At that moment, when a woman learns about pregnancy, her attitude changes, as if by magic. Especially if the baby is first and coveted. The future mother does not have experience, therefore, along with joyful emotions, the number of questions increases as the period increases. Most of all I want to know exactly when the child will be born.
If a visit to the doctor has not yet been appointed, then you can find answers on specialized portals for parents. Many newcomers find it difficult to understand medical terminology, so most often you can hear the phrase: "PDE - what is it?" We will try to answer this popular question.
Waiting for a miracle
At the very beginning of pregnancy, expectant mothers already represent the day of discharge. In his thoughts, his beloved husband meets at the hospital with a bouquet of flowers, and grandparents are touched by a tiny puffing son or daughter.
But will everyone be able to get together in one day? What will the weather be like? And, in general, the day of the week? To answer all these questions, it is necessary to calculate the estimated date of birth.
DA is calculated in several ways, which we dwell on in more detail.
Using ultrasound
Modern technology allows you to determine the gender of the baby before his birth. Parents have time to come up with a name and buy things, a stroller and even make repairs in the nursery in the most suitable colors.
Through ultrasound, you can also determine the DA. What does this give us, and for how long is it best to do? 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 term 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 DA 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 these data.
For attentive
The next way to determine mucus is suitable for those who closely monitor the menstrual cycle and know when ovulation occurs. The estimated date of birth by the date of conception will most accurately tell you when the baby is born.
The only time a woman’s body is ready to conceive is ovulation. At this point, a mature egg leaves the ovary. Some representatives of the fair sex feel the onset of ovulation - an increase in attraction to a partner, pulling pains in the lower abdomen or unusual sensations in the chest. This occurs in the middle of a cycle that lasts from 28 to 35 days.
If a woman every month marks the menstruation in the calendar, then the estimated date of birth by the date of conception is determined quite simply. 280 days must be added to the middle of the cycle. 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 DA (what is this, and the most accurate way of calculating) was of interest to the German doctor no less.
Many Negele studies today are considered fundamental. For example, most gynecologists in consultations still use the formula of a colleague from Germany to determine the date of birth.
One of the first points that doctors find out during admission is the first day of the last menstrual cycle. We subtract three months from this date and add seven days. For example, if menstruation began on October 10, then the PDD is set for July 17. With this calculation, it is assumed that the cycle is exactly 28 days.
The Negele formula is incorrectly applied in the case of an irregular menstrual cycle, therefore, obstetricians have other methods in the arsenal.
At the first reception
What is PDR, the gynecologist tells during the first visit. At a period of 3-4 weeks, an experienced doctor can correctly determine the date of birth during the examination. In the normal state, the woman’s uterus is pear-shaped, and with the onset of pregnancy is more like a ball.
As in the case of ultrasound, the longer the period, the more difficult it is to determine the time of birth of the baby.
First stir
Sometimes it happens that determining the date of birth using the methods described above is impossible. Another proven method comes to the rescue, which works already at a later date.
You can determine the PDD after the first stirring of the baby - usually this exciting moment occurs at a period of 18-20 weeks, depending on whether the woman gives birth for the first time or not. If an experienced mother feels the baby, then expect birth in 22 weeks. For the first-born, 20 weeks should be added to the day of the first stirring.
Of course, some women claim that they 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 intestinal contractions.
For the sake of curiosity
Why are future mothers so eager to calculate the DA? What is this necessity, and is it so important when the baby is born? Sometimes birthdays matter for superstitious women or for those who want to see a “beautiful” date on their birth certificate. Some pregnant women do not want to give birth on holidays or choose a maternity hospital based on the closing schedule for washing. In other words, there is enough reason to worry about this important day.
Popular online services can calculate gestational weeks. PDR calculators are also configured to determine the date of birth, and most often, the number of days in the cycle and the first day of menstruation, after which pregnancy was diagnosed, should be indicated as initial data.
What affects DA
In any case, it is worth taking into account that the DA is just an estimated date, and nobody will be able to guarantee delivery on this day. Experts believe that pregnancy should last an average of 40 weeks, but only a few women give birth on time. For example, during multiple pregnancy, childbirth almost always occurs before the obstetric prognosis. In addition, other factors also have an effect: 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 at any time ready to speed up the process a little.