[POWER REPLAY] Understanding Your Due Date and What Happens If You Pass It

Birth With Power

Dr. Nicole C. Rankins

Parenting, Kids & Family

4.9 • 637 Ratings

🗓️ 12 August 2025

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week’s episode is a power replay of a listener favorite all about... your due date! Yep, that little date carries a whole lot of weight. From test scheduling to birth decisions, your due date impacts nearly everything during pregnancy, which is why it’s so important to get it right.

But here’s the truth: only about 4% of babies are actually born on their due date. In this updated episode, I explain why I actually hate the term “due date” and what I think we should be doing instead. You’ll learn how due dates are determined, why accuracy matters so much, what a suboptimally dated pregnancy means, and what your real options are if you go past your due date.

We also talk about the risks of late-term and post-term pregnancies, and why informed, individualized decision-making is the most empowering approach.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why your due date is so much more than just a countdown
The most accurate way to determine your due date (hint: it's all about timing)
What happens if your pregnancy goes beyond 40 or even 42 weeks
Why due dates shouldn’t be treated like expiration dates
What stillbirth risk actually looks like — and how it changes week by week
Your options if you go past your due date and how to make the best choice for you

✨ Ready to stay informed and empowered throughout your pregnancy journey? Join my email list at drnicolerankins.com/email for exclusive updates, discounts, and more expert tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Our Sponsors:
* Check out Ritual at get 25 off! https://ritual.com/DRNICOLE

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Summer's here and it's time to bring the heat in a new Honda. Head out on an unforgettable adventure. Or take a sporty sedan for a spin. All while driving with confidence. Check out the Civic, Accord, or HRV during the Honda Summer event.
0:23.6	See Dealer for financing details.
0:27.6	Hey friend, quick note.
0:31.6	I'm taking a summer break to rest, realign, and finish some exciting things behind the scenes. While I'm away,
0:40.9	I'm sharing some of the most loved episodes. Look for power replays in your feed. Whether this is
0:48.1	one of those episodes or this is a gem you found on your own from the archives, enjoy. W wishing you a joyful summer and i will see you in
0:57.4	october in this episode you are going to learn all about your due date welcome to the all about
1:09.8	pregnancy and birth podcast i'm dr nicole calloway rankins a board certificate Welcome to the All About Pregnancy and Birth Podcast.
1:11.6	I'm Dr. Nicole Calloway Rankins, a board-certified OBGYN who's been in practice for nearly 15 years.
1:18.9	I've had the privilege of helping over 1,000 babies into this world, and I'm here to help you be calm, confident, and empowered to have a beautiful pregnancy
1:29.5	in birth. Quick note, this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
1:35.6	medical advice. Check out the full disclaimer at Dr. Nicole Rankins.com forward slash disclaimer.
1:41.9	Now let's get to it.
1:47.3	Hello there. Welcome to another episode of the podcast. This is episode number 147. I am so glad that you
1:55.9	are spending some of your time with me today. All right. So today's episode is all about due date.
2:03.1	And this is an episode.
2:04.5	I did it like almost three years ago and like towards the beginning of the podcast.
2:08.6	And it was definitely time to update it.
2:10.5	So you need to know about your due date because your due date is really important.
2:16.1	All of the decisions that are made during pregnancy revolve around your due date.
2:22.0	So it is really crucial that we get it right.
2:25.8	So in this episode, you are going to learn why your due date is important, how it is best
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 10 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Nicole C. Rankins, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Nicole C. Rankins and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.