What Does It Mean If My Doctor Changes My Due Date
Your doctor may change your due date if your fetus is significantly smaller or larger than the average fetus at your particular stage of pregnancy.
Generally, your doctor orders an ultrasound to determine the gestational age of your baby when theres a history of irregular periods, when the date of your LMP is uncertain, or when conception occurred despite oral contraceptive use.
An ultrasound allows your doctor to measure the crown-rump length the length of the fetus from one end to the other.
During the first trimester, this measurement provides the most accurate estimation for the age of the baby. Your doctor may change your due date based on the ultrasound measurement.
This is most likely to occur in the first trimester, especially if the date estimated by the ultrasound differs by more than one week from the date estimated by your doctor based on your LMP.
In the second trimester, an ultrasound is less accurate and your doctor probably wont adjust your date unless the estimates vary by more than two weeks.
The third trimester is the least accurate time to date a pregnancy. Estimates based on an ultrasound can be off by as much as three weeks, so doctors rarely adjust dates during the third trimester.
However, its not uncommon for a doctor to perform an ultrasound in the third trimester if theyre thinking about changing your date.
Weeks Pregnant: The 4th Week Of Your Pregnancy
Congratulations! Pregnancy weeks four through seven are when most women discover they are pregnant. This week-by-week newsletter will keep you informed about what to expect during your pregnancy. If you have just found out that you are pregnant, you may want to begin by reading weeks 1 through 3. Get the Fetal Life App for Apple and Android endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association.
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How Do I Know How Many Weeks Pregnant I Am
While you may be unable to pinpoint how long youve been pregnant right away, thats not the end of the story. There are several ways to determine how far along you are. The good news is that not all of them necessitate a trip to the doctor at least, not right away. Heres what you can do to discover how long youve been pregnant.
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How To Calculate How Many Weeks You Are
Example:count one week to the nextuntil you reach the present date.
LMP = December 2, 2022
1st Wed = December 9, 2022 = 1 Week2nd Wed = December 16, 2022 = 2 Weeks9th Wed = February 3, 2023 = 9 WeeksYou are 9 Weeks and 1 Day pregnant
Another method to calculate how many weeks pregnant you are is to:
How Many Weeks Am I Formula:LMP = Last Menstrual PeriodHow Far Along Am I Formula:LMP = Last Menstrual Period*LMP date may be adjusted if unknown or following ultrasound.
Each of these methods will give you the gestational age of your pregnancy.
When Should I Call My Doctor
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A due date calculator helps you plan for your babys arrival. Keep in mind that a due date calculator is only an estimate. Youll need to see your provider to confirm the date. Your due date may change when you have a prenatal ultrasound. Your provider may even change your due date more than once during your pregnancy, but it usually only changes by a few days. Knowing when to expect your new family member allows you to prepare mentally and physically. An accurate due date also helps your provider monitor your health and the health of your baby.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/07/2021.
References
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How Far Along Am I
If you are wondering how many weeks pregnant am I? nows the time to find out! Learn how far along you are in your pregnancy and estimated due date with the First Response pregnancy calculator. Starting with the first day of your last menstrual period it is easy to calculate when you conceived. Find out your baby’s due date so you can start planning key milestones.
Why Due Dates Are So Hard To Predict
There are a bunch of reasons as to why its so hard to predict when baby will be born. Lets start with the most basic: Soon-to-be-moms often count nine months ahead, but pregnancy is typically 40 weeks from the first day of your last period, which is, of course, more like 10 months.
Another concept to understand when figuring out due dates is that theres no such thing as a firm date for when baby will actually arrive. Even what your doctor tells you is simply an estimate. After all, every pregnancy is different. Some babies, as if eager to greet you, arrive early others take their time and enter late, on their own terms.
Gauging the size of your bump probably wont help much either. For instance, when it isnt your first pregnancy, your bump may show a bit faster than it did the first time around. The growth in the abdomen is much quicker, says Jessica Shepherd, MD, an ob-gyn and womens health expert. Your abdominal and uterine muscles are looser now, since they stretched during your first pregnancy. Plus, your uterus doesnt return to its original pre-pregnancy size after baby number 1, giving your body a head start. So, youll likely pop earlier.
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Gestational Age Vs Fetal Age
Fetal age is separate from gestational age. While the gestational age measures how far a pregnancy has progressed in weeks, fetal age is the growing babys actual age.
