Using An Online Calculator
Average Length Of Pregnancy
While 40 weeks is the average, its not unusual to deliver your baby earlier or later. In the past, 37 weeks was considered to be a full-term pregnancy. This definition impacted when it was considered safe to induce labor or schedule a cesarean section.
However, we now know that being born at 37 weeks can increase health risks. Its not nearly as risky as being born before 37 weeks, but it’s not ideal. Research shows its typically better for a baby to stay in the uterus a few weeks longer to at least 39 weeks, if possible.
In response, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has created new definitions to describe the timing of labor:
What Should Your Fundal Height Be
Starting at 24 weeks, your fundal height should be about the same number of centimeters as the number of weeks youve been pregnant.
Your fundal height may be off by up to 2 centimeters in either direction and still be considered normal.
So, for example, if youre 30 weeks pregnant, a fundal height of 28 to 32 centimeters is considered to be a normal range.
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How To Calculate Weeks Of Pregnancy
Pregnancy is calculated based on your last menstrual period. Week one of your pregnancy will start on the first day of your LMP. Likewise, the following weeks are calculated. This may sound weird, but it helps in giving the exact date for timely medical care. Unless you had an assisted conception and knew when the fertilization took place, the LMP method is the only way to know the closest ovulation and conception dates.
The doctors can help you with the exact calculation of weeks and months of pregnancy through other ways.
Does Pregnancy Last For Nine Months
The total time period of pregnancy is considered 40 weeks from LMP. This superficially looks like ten months, assuming each month is made of four weeks. However, in this calculation, it has to be remembered that the actual fertilisation and conception happens two weeks after the last day of the menstrual period. Additionally, some of the months have 31 days and some have 30 days, except February. As an average, every month has 4.4 weeks and not 4 weeks exactly. Based on this, the effective pregnancy period from conception to delivery which is taken as 40 weeks, translates to nine months and one week.
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How To Understand Gestational Age
LMP refers to the first day of your last menstrual period. Health care providers measure pregnancies in weeks starting from the first day of the LMP. If your period is regular and lasts 28 days, and if ovulation generally happens on day 14 of your cycle, then conception probably took place about two weeks after the LMP. For gestational age counting, these two weeks are added to a pregnancy as a simpler method than trying to track from ovulation or fertilization.
Nevertheless, this estimation is not always accurate. It doesn’t take into account factors like changes in the menstrual cycle, variations in ovulation, and imperfect recall by patients.
A due date calendar or calculator can help pregnant people determine their babys due date.
To calculate your due date, add 280 days to the first day of your LMP .
Different calculators can help determine your due date based on ovulation, date of conception, and ultrasound data. Specific calculators can predict the due dates of people who are using assisted reproductive technologies and embryo transfer.
The conception date refers to when a baby was conceived. Since sperm can live inside the vaginal canal for three to five days, conception can take place up to five days after sexual intercourse. Fertilization depends on ovulation and can occur within 12-24 hours from the release of the egg .
Why Do I Calculate From The First Day Of My Last Period Not Conception
Before we understood the physiology of ovulationand that women dont ovulate until a couple of weeks after their period, so they really cant get pregnant until that timethe only thing that primitive physicians and midwives knew was that from the first day of the last period, it was about 280 days before a woman gave birth, says Scurfield. All of the research and medical literature have been based on that formula being used.
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Does Belly Size Really Matter During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, a lot of your friends and relatives would want to share their experiences with you. They will have their set of opinions regarding the weight, belly size, etc and theyll share the information as per their experience, but the truth is, the size of the belly does not matter during pregnancy. As long as you are not overweight or obese during pregnancy, there is nothing to worry. The size of your belly should not be a concern to you. Dont miss your doctors appointments and get the tests done at regular intervals your doctor will keep you updated!
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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What Should Fundal Height Be Each Week
Your fundal height in centimeters should be close to the number of weeks you are in pregnancy, plus or minus 2 centimeters. However, this is only the case from about weeks 20 to 36. Before 20 weeks of pregnancy, your fundus is not high enough. After 36 weeks of pregnancy, your fundus starts to go down. This is because the fetus has dropped into your pelvis to prepare for labor. If this drop doesn’t happen, this can indicate the fetus is breech.
