due date
DYOO dayt
/djuː deɪt/
The estimated date on which a pregnant woman is expected to give birth.
It is rarely an exact prediction; only about 4% of babies are born on their actual due date.
The story behind the word. The term 'due' comes from the Old French 'deu', meaning something owed. In the context of birth, it suggests the time when the 'debt' of gestation is finally 'paid' with the arrival of the child.
Word relationships
- EDD: EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery) is the formal medical acronym.
Commonly confused with
- deadline: A deadline is a strict cutoff; a due date in pregnancy is a flexible window.
Collocations
- estimated due date
- past the due date
- calculate a due date
- approaching the due date
Example sentences
- "When is your due date? We want to make sure the nursery is ready by then." Casual conversation
- "The doctor calculated the due date based on the first day of her last menstrual period." Medical planning
Memory hook
The baby is 'due' to arrive on that 'date'. Arrival estimate.
When not to use
In finance, it refers to when a bill is owed. In pregnancy, it's always an estimate.
Fun facts
- Naegele's rule is the standard method used to calculate a due date: add seven days to the first day of the last period and count back three months.
Related words
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