How To Tell How Far Along My Pregnancy Is

September 15, 2022

What Are The Signs Of Pregnancy

Pregnancy Tips : How to Figure Out How Pregnant You Are

For a lot of people, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Most pregnancy tests will be positive by the time youve missed your period. Other early pregnancy symptoms include feeling tired, feeling bloated, peeing more than usual, mood swings, nausea, and tender or swollen breasts. Not everyone has all of these symptoms, but its common to have at least 1 of them.

Using Date Of Conception

The window for conception ranges from a few days before ovulation to a few days after. A typical menstrual cycle of 28 days means you ovulated around day 14. So if you know the exact date of conception, count 266 days to get your due datebut, of course, understand that baby might actually arrive a few days before or after, says Skeete Henry.

Counting from date of conception isnt always the most precise method for determining how far along you are, since its often difficult to know, with absolute certainty, when you actually conceived. Were not just talking about the day you had sex sperm can live inside your fallopian tubes for up to five days, so its possible to conceive up to five days after intercourse.

You May Like: Can You Have Lasik While Pregnant

Why Knowing The Gestational Age Of Your Pregnancy Is Important

There are several reasons its important to get an accurate gestational age for your pregnancy, such as:

Gestational age determines what options are available to you: If you are considering abortion or seeking an abortion clinic, you need to know how far along you are before you can get any procedures done. Doctors can only use some methods up to a certain point in pregnancy, so an accurate age is vital.
Gestational age helps estimate when you possibly conceived: Knowing how far along you are helps you estimate your conception date. You may want this for personal reasons. You might also need it in order to determine who the father of the baby is.
Gestational age determines your due date: Babies are generally born 40 weeks after conception. By knowing approximately how far along you are in your pregnancy, you can determine when you are most likely to give birth and make adequate preparations.

You May Like: How To Get Pregnant With Pid

Weeks Pregnant: First Ultrasound

You wont necessarily be having your first ultrasound when youre 5 weeks pregnant. In many cases, your doctor will schedule an appointment and ultrasound around weeks 8 or 9.

If there are any risks associated with your pregnancy, you might still get an ultrasound this week. A specialist is able to see the fertilized egg approximately in week 5 of the pregnancy. The heartbeat can be heard in week 6.

Usually, during pregnancy, an ultrasound is carried out using an abdominal sensor, but during the early pregnancy stages, a doctor can still perform a transvaginal examination.

The first ultrasound examination helps to confirm the heartbeat of the fetus and the fact that the pregnancy is not ectopic. Later, it allows you to see the location of the placenta and the umbilical cord, as well as to assess the overall condition of the child. Ultrasound enables one to monitor a successful course of pregnancy.

Also Check: How To Check If Your Pregnant At Home

Fun Facts About March 31 Babies

This calming blue-green stone promotes tranquility and peace, and resembles the color and serenity of the sea.

Your little one will be confident, determined and fearless with a competitive streak.

Cesar Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in order to improve the lives of farm workers.

Can My Due Date Change

During your prenatal checkups, your healthcare provider will monitor how far along you are. Don’t be surprised, though, if your provider gives you a slightly different due date than the one you calculated.

Also, most babies don’t arrive exactly on their due date. Every pregnancy is unique, and only a small percentage of babies are born right on time. Babies are typically born between weeks 38 and 42, and it’s totally normal for your baby to arrive any time during this window.

If your baby is born pre-term, your doctor will be able to advise you on any extra care your baby might need. On the other hand, if your baby isn’t born by the end of week 42, your doctor may suggest inducing the labor to bring on a vaginal birth, or he may discuss the option of a cesarean section with you.

What Is A Due Date Calculator

A due date calculator helps you estimate when your baby will be born. By calculating your due date, youll have an idea of your babys birthday. But keep in mind that your due date is only an estimate. Very few babies are actually born on the day they were due.

Knowing your due date is important for several reasons. It helps you plan and prepare for your babys arrival. It also gives your provider essential information they need to monitor your health and your babys health.

You can calculate your due date at home using a couple of different methods. But these methods arent always accurate. When you visit your provider, they may give you a different due date based on the size of your baby on ultrasound and the date of your last period.

Don’t Miss: Can You Smoke Weed While Being Pregnant

What Is Gestational Age Can It Be Different Than What The Calculator Shows

Gestational age is the term used to describe how far along the pregnancy is and how long baby has been gestating .

If you get an ultrasound you may notice a GA on the image with a number of weeks and days. This figure is based on how the baby is measuring, not on your LMP, which the due date calculator uses.

