How it works
The classic estimate is Naegele's rule: a pregnancy lasts about 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP):
Due date = LMP + 280 days
If your cycle isn't 28 days, the estimate is shifted by the difference. From a known conception date, the due date is about 266 days later. Gestational age is measured in weeks and days from the LMP.
Worked example
If your last period began Jan 1 with a 28-day cycle:
- Due date ≈ Oct 8 (LMP + 280 days)
- Estimated conception ≈ Jan 15 (about two weeks after the LMP)