The way that due dates are currently calculated is very much a one size fits all approach. It’s really important for you to know that calculating your estimated due date is not an exact science, it’s really much more of a guess based on a very old method!
How old, I hear you ask?! Well, in 1812 a German doctor called Franz Naegele used someone else’s existing method of calculating the length of pregnancy, added his own thoughts and came up with a new method for calculating the estimated due date for pregnancy, which was based on the bible.
This method assumes that all women have the exact same 28-day cycle and that they ovulate on day 14 of their cycle. However, we all know that we are all unique, we have menstrual cycles that are of different lengths, ovulation doesn’t necessarily take place in the middle of your cycle and the date that you conceive isn’t always the same date that you ovulate.
And sadly here we find ourselves centuries later still using this outdated methodology.
Due dates are so inaccurate that only 3-5% of babies are born on their due date.
Pregnancy doesn’t magically end at 40 weeks. A full-term pregnancy is anything from 37 to 42 weeks…..try to think of it as a due month rather than a due date! A full-term pregnancy is right up until you’re 42 weeks.
If you reach 41 weeks in your pregnancy the likelihood is that sadly you may find yourself having conversations with your care providers about induction. Please remember that every pregnant person’s body and everyone’s circumstances are different so try to remember that your baby knows when it is best to be born.
Your baby will be born when they’re good and ready!
For more pregnancy-related hints and tips, please visit my website JustExhale or my Instagram: Pregnancy Yoga & Hypnobirthing (@sallyjustexhale) • Instagram photos and videos