Its normal for these dates to not match up perfectly. If there are significant differences in the dates, your doctor may want to dig deeper to determine conception date. As a result, your midwife or doctor may change your due date based on the ultrasound gestational age.

Early ultrasounds are very accurate when dating a pregnancy and can be helpful if you dont know your LMP or your periods are irregular.

Note that you dont have to have an early ultrasound, especially if you are fairly certain of your cycle length and conception window. This study shows that early dating ultrasounds dont change the incidence of induction.

How Far Along Am I Based On My Due Date

How far along am I?

First day of last period. Most pregnancies last around 40 weeks , so typically the best way to estimate your due date is to count 40 weeks, or 280 days, from the first day of your last menstrual period . Another way to do it is to subtract three months from the first day of your last period and add seven days.

Don’t Miss: What Should I Be Doing At 8 Weeks Pregnant

What To Expect During The First Month Of Pregnancy

Spotting can happen when the fertilized egg implants, and is often mistaken for a period. It Is typically a little earlier than the expected period, much lighter, and lasts only a few hours to a couple of days. Its a sign that the fertilized egg attached itself to your uterus wall.
Cramps in the front or lower back can also accompany spotting.
Inside your body, a fluid-filled cushion thats known as the amniotic sac is developing. The yolk sac is attached to it and will feed your baby during these early weeks.

Your baby is smaller than a grain of rice!

Basically during the first month, if you have any symptoms, they are likely very similar to what youd experience before a normal period.

How Far Along Am I How To Work It Out

Once you have that positive pregnancy test, the next questions you probably have are: how far along am I? and when will my baby be due? Suddenly the dream becomes a reality, and theres nothing quite like working out your due date and popping it in your calendar to start the countdown!

Counting pregnancy weeks can be a confusing game, but one thats important to get right so you schedule scans, tests, and appointments for the right times. So lets answer that question. How many weeks pregnant am I? Heres how to work it out.

In this article:

How do I know how many weeks pregnant I am?

How to calculate how far along you are
How to know how far along you are in pregnancy
Do you have symptoms at 4 weeks pregnant?

Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Pregnancy Acne

Preparing For Labor And Delivery

If you havent already, now is a great time to start thinking about your labor and delivery plan. Think about your priorities for giving birth and speak with your health care provider or midwife about your desired delivery method or location .

As your babys birth gets closer, certain parts of the plan may not go exactly as anticipated, but it is still helpful to have an outline of your priorities.

Calculate Using Your Last Menstrual Period

The formula for calculating how far along you are is simply the number of days since the first day of your last menstrual period divided by seven:

Days since start of LMP ÷ 7 = # of weeks pregnant

Wondering how to calculate your number of months pregnant?

Days since start of LMP ÷ 30 = # of months pregnant

Also Check: Can You Bleed During Pregnancy

Do Hcg Levels Change With Twins

If you are carrying twins or multiples, your hCG levels will also increase rapidly during the first few weeks of pregnancy and peak around week 10 just like in a singleton pregnancy. However, there is a chance that your overall hCG levels will be up to 50% higher than what is considered the normal range for a single pregnancy.

Bear in mind though that this is not the case for every pregnancy with twins or multiples. You can still have a successful multiple pregnancy even if your hCG levels measure within the normal range.

Recommended Reading: Risks Of Donating Plasma While Pregnant

Do You Have Symptoms At 4 Weeks Pregnant

4 or 5 weeks is a common time to find out youre pregnant, since thats the time your period would have shown up. If youre eager to start feeling all those pregnancy feels, you might wonder if you should be having some early pregnancy symptoms, and at 4 weeks pregnant, you just might.

As soon as you are 1 to 2 weeks from fertilization , you may feel more tired than usual, some breast tenderness, and the onset of pregnancy nausea and vomiting. First trimester symptoms can come as a bit of a shock, but you know what? Youve got this mama. Welcome to pregnancy!

Donât Miss: What Foods Help Brain Development During Pregnancy

Don’t Miss: Can Smoking Weed While Pregnant Harm The Baby

I Know My Lmp Do I Need A Dating Ultrasound

Nope! You can rely on the due date suggested by your last menstrual period, but your healthcare provider may schedule one anyway. Your doctor may do it for other reasons, but for figuring out dates, its really not necessary if she isnt concerned and theres nothing odd happening, says Scurfield.

What If I Already Know My Due Date

Pregnancy Update: How Far Along Am I?