For example, if you are 32 weeks pregnant, a fundal height of 30 to 34 centimeters is an acceptable size.
Fetal Weight By Week: How It Changes
Your baby steadily gains weight over the course of your pregnancy, but it’s not always at the same rate. If you’re having one baby , your baby’s rate of growth accelerates until 35 weeks, then decelerates.
Here are some highlights, based on estimations:
- Up until 16 weeks, a fetus grows an average of about 19 grams per week, gradually increasing from 7 grams per week at 8 weeks to 15 grams per week at 12 weeks and 29 grams per week at 16 weeks.
- At 35 weeks, a fetus is gaining about 215 grams each week, or about 7.5 ounces. At this point their growth rate peaks.
- After 35 weeks, growth slows to about 188 grams per week, or 6.6 ounces.
- In the last few weeks of pregnancy, the growth rate continues to gradually slow to about 168 grams per week by week 40.
Using a tape measure stretched over your belly, your provider will use a fundal height measurement to check your baby’s size at your prenatal visits. Beginning at about 24 weeks, the measurement in centimeters should roughly match the gestational age of your baby. If you’re 26 weeks pregnant, for example, your fundal height should be about 26 cm, give or take a centimeter in each direction.
If your provider is concerned that your baby is too small, they’ll monitor your baby’s size with ultrasound, which is more accurate. Using ultrasound, your practitioner can take various measurements and use them to estimate your baby’s size. They may also use a Doppler ultrasound to look at the blood flow to your placenta.
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How Is Pregnancy Due Date Calculated
A complete full-term pregnancy is usually considered as 40 weeks and the estimated date of confinement or estimated due date is calculated from the date of the last menstrual period . 280 days are added to the LMP and the likely due date is arrived at. In a full-term delivery, the baby is usually born around the time of the EDC. Since the exact time of ovulation is unknown, this calculation only gives a rough idea of the delivery date, with just 5% of babies being born exactly on their due date.
Lily Slater Makes A Decision About Her Pregnancy
Stacey was completely floored over the New Year celebrations, when a carbon monoxide leak at the Slaters’ led to daughter Lily being hospitalised – only for a doctor to reveal that tests confirmed the 12-year-old girl is pregnant! What followed was a series of questions, until eventually Lily told her mum that she had had sex with young Ricky Mitchell – son of Jack Branning and Sam Mitchell.
At first, Stacey opted not to tell Lily’s adoptive dad, Martin but as the fallout continues, he will be informed. And Martin desperately begs Stacey to support him into talking Lily into having a termination, but Stacey refuses. Later, Lily has a chat with her pregnant aunt Whitney Dean , who is oblivious to what’s going on. When Lily returns, she tells her parents she has made a decision. But which route will Lily take?
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Pregnancy By Week Calculator
The functioning of this tool and the content on this page have been verified by iCliniq medical review team.
Pregnancy By Week Calculator helps you to know your pregnancy stages in week by weeks in a beautiful calendar.
This tool also gives an idea as to how many weeks are yet to be completed for the infant. Isn’t it a great tool?
Zack Hudson Faces Up To His Problems
Having recently been accosted by old pal Brett , Zack is not in a good way. But as a new week dawns, Zack focuses on preparing for a tasting at Walford East, pretending to be confident. But when Suki and Nish Panesar arrive and overhear Chelsea talking about Zack deserting Whitney and their unborn baby, Zack is rattled by their nit-picking and disapproval. When Zack smashes a glass and cuts his hand, he loses it and storms out. He realises he must face up to things – what exactly is Zack dealing with?
Later, Whit heads to her first baby scan, while Zack talks to friend Martin – who is unaware of what Zack is coping with. The chat leaves Zack steeling himself to take responsibility, and he is desperate to know the results of the baby’s tests. After he asks Sonia Fowler , Whit hears of his enquiries and wonders if she should give Zack another chance. She’s a bag of nerves as she gets a text from the clinic, and Zack supports her. What will the results say? Whitney thanks him, but then asks him to keep his distance. Will she have a change of heart? And will we learn more about Zack’s situation?