Fetal age is counted from the moment of conception. Thus, it is 14 days less than the gestational age, assuming a regular menstrual cycle of 28 days. Health care providers generally measure fetal age through ultrasounds. An ultrasound lets them measure the size of your baby’s head, abdomen, and thigh bone, which together indicate fetal age.
The Sensitivity Of The Pregnancy Test
Different pregnancy tests have different sensitivities and that has an impact on how early can pregnancy be detected. The lower the sensitivity, the earlier a pregnancy test becomes positive. Sensitivities are indicated in mIU/mL, the lowest amount of hCG in the urine that tests positive. A sensitivity of 20 mIU/mL requires one-half the hCG level to be positive when compared with a 40 mIU/mL sensitivity level, and it may become positive several days earlier than the pregnancy test with a higher sensitivity. Make sure you read the package of the pregnancy test to determine your pregnancy tests sensitivity.
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Acog Definition Of Pregnancy
- Early-term: 37 weeks through 38 weeks and six days
- Full-term: 39 weeks through 40 weeks and six days
- Late-term: 41 weeks through 41 weeks and six days
- Post-term: any pregnancy that goes beyond 42 weeks
Sometimes, when talking about twins or triplets, you will hear people say things like, Twins are full-term at 37 weeks. But this isnt truly accurate. All pregnanciesincluding twins, triplets, or morearent truly full-term until they reach 39 weeks.
While you might be at greater risk of earlier labor with twins, that doesn’t affect how the timing of labor would be classified.
What Is My Due Date
Your due date, also known as your estimated date of delivery, is the approximate date your labor might begin. Your estimated due date is commonly calculated by adding 280 days to the date of the first day of your last period, using Naegeles rule. This may vary if you have irregular periods.
It’s worth noting that although predicted due dates are commonly calculated at 280 days, a baby is born on its predicted due date just 5% of the time. 2 A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology suggests a number of factors that can influence the length of your pregnancy, including ethnicity, height, variations in the menstrual cycle, the timing of ovulation, parity and maternal weight. It is for this reason that calculations using Naegeles rule can be considered as an estimate and not a definitive date. 3
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How To Know When You Conceived
In general, there are a few ways to determine your conception date. No method is 100% accurate, but some are more reliable than others.
Ovulation
The first way to find out your conception date is to determine when you were last ovulating. In general, women can only conceive when they are ovulating that is, when their ovaries release a new egg into their fallopian tubes for fertilization. That means you can use your ovulation dates to try to determine when you became pregnant.
Ovulation usually occurs about two weeks after your menstrual period and lasts for two or three days. This means you can sometimes determine when you conceived based on your ovulation cycles simply determine when your last menstrual period was and add approximately two weeks.
However, this method isnt always accurate. Not all women have the same cycles of menstruation and ovulation, some womens menstrual cycles are irregular, others have ovulation periods closer to or further from their menstrual period and some women simply arent sure when their last period was. In other words, calculating conception based only on your body cycles can be difficult.
Intercourse
Another way to learn your conception date is to try to determine the last time you had sexual intercourse. Unfortunately, this method isnt totally accurate either. Conception is a process that takes time and a mans sperm can actually stay alive inside your body for up to a week after sex.
Ultrasound
What If I Dont Know When My Last Period Was
If you dont have a regular 28 day cycle or if you cant remember when your last period arrived, you can book an early pregnancy ultrasound to estimate how many weeks pregnant you are.
Bear in mind, the due date based on your own, unique cycle is most accurate, followed by early ultrasound, then late ultrasound.
The reason for this is when a baby first forms, they follow a predictable growth pattern, as they develop all the initial building blocks.
But as your baby gets bigger, he or she will develop at their own rate genetics come into play.
Ultimately, its best to avoid ultrasounds if you can, because ultrasound heats tissue. Especially early ultrasounds , which are often internal. Your developing baby will have the internal ultrasound wand placed very close to their brain.
Have an ultrasound if you must, but try to keep the time to a minimum and avoid any that are unnecessary.
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Whats In Store For Me Until My Due Date
Now that you know how far along you are, it might be helpful to know that pregnancies are often referred to in weeks and trimesters. Take a look at this pregnancy timeline for a breakdown of the weeks, months, and trimesters of pregnancy:
Here are some of the things you can expect in each trimester of pregnancy:
First trimester : You might notice some early signs of pregnancy, such as morning sickness and food cravings. Your provider will be able to confirm your pregnancy and set up your prenatal visits to make sure you and your baby stay healthy and safe.
