As a journalist who's accustomed to meeting deadlines, I wasn't surprised when, during my first pregnancy, I went into labor on my due date. The second time around was another matter. My due date came and went. And went, and went, and went. It wasn't until the day before my doctor planned to induce me -- at nearly 42 weeks pregnant -- that I finally went into labor.
My experience brought home one of the essential truths of pregnancy: Your due date is anything but predictable. Still, your doctor needs to determine one that's as accurate as possible so that any necessary tests are done at the correct time. "And knowing how far along you are makes it easier for your obstetrician to see that your baby is growing properly," explains ob-gyn Joanne Stone, M.D., coauthor of Pregnancy for Dummies.
What do you think of this story? Tell Us.
Please confirm your comment by answering the question below and clicking "Submit Comment."
I made an enquiry about my pregnancy due date and was asked to state the last date of my period to be 15th of February 2012, the result l received was am 9 weeks pregnant and my due date is 20th of November2012, how accurate is it since my last period was 15th of February 2012.
3/28/2012 01:38:32 PM Report AbuseI am 15 wks pregnant with my first. My due date is April 21st of 2012. So far my pregnacy has been great! I dont even feel like im pregnant. No craving, morng sickness, heatburn or anything else. I considr myslf lucky but we will see how long that lasts haha. :)
10/31/2011 12:49:13 PM Report Abusei am 34 weeks and the docter is saying the baby is measuring up to a 31 week old baby but she is saying she is four pounds is that normal
9/19/2011 10:14:31 AM Report Abuseif on may 19 2011 i was 11 weeks how far a long am i now on aug. 27,2011?
8/27/2011 04:56:41 PM Report Abuseif on may 19 i was 11 weeks... how far along am i know aug. 27??
8/27/2011 04:54:11 PM Report Abusefirst they said my due date was july 26 then aug. 2....but im soo close !! cant wait to have my bundle of joy
7/27/2011 12:11:07 PM Report AbuseSo far my dude date is for August 27th :) first time mommy they haven't changed my due date s maybe i will have my little fairy princess around that date cant wait!!!
6/22/2011 02:31:48 PM Report Abusemy first due date was the 17th of july. then had ultrasound and they said august 20th. had another ultrasound and that date was the 14th of august so not sure what to expect. i'm betting the end of july.
6/13/2011 03:55:33 PM Report AbuseI am 38 weeks pregnant, my first due date was April 1st then it went from May 10th to May 5th. This is mt first child so I dont know what to expect I just know Im ready to be a mommy!
4/24/2011 11:44:39 AM Report Abusemy due date was Nov 5 but he was induced on Jan 11 i was pregnant in April so you tell me oh and he was 11# 12oz and he turned over from his stomach to his back after 3 days in the hospital had him c-section. also drank the whole bottle at one time
4/15/2011 11:48:54 AM Report AbuseME WELL I GOT A LONG WAY TO GO AM 1 MONTH MY DUE DATE WILL BE DEC 05 2011
4/7/2011 04:34:10 PM Report AbuseWith my first child(3 yrs old in May!) i was a day overdue. Because of the stress test...i was induced. Now my little girl is due April 22 and shes already 7lbs 1oz!!! My son was a perfect 7lbs 6oz..im freaking out over having a HUGE baby):
3/22/2011 06:51:14 PM Report Abusewith my first child i was induced and had him on oct.22,my second child i was over due but had him on christmas morning,my third child was born the day after her due date and now i am pregnant with number 4 and i am too scared.i am only 32 years old but i think its the realization of it all that makes us scared sometimes.it had been 8 years since i have had my last child.i am due on june 7th said by 3 dr's so i am guessing i am going to have her on time.
2/24/2011 12:44:50 PM Report Abusemy first was born on his due date, my second i was slightly induced due to swelling and my history of giant babies lol..this one is measuring right. Not too worried if ill have it on time just worried if it will be another 10 lb baby
2/24/2011 12:44:16 PM Report AbuseI am due on April 2nd, but because I am on Thyroid meds and my baby is measuring big they are planning on inducing me at 39 weeks. I have this really strong feeling that I will go before that, but I am not for sure. I just wish I knew the day so I don't go into work.