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What Is Gestational Age
You’ve used Flo’s online due date calculator to predict when you’re likely to give birth and how far along you are. But if you’re still not completely clear on what gestational age actually is, we’re here to help.
Gestational age describes where you are in your pregnancy. Its measured from the first day of your last menstrual period to the current date, typically in weeks. Usually, pregnancies last anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks babies born before the 37-week marker are considered premature.
How Accurate Are Measurements Of My Babys Size In Utero
Any estimation of your babys size in utero is simply a best guess based on averages. Every mom is a different size and shape, as is every baby inside. Measuring bigger or smaller than the average is usually perfectly normal. In fact, research suggests fundal height measurements are often off by two weeks in non-obese women.
Theres always a margin of error when it comes to estimating the exact weight and size of an unborn baby. Estimates of your babys size can be off by a pound or more, and being a centimeter or two bigger or smaller than the expected measurement is usually no cause for concern.
Fundal height can be less accurate if youre obese or have a history of uterine fibroids. You may measure off by a week or two because of other factors, including your babys position and the volume of amniotic fluid on that given day. Sometimes a baby may measure large or small because your estimated due date isnt accurate.
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I Had Sex Two Weeks Ago But My Doctor Says That Im Four Weeks Pregnant How
88 things nobody tells you about being pregnantIf you have a standard 28-day period, you will likely ovulate around day 14 and are most fertile around days 12, 13 and 14when you had sex to conceive. It takes about nine days after ovulation for implantation to occur, which brings you to around day 23. It takes a few days for your pregnancy hormone levels to be detectable by a pregnancy test, bringing you to around day 28. How far along you are in your pregnancy isnt calculated from conception or implantation but from the first day of your last normal period. If you had your period four weeks ago, then ovulated and had sex two weeks ago to become pregnant, youre currently four weeks pregnant.
How Are Due Dates Calculated
If you were having regular periods before pregnancy, your doctor will calculate your due date based off of your last menstrual period. This goes back to the fact that in order to get pregnant, your body ovulatedor released an eggroughly in the middle of your cycle and it was fertilized by sperm. That was the moment of conception.
To clarify, the gestational period of 40 weeks actually starts with the first day of your last period, which adds two weeks of time to the gestational period when your baby didnt even exist yetclear as mud, right?Is an ultrasound a more accurate way of finding out my due date?If you are having irregular cycles before getting pregnant, an ultrasound is usually done to find out how far along you are. An ultrasound is actually the most accurate way to date a pregnancy because all fetuses grow at a consistent rate during the first trimester and early second.
In other words, if your baby measures 9 weeks 2 days when you have your ultrasound, thats how far along you are, no matter when your last period was. Some women with regular cycles are confused about why their ultrasound due date doesnt match up with their last menstrual period due date. Ovulation isnt a perfect science and can happen earlier or later than the norm, which might shift your due date slightly.
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Abnormal Causes Of Belly Expansion
In most cases, a belly bump during pregnancy is completely healthy. However, some pregnancy conditions can cause a rapidly swelling belly, requiring careful monitoring. If you experience any of these conditions, make sure to talk to a medical professional.
1. Large fetus
A larger-than-average fetus will likely cause a larger-than-average belly bump.
A large fetus can develop for a few reasons:
- Male fetus: Boys are born 150 grams heavier than girls, on average.
- Gestational diabetes: Maternal blood glucose levels can rise during pregnancy.
- Maternal obesity: Extra weight around the abdomen can lead to a larger bump.
Folks who have a larger baby may need additional examinations and special delivery accommodations, which need to be discussed with a health care provider as early as possible.
2. Molar pregnancy
Molar pregnancies result from problems during fertilization, leading to an abnormal placenta. In a complete molar pregnancy, the sperm has fertilized a non-viable egg, and only placental tissue develops. Because the egg wasnt viable, no fetus develops. In a partial molar pregnancy, two sperm usually fertilize one egg, and some fetal and placental tissue begins to grow. This condition is most often diagnosed in the first trimester based on symptoms like uterine enlargement and abnormal bleeding. Most molar pregnancies result in miscarriage.
3. Polyhydramnios
5. Fast-growing benign fibroid tumors
