperature, the day of fertilization can be calculated. This is more accurate than the method of calculating the due date from the day of the last menstrual period.
3. Calculation based on the date of fetal movement.
If you can’t remember the date of your last menstrual period, you can base on the date of fetal movement to make a projection. Generally, fetal movement starts at 18-20 weeks after pregnancy. The calculation method is: for first-time mothers, it is the day of fetal movement plus 20 weeks; for menstruating mothers, it is the day of fetal movement plus 22 weeks.
4.Calculation according to the basal body temperature curve.
Take the last day of the low temperature section of the basal body temperature curve as the day of ovulation, and extrapolate from the day of ovulation backward 264-268 days, or add 38 weeks.
5.According to ultrasound examination.
The gestational age can be estimated by measuring the interparietal diameter of the fetal head, the head-rump length and the femur length during the ultrasound, and the expected date of delivery can be projected (this method is mostly used as a diagnostic application of ultrasound examination by doctors). This is a more accurate method for those who are uncertain about the date of their last menstrual period. Since the size of the fetal sac and the length of the fetal head to the buttocks can be calculated, as well as the interparietal diameter on both sides of the fetal head, the number of weeks of pregnancy and the expected date of delivery can be deduced from these values.
6. Calculation from the time of the beginning of pregnancy vomiting.
Reactive vomiting usually appears at the end of the 6th week of pregnancy, which is 42 days after the last menstrual period, from which it can be projected backward to 280 days, which is the expected date of delivery.
7.Roughly estimated according to the height of the uterine fundus.
It is important to recognize some symptoms of the approaching due date so as not to be overly nervous and cause early admission to the hospital.
1, near the prenatal period, there will be more frequent contractions than before, the stomach will be tight, the feeling of “gathering”, falling, and even occasional pain, especially at night will be more obvious, and even affect sleep, but in the daytime and alleviated, this is irregular contractions, in preparation for delivery, the cervix will gradually become shorter and softer. The cervix becomes progressively shorter and softer. The uterus is similar to a pear, the cervix is similar to a pear handle, when this pear handle disappears, when there are regular contractions (once every 5 minutes, lasting more than 30 seconds) is really going into labor.
2, near the prenatal period, the vaginal discharge will increase, white, thin, no odor; some will have mucus plugs excluded, which is the performance of the cervix in gradually mature.
It is important to distinguish between vaginitis and early water breakage.
Vaginitis is an increase in discharge with a change in color, such as yellowing; odor; itching of the vulva and vagina.
Early water breakage is vaginal overflow, mostly in relatively large, clear water, soaking the underwear; however, there are also high water breakage, which comes and goes, and the amount is not very large. If you are not sure, it is best to go to the hospital for an examination.
3, see red, discharge a small amount of light red, dark red, dark curry, dark purple, not bright red; the amount is less, just a small amount on the panties or pads. This is not bleeding, it is a kind of labor omen, just a labor omen, suggesting that labor may move in 24 to 48 hours.
The above symptoms are not true labor, so do not rush to hospital.
Therefore, when you are close to your due date or after your due date, you and your family members should relax. If a low-risk, normal pregnant mother has more regular contractions (30 seconds/5-10 minutes), water breaking, bleeding, etc., she should be hospitalized. If not, continue to wait, is after the due date, we also give you a week, after the due date a week (that is, 41 weeks), you have to be hospitalized, of course, 41 weeks hospitalization is not a cesarean section Oh, but to assess the cervical conditions for natural childbirth after induction.
Moreover, it is strongly urged to try to give birth naturally; those who do not want to give birth and strongly request a cesarean section, should also be ripe and wait for a cesarean section after moving into labor; and then step back is not want to wait, also after 39 weeks. For the sake of the baby’s future, let the baby mature!