Second trimester : This trimester is often referred to as the honeymoon phase of pregnancy. You may feel as if you have some extra energy to get things done, like baby-proofing your home, going to prenatal classes, and doing some gentle pregnancy exercise.
If you aren’t already, this may also be a good time to start doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. You can do these simple muscle clenches anywhere, and they’re beneficial not only during pregnancy and labor, but afterwards as well.
Third trimester : You’re nearly there! As you get closer to the birth of your baby, you’ll want to get prepared by making sure you have all the right baby gear. But remember to take the opportunity to slow down and rest whenever you can.
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What Is The Average Length Of Pregnancy
It is predicted that a pregnancy will last for 38 weeks, which is equivalent to 266 days.The actual duration of a womans pregnancy varies greatly from one woman to the next.Only four percent of newborns are born on the day that doctors predict they will be delivered, while the other seventy percent are born within 10 days.
- The remaining thirty percent of babies are delivered more than ten days before or more than ten days after the expected date of delivery.
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What Is A Due Date
It takes about 38 weeks for human babies to develop fully in the womb. Your due date is the day youre expected to give birth based on this 38-week gestation process.
But keep in mind that healthcare providers consider a pregnancy to be full-term anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks. Babies can be born at any time, and many factors play a role in determining when you go into labor and when your baby will actually enter the world.
Pregnancy Symptoms Week 4
If your menstrual cycle is regular, then the first and most reliable indication that youre pregnant is likely to be missing your period after youve been having unprotected sex . However, there are many other reasons for a delayed or missed period and the only way to know for sure is to take a pregnancy test. These are cheap and accessible at your local drugstore, but you may prefer the discretion of your clinic instead.
You may also notice any one of the following general symptoms of early pregnancy:
- nausea or vomiting
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If Pregnancy Test Says Positive Then How Far Along Can You Be
Well a pregnancy test can detect hCG levelsas far as 5 days before your expected period. Though it is notparticularly accurate. I personally recommend taking the test 1-2days before your expected period for best accuracy. A pregnacnytest cannot really tell you how far a long you are. If you thinkyou may be pregnant, and possibly have been for a little while youcould have suspected your implantation bleeding for you period. To know how far along you are you should contact your OB/GYN. Here is a link to awebsite that will calculate the probability of your pregnancy:http://www.thepregnancytest.com/
Factors That Cause A False Negative
Can you get a false negative pregnancy test? Absolutely. But you can decrease your risk of getting a false negative by keeping an eye out for the variables that cause a negative pregnancy test result, such as:
- Urine concentration The more diluted your urine, the harder it is for a pregnancy test to detect accurate amounts of HCG . Instead, try to take your pregnancy test first thing in the morning when the chemicals in your urine are at their most concentrated.
- Testing too early If youre trying to get pregnant, you may be meticulously tracking your menstrual cycles so you can pinpoint your most fertile periods. But not every woman operates on a 28-day cycle. If you get a negative test result, you might have caught your egg right at implantation, before HCG levels are high enough to be detected. Try waiting a few days and test again to ensure an accurate reading.
- Delayed implantation Typically, a fertilized egg will mosey down into the uterus for implantation 6-9 days after fertilization. But thats not always the case for every woman. In fact, for 10 percent of pregnant women, the embryo doesnt implant until the first day of your missed period. And remember, HCG isnt produced until implantation, so you may not get a positive pregnancy test until week 6 or 8 of your pregnancy!
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What Do My Pregnancy Test Results Mean
When your Clearblue Digital Pregnancy Test is complete you will see your pregnancy test results right away, which will display the words pregnant or not pregnant clearly on the indicator. Your weeks indicator test result may take a little longer to display, but when it does it will display one of three options:
What To Do During Your Sixth Month Of Pregnancy
- This is a great time to start taking birthing classes, especially if you are planning on a natural and unmedicated birth or home birth.
- Its important to learn how to manage your labor and decide what you want for your labor and demand it. Its your body, your labor, and your babyyoure in charge!
- Prepare yourself for stretch marks. As your baby grows, your belly will expand. Stretch marks may start forming across your abdomen. Although they should fade after you deliver, help your skin to adapt to the changes as best you can by staying hydrated, eating well, and getting some vitamin D.
What to Expect During Your Pregnancy During the Third Trimester
The Third Trimester
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