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Go figure! Try this method to calculate your due date
Wood’s method: Carol Wood, Yale nurse-midwifery professor, came up with a method to calculate the due date that takes into account individual variations in the menstrual cycle as well as the effect of a woman’s having had previous pregnancies.
1. Add 1 year to the first day of the last menstrual period, then
- For first-time mothers, subtract 2 months and 2 weeks
- For multiparas, subtract 2 months and 2.5 weeks (18 days)
2. Add or subtract the number of days her cycle varies from 28 days
- 1st-time mothers with 28-day cycles: LMP + 12 months - 2 months, 14 days = EDD
- Multiparas with 28-day cycles: LMP + 12 months - 2 months, 18 days = EDD
- For cycles longer than 28 days: EDD + (actual length of cycle - 28 days) = EDD
- For cycles shorter than 28 days: EDD - (28 days - actual length of cycle) = EDD
EDD: Estimated day of delivery
LMP: Last menstrual period
Anne Frye, Holistic Midwifery Vol. 1, Labrys Press 1995
 The Due Date Dilemma
A recent report in the OB/Gyn Journal December 2001 states that eliminating the concept of a due date, “may be helpful to all involved.”
The process of calculating due dates may be flawed as not all women ovulate 14 days from the onset of their menstruation. Additionally, other health factors of the mother play a role in delivery time. In reality, only 5% of all babies are born “on schedule”, anyway.
Because of the due date women feel pressured, become anxious and are led into inductions by their practitioners. Inductions usually lead to further interventions in birth. Interventions in birth frequently lead to trauma for both the mother and baby.
Dr. Vern Katz suggests that doctors expand the concept of a due date to a “due week.” In doing so, “it may allow biology to take its course a bit more.”
Katz VL, Farmer R, Tufariello J, Carpenter M Why we should eliminate the due date: a truth in jest Obstet Gynecol 2001 (Dec); 98 (6): 1127-1129
A prospective study was conducted at a West German US Army Hospital to compare the accuracy of fetal weight estimation by a physician's clinical estimate as compared to ultrasound. One hundred women had Leopold's and vaginal examinations, an estimate was made. Then the same examiner performed an ultrasonic estimation of weight. The exam was done within 48 hours of delivery. The mean error for the clinical estimate was 7.9%. The error by ultrasound was 8.2%. There was no significant statistical difference between the two types of estimates, including for the extremes of birth weight.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine, Vol. 33 No. 4, April 1988
About the Authors:
Part of this article is excerpted form Henci's book: Obstetric Myths vs. Research Realities. Her compilation and explanation of published research is outstanding and all practices interested in birth should have her books. Practical knowledge and ability to present is are revealed in her books. You can read about her and order her books through her website here: www.hencigoer.com
Part of this article is excerpted from Anne's book: Holistic Midwifery. Her practical knowledge and ability to present is are revealed in her books. Order her book through Midwifery Today here: www.midwiferybooks.com
 This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #09.
To purchase this issue, Order Here.
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