Using Nägele's rule, what expected date of delivery should a nurse document based on a last menstrual period of October 19, 2018?

To determine the expected date of delivery using Nägele's rule, the process involves adding one year to the last menstrual period (LMP), subtracting three months, and then adding seven days to the date of the LMP.

Starting with the given LMP of October 19, 2018, the calculation proceeds as follows:

1. Add one year to the LMP:

• October 19, 2018 + 1 year = October 19, 2019.

2. Subtract three months from that date:

• October 19, 2019 - 3 months = July 19, 2019.

3. Finally, add seven days:

• July 19, 2019 + 7 days = July 26, 2019.

Thus, the expected date of delivery would be July 26, 2019. This reasoning affiliates closely with the pregnancy duration, which is approximately 40 weeks or 280 days from the first day of the last menstrual period. The method provides a reliable estimate for healthcare providers when planning prenatal care and ensuring the well-being of both the mother and the infant.