If you already know your due date, you can use this calculator to see your pregnancy timeline. It will tell you when you’ll hit various milestones, and when you may be due for prenatal tests and prenatal visits. You’ll also find what your baby’s sign and birthstone will probably be and which famous people were born on your due date.

Estimation Of Gestational Age

According to American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the main methods to calculate gestational age are:

Directly calculating the days since the beginning of the last menstrual period

Early obstetric ultrasound, comparing the size of an embryo or fetus to that of a reference group of pregnancies of known gestational age , and using the mean gestational age of other embryos or fetuses of the same size. If the gestational age as calculated from an early ultrasound is contradictory to the one calculated directly from the last menstrual period, it is still the one from the early ultrasound that is used for the rest of the pregnancy.
In case of in vitro fertilization, calculating days since oocyte retrieval or co-incubation and adding 14 days.
Ultrasound measurement in the first trimester is generally considered to be the most accurate way to measure gestational age.

How Do I Calculate My Due Date If I Had Ivf

If you used embryo cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization to get pregnant, you can use your IVF transfer date to calculate your due date. If your provider transferred the embryos five days after they retrieved your eggs, count ahead 261 days from the transfer date.

If your provider transferred the embryos three days after egg retrieval, count ahead 263 days to determine your due date. On your transfer day, your provider will calculate your due date and share this information with you.

You May Like: How Do I Know How Long Im Pregnant

Pregnancy Week 4 Fetal Development

During this important phase of your pregnancy, the embryo grows and develops within the lining of the uterus. The outer cells form links with your blood supply, while the inner cells form 3 separate layers:

The inner layer becomes the lungs, stomach, gastrointestinal system, and bladder.
The middle layer becomes the heart, blood vessels, muscles, and bones.

The outer layer becomes the brain and nervous system .

During the first part of this stage of pregnancy, the embryo draws nourishment from a small yolk sac. Soon afterwards, the placenta that develops from the outer layer of the amniotic sac that surrounds the embryo takes over this role of providing sustenance to your growing baby.

During this period, the beginning of a face starts to form: this includes large, dark circles for eyes, and a mouth, lower jaw, and throat. Blood cells start to form and the circulation begins.

How Many Weeks Are In A Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an average of 40 weeks, or 280 days, long. However, this is calculated from the first day of your last menstrual periodbefore youve finished bleeding, before youve ovulated and before youve engaged in any, um, baby-making activity.

This means, if you have a 28-day cycle, youre already considered two weeks pregnant at the time of ovulation, and four weeks pregnant by the time your next period is due. Confusing, right?!

Its also important to remember that this is an average: The length of your pregnancy could be longer or shorter than 40 weeks.

You May Like: Which Flu Vaccine For Pregnant

You May Like: How Do You Know How Many Weeks Pregnant

Calculating Due Date: How To Tell How Far Along You Are

The answer to the question how far along am I? isnt just to satisfy a mom-to-bes curiosity. While getting an accurate due date is tough, its still crucial for your doctor to provide an educated guess. Thats because its still one of the single most important pieces your pregnancy, says G. Thomas Ruiz, MD, ob-gyn lead at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.

A large part of your prenatal care depends on that due date, he explains. Knowing how far along you are can help you and your healthcare team track fetal development, mark pregnancy milestones and make decisions about prenatal testing. Having an idea of how long baby has been developing in your belly gives your doctor insight into, for instance, whether labor should be stopped because its premature or whether it should be induced because youre well past your due date, Ruiz says. With this in mind, here are a few at-home and in-office ways to learn how far along you are and what your official due date is.

Pregnancy Week 23 Fetal Development

Your babys skin looks thin and translucent quality. Theyre looking fairly red due to visible blood vessels, but their final skin color will develop once pigment deposits grow.

Your babys hearing is strengthening as the bones in their middle ear begin to harden. They can hear loud sounds outside the womb like sirens or a vacuum cleaner. You may even notice your baby responds to specific sounds, such as your voice or music.

What Happens During Week 1

Self-Managed Abortion: How Many Weeks Pregnant Am I? | Episode 2

These are the first 2 weeks of your menstrual cycle. You have your period. About 2 weeks later, the egg thats most mature is released from your ovary this is called ovulation. Ovulation may happen earlier or later, depending on the length of your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days.

After its released, your egg travels down your fallopian tube toward your uterus. If the egg meets up with a sperm, they combine. This is called fertilization. Fertilization is most likely to occur when you have unprotected vaginal sex during the 6 days leading up to and including the day of ovulation.

Also Check: What Are The Effects Of Smoking Weed While Pregnant