calculate_due_date: Calculate estimated due date and birth period

In pregnancy: Calculate and Track Dates and Medications During Pregnancy

Calculate estimated due date and birth period

Description

Calculates the estimated due date based on a start date and type. The function supports different start date types including last menstrual period (LMP), conception date, and embryo transfer dates. It also provides an estimated birth period, which spans from 37 weeks (birth period start) to 42 weeks (birth period end).

Usage

calculate_due_date(
  start_date,
  start_type = c("LMP", "conception", "transfer_day_3", "transfer_day_5",
    "transfer_day_6"),
  cycle = 28
)

Arguments

start_date	Date or character string representing a date, e.g. "YYYY-MM-DD". The starting reference date. The interpretation of this date depends on the start_type parameter.
start_type	character. One of: "LMP": Last Menstrual Period date (default) "conception": Date of conception "transfer_day_3": Date of day 3 embryo transfer "transfer_day_5": Date of day 5 embryo transfer "transfer_day_6": Date of day 6 embryo transfer
cycle	numeric. Length of menstrual cycle in days. Only used when start_type = "LMP". Must be between 20 and 44 days. Defaults to 28 days.

Details

The due date is calculated as follows:

• For LMP: Ovulation is estimated as ⁠start_date + cycle - 14 days⁠, then 266 days are added

• For conception: 266 days are added to the conception date

• For embryo transfers: The appropriate number of days are subtracted to get to conception date (3, 5, or 6 days), then 266 days are added

The birth period start date is 21 days before the due date (37 weeks pregnant), and the birth period end date is 14 days after the due date (42 weeks pregnant).

#' If start_date is a character string, the conversion to a Date is handled by anytime::anydate().

Value

Returns a Date object representing the estimated due date invisibly. Also prints informative messages showing:

• The estimated due date

• When the birth period begins (37 weeks)

• When the birth period ends (42 weeks)

See Also

• date_when() for finding dates at specific weeks of pregnancy

• how_far() for calculating current progress in pregnancy

Examples

# Calculate due date from last menstrual period
calculate_due_date("2025-01-31")

# Calculate from conception date
calculate_due_date("2025-02-14", start_type = "conception")

# Calculate from day 5 embryo transfer
calculate_due_date(as.Date("2025-02-19"), start_type = "transfer_day_5")

# Calculate with non-standard cycle length
calculate_due_date("2025-01-31", cycle = 35)

pregnancy documentation built on Sept. 14, 2025, 5:09 p.m.