What Do You Mean You
Don't DO DUE DATES????

That's right folks - we don't give due dates...due dates are estimates of when your baby will arrive. Natural Attachment does not generally give you a due date. We consider the usual time frame to be 38 to 42 weeks (36 - 46 weeks are not unusual) from the day of conception, therefore, we will give you a due month.

But, if you're incredibly structured, we have a little cheat sheet to help figure out how long you have until the big day (keep in mind that babies come when THEY are ready)...

Most people are used to being assigned a EDD. Your expected delivery date (EDD) is 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). If you birth on your EDD, your baby is actually only 38 weeks old - that's because your menstrual period and ovulation are counted as the first 2 weeks of pregnancy. It's important to remember that your due date is only an estimate - most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks and only a small percentage of women actually birth on their due date (that's why we give you a Due Month).

A little history on this subject:

Dr. Naegele, circa 1850, determined that the average length of human gestation was approximately 266 days from conception. He assumed that the average woman had cycles that lasted 28 days and that she ovulated on Day 14 of her cycle. However, we know that this isn't true!!

He used his data to come up with a mathematical calculation for due dates:

((LMP + 7 days) - 3 months) = Due Date
EX: ((January 1, 1996 + 7 days) - 3 months) = October 8, 1996

However, Dr. Naegele did not consider certain factors in his calculation. For example: Not every woman ovulates on Day 14.

One study indicates that we need to add 12 days to the Naegele EDD for Caucasian, first time moms, and 7 days for Caucasian moms having subsequent children. African American and Asian women tend to have shorter gestations.

Nowadays, doctors use ultrasound, when available or if there is a question of menstrual history. Ultrasound can be an effective way of dating a pregnancy, but this accuracy is lost if not performed in the first half of pregnancy. Not to mention the current controversy as to whether or nor ultrasounds are actually safe for the unborn child. Natural Attachment does not offer or perform ultrasounds and advises against Vanity Ultrasounds (Keepsake Ultrasounds and ultrasounds used to determine the child’s sex).

Most folks agree that there are many ways to date a pregnancy, and that not just one factor should be used to determine the final due date. Other factors to consider are:

• Quickening (first time mom feels the baby move)
• Fetal heart tones heard through doppler, stethoscope and fetoscope
• Fundal height (Measurement of the uterus done throughout pregnancy)
• A mother's Fertility Awareness Method chart