US Medical Term · maternity
Due Date
Fecha probable de parto
Also: Fecha de parto esperada (regional variant)
What it means
A due date is the date on which a pregnancy is expected to reach 40 weeks; MedlinePlus glosses it as "when you are 40 weeks pregnant." It is not exact, but an estimate. According to MedlinePlus, the due date is estimated based on the first day of the last period, the size of the uterus early in pregnancy, and an ultrasound early in pregnancy. Weeks of pregnancy, called gestational age, are measured from the first day of the last menstrual cycle. Most pregnancies last 37 to 42 weeks, and a pregnancy that lasts more than 42 weeks is called post-term, or past due. Figuring out the due date is one of the things a provider will most likely do at the first prenatal visit.
Due Date in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Fecha probable de parto
- Gender and article
- feminine: la fecha probable de parto
- Pronunciation
- FEH-chah proh-BAH-bleh deh PAR-toh
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| fecha prevista de parto | General | Wording MedlinePlus en español uses for the same date in its article on going past the due date. |
| fecha de parto | General | Shorter form used by MedlinePlus en español in the same article and on its prenatal care page. |
MedlinePlus en español uses fecha probable de parto in the title and text of its article on going past the due date, and its prenatal care page uses the same phrase for the date a provider establishes, when the pregnancy reaches 40 weeks. The head noun is fecha, so the phrase is feminine: la fecha probable de parto, su fecha probable de parto. Within the same article the wording varies: fecha prevista de parto and the shorter fecha de parto appear for the same date.
The article says the date is un cálculo aproximado (an estimate) and not exact. Nearby vocabulary from the same pages includes último período (last period), ecografía (ultrasound), embarazo postérmino or prolongado (post-term pregnancy), inducir el parto (to induce labor), trabajo de parto (labor) and dar a luz (to give birth). The length of a pregnancy is counted in semanas (weeks), as in 41 semanas.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | What was the first day of your last period? | ¿Cuál fue el primer día de su último período? |
| Patient | I don't remember the exact day. I think it was in early March. | No recuerdo el día exacto. Creo que fue a principios de marzo. |
| Clinician | We will do an ultrasound early in the pregnancy to estimate your due date. | Le haremos una ecografía a comienzos del embarazo para calcular su fecha probable de parto. |
| Patient | What is my due date? | ¿Cuál es mi fecha probable de parto? |
| Clinician | Your due date is an estimate, not an exact day. | Su fecha probable de parto es un cálculo aproximado, no un día exacto. |
| Patient | How many weeks pregnant am I today? | ¿Cuántas semanas de embarazo tengo hoy? |
| Patient | What happens if I go past my due date? | ¿Qué pasa si me paso de la fecha probable de parto? |
| Clinician | If you reach 41 weeks, we will do tests to check on the baby. | Si llega a las 41 semanas, le haremos exámenes para evaluar al bebé. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Due Date |
| Spanish (Español) | Fecha probable de parto |
| Chinese (中文) | 預產期 |
| Korean (한국어) | 출산 예정일 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ngày dự sinh |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Takdang petsa ng panganganak |
| Portuguese (Português) | Data prevista do parto |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | วันคลอดกำหนด |
| Japanese (日本語) | 出産予定日 |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: Z34 → Encounter for supervision of normal pregnancyRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Reproductive health and pregnancy
All terms in this area: Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
Sources
- When you pass your due date (Medical Encyclopedia) — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Cuando se pase de la fecha probable de parto (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Prenatal Care — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Cuidado prenatal — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Gestational age (Medical Encyclopedia) — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026