2/23/2011 12:37:51 PM Report Abusethis is my 9th baby i have gestational diabetes and i am hoping to be induced at 38 weeks what does everyone feel about this
2/10/2011 12:56:57 AM Report AbuseWith my 1st baby I actually had her ON her due date. I know that is very rare.. With my next 2 they were early but induced so I am not sure if they would have made it.. This time I am not sure. I am due on Christmas Day and they say they wont induce me....
12/19/2010 07:55:10 PM Report AbuseWhen I found out I was pregnant with my first child (my son) I told my husband hows December 30 sound. It was June when I told him that. Sure enough I had him December 30, 2006. Now I'm 39 weeks pregnant with a little girl and I'm only 7 days away from my due date. I'm beginning to wonder if I'll have her on my due date or what. I was really hoping to have my little family all together for Thanksgiving.. But I figure she'll come when she ready, even though I am and have been.
11/21/2010 06:20:44 PM Report AbuseMy GP said June 13, the OBGYN said June 11, my amazing son arrive June 12th 2009.
11/3/2010 08:28:29 PM Report AbuseI was 40 years old, and having my first child. My due date was October 11,2009. My water broke at 10pm on Oct 9th and my son was born at 12:33pm on the 10th.
11/3/2010 09:13:45 AM Report AbuseI had almost the exact same experience. I was having my first, due date was set for the 21st and a week later (1 day before i was to be induced) he came. Difference was that I knew, from the day i discovered i was pregnant, that i would have him on the 27th. Sure enough, i went into labour at 10:45 that night. So close!! My beautiful boy was born the next day (28th). Sometimes, i think Mothers know their due date better than any Doctor - you can feel it.
11/3/2010 09:13:33 AM Report Abuseone week late
11/3/2010 08:59:10 AM Report Abusewith my daughter my due date started at july 26th, then moved to aug 8th and then aug 16th. she was born aug 17th after only 12 hours of easy labor. now with my son the orig. due date was jan 16th. since then it's moved from jan 9th to jan 6th. i have no idea what to expect but i do know it's only sept. and i'm already ready for it all to be over!
9/20/2010 03:02:01 PM Report AbuseThis is would be my first child and his father lives in Louisville ohio and I don't really to see him alot
9/20/2010 01:02:28 PM Report Abusemommytobe, my first due date was oct4th 2010, the i had an ultrasound and it was sep 30th lol although i think mine will b oing past both those dates.
8/29/2010 11:02:14 AM Report AbuseThe whole due date thing confuses me so much, I was originally due nov. 19th, then they said nov. 3rd, NOW it's oct. 19th, but the dr said since im having an elective c section they will take him at 38 weeks which will be oct. 5th, lol, can you see why im confused? lol i just cant wait to meet my healthy baby boy.
8/3/2010 03:20:22 PM Report Abusemy due date was July 23rd, 2010 and now I;m starting my 5th day over due. I am becoming more uncomfortable and impatient and becoming more cramped up and is finding it harder to sleep in the nights. I am hoping for a natural birth with no medications but I'm starting to become a little scared and unsure of what to expect. My baby is measuring at 46cm and weighing around 7lbs to 7lbs 5oz rough estimate. I am wondering if they let me go any longer that I'm at a bigger risk of having a C-section.
7/28/2010 11:23:58 AM Report AbuseCongrats, we measure the same dates but i want to give same date as my first born 21 Sept. I'm now on my 4th born and 41 yrs old i'm scared this time i don't know why. I wanted to give birth naturally but i'm very scared of pains what can i use to give birth natuarally but without pains. and i also think my age might be a problem if i give birth naturally.
6/15/2010 04:59:46 AM Report Abusemy due date was May 27, 2010 and after two days on 29 I was on labor, you never know...
6/4/2010 10:54:14 AM Report AbuseThe first due date I was given was October 4, 2010...then at my first prenatal appointment my doc said i was measuring about 2 weeks bigger than that...then I used the due date calendar on Parents and it said September 30th...I have an intuition it will be on September 20th...but we'll see!!
6/1/2010 09:11:43 PM Report Abuse