In general, the following terms may be used in estimating EDC:

❖ EDC - Expected Date of Confinement

❖ EDD - Expected Date of Delivery
❖ EDB - Expected Date of Birth
❖ LMP - Last Menstrual Period
❖ AOG - Age of Gestation

ESTIMATING EXPECTED DATE OF CONFINEMENT

OR DELIVERY

[DAYS IN A MONTH]
January February March April May June
31 29 31 30 31 30
July August September October November December
31 31 30 31 30 31

1. NAEGELE’S RULE
○ If the woman’s LMP is between APRIL TO DECEMBER,
subtract 3 calendar months, add 7 days, and add 1
year because the woman is expected to give birth the
following year.
○ If the woman’s LMP is between JANUARY TO MARCH,
add 9 calendar months, add 7 days,a nd no need to
add 1 year since the woman is expected to give birth
within the same year.
i. EXAMPLE SITUATIONS
1. Elena is a 26-year old primigravida who
visited the Barangay Health Cetner for her
pre-natal check-up. Her LMP is May 10-13,
2020. Answer the following questions.
○ What is Elena’s EDC?
i. Elena’s LMP is 5-10-2020. Subtract
3 months (since Elena’s LMP is
 between April to December), add 7
days, and add 1 year since Elena
is expected to give birth the
following year. Elena iis expected
to give birth at February 17, 2021.
○ What is Elena’s AOG in weeks if she
visits the health center today
September 3, 2020?
i. List down the number of days in
each month from Elena’s LMP to
Elena’s visit to the Health Center.
Elena’s LMP is May 10, 2022. May
has 31 days minus 10 from Elen a’s
LMP. May will only have 21 days,
June will have 30 days, July will
have 31 days, August will have 31
days, September will have 3 days
(since you will be counting up to
the day Elena visits the health
center). There will be 116 days. 116
days divided by 7 (days in a week),
that would be 16.4. Elena is 16
weeks and 4 days pregnant.
○ What is Elena’s AOG in months?
i. Since Elena is 16 weeks pregnant
divided by 4 (since there are 4
weeks in a month), that would be
4. Elena is 4 months pregnant.
ii. Cita is pregnant on her 4th child, she visits the
nearest clinic for her prenatal check up. Cita’s
LMP was last January 15, 2020. Answer the
following:
1. When is Cita’s EDC?
○ October 22, 2020.
2. What is Cita’s AOG in weeks if she visits the
health center today September 3, 2020?
 ○ 33 weeks.
3. What is Cita’s AOG in months?
○ 8 months.

2. MCDONALD’S RULE
○ This is done by measuring the fundal height of the
mother.
○ Between the distance uterine fundus to the symphysis
pubis.
○ It is measured in centimeters using a tape measure
while the woman lies supine.
○ The measurement in centimeters is equal to the week
of gestation between the 20th and 31st weeks of
pregnancy.
 ○ It is measured from the notch of the symphysis pubis
to over the top of the uterine fundus.
○ EXAMPLE
i. After taking the Naegele’s rule, the AOG in weeks
measurement is 20 weeks. Therefore, we expect
that the fundal height measurement is also 20
centimeters.
3. BARTHOLOME’S RULE
○ This method estimates the age of gestation relative to
the height of the fundus of the uterus above the
symphysis pubis.
○ If you know the AOG in weeks, it is expected that the
landmark is in these areas.
○ When the mother is 12 weeks pregnant, the height of
the fundus is expected to be at the symphysis pubis.
○ When the mother is 16 weeks pregnant, it is in between
the symphysis pubis and the umbilicus.
○ When the mother is 20 weeks pregnant, it is expected
that the height is already at the umbilicus.
○ When the mother is 36 weeks pregnant, it is already at
the xiphoid process.
○ When the mother is 40 weeks pregnant, it is already
2cms below the xiphoid process as this descends in
preparation for giving birth. The term is now called,
‘lightening’.
4. JOHNSON’S RULE
○ It estimates the EDC.
○ It is used to estimate the weight of the fetus in grams.
○ The standard formula is:
○ K is constant, it is always 155.
○ N is 12 if the fetus is engaged, 11 if not.
○ Example: Fundic height is 28cm. Fetus is not engaged.
28 - 11 x 155 = 2,635 grams.
Another example: Nina is pregnant for thef irst time, she went to
the health center for her prenatal check-up, fundic height is
25cm upon measurement and is not engaged. What is the
estimated weight of the fetus?