IVF Pregnancy Calculator — Week 42 (Day 3 & Day 5 Transfer)
You are 42 weeks pregnant after IVF (gestational age counted from egg retrieval + 14 days for day-5 transfer, +12 days for day-3 transfer). Below is what your embryologist and REI clinic expect at this exact stage.
IVF Pregnancy Calculator
Enter your egg retrieval date and select day-3 or day-5 transfer. EDD = retrieval + 266 days.
Baby at week 42
At 42 weeks gestational after IVF transfer: Post-term. Risk of placental insufficiency rises. Induction strongly recommended.
Mother's body — what changes
Post-IVF at week 42, clinical picture: Induction of labour offered/recommended per ACOG guideline (do not exceed 42+0).
Nutrition & supplements
Add ~450 kcal/day. Increase iron and DHA — brain growth peaks now. Split meals into 5–6 small portions to control heartburn and stable glucose. Post-IVF continue progesterone support and prenatal vitamin exactly as your REI prescribed. Do not add herbal supplements without clearance — many interact with luteal support.
Safe exercise
Reduce intensity but keep moving. Pelvic floor + squats prepare for labour. Avoid contact sports, ski, horse-riding and hot yoga. After IVF avoid high-impact activity until confirmed viability at 8-week scan. Then follow standard trimester guidance.
Doctor visit checklist — week 42
- ✓Induction of labour — post-term risk exceeds benefit of waiting
- ✓Progesterone support review — continue until placenta takeover (week 10–12)
- ✓Beta-hCG doubling every 48–72 hours until viability scan
- ✓First IVF viability ultrasound at 6–7 weeks gestational
Warning signs — call your provider immediately
- ⚠Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour)
- ⚠Severe abdominal pain that does not ease
- ⚠Fever above 38°C / 100.4°F
- ⚠Regular contractions before 37 weeks (preterm labour)
- ⚠Reduced fetal movement — fewer than 10 kicks in 2 hours
- ⚠Sudden swelling of face/hands + severe headache (preeclampsia)
- ⚠Bright red bleeding (placental abruption or previa)
Week 42 — Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the IVF Pregnancy Calculator at week 42?
The calculator uses standard gestational-age arithmetic (LMP + 280 days for standard; egg retrieval + 266 days for IVF day-5). Ultrasound crown-rump length between weeks 8–13 is more accurate (±5 days) than LMP — adjust EDD accordingly if the scan differs by more than 7 days.
What size is my baby at week 42?
Approximately the size of a large pumpkin — length 51.7 cm and weight 3680 g. These are median values from ASRM, SART and ESHRE references.
Which symptoms are normal in week 42?
Induction of labour offered/recommended per ACOG guideline (do not exceed 42+0). Every pregnancy is different — call your provider if anything on the warning-signs list appears.
Should I have an ultrasound at week 42?
Induction of labour — post-term risk exceeds benefit of waiting. Routine scan windows are: dating (10–13w), anatomy (18–22w), growth (28–32w).
How much weight should I gain by week 42?
Approximately 15.0 kg cumulative if you started at a normal BMI (IOM guideline). Underweight mothers gain more; overweight mothers less.
Day 3 vs Day 5 transfer at week 42 — what's the difference?
Day-5 blastocyst transfer adds 5 days to embryo age; Day-3 transfer adds 3 days. Gestational age = transfer date + (14 − transfer day) days + weeks since transfer. Both converge on the same due date; the difference matters only in the first 2 weeks.
Should I continue progesterone at week 42?
Most REI clinics wean progesterone by week 12. Follow your clinic's exact taper — abrupt stop before placental takeover risks miscarriage.
Content aligned with ASRM, SART and ESHRE. Reviewed by Dr. Maria Rehman, MD (OB/GYN). This page is educational and does not replace personal medical advice — call your obstetrician for any concern.