Which Month Of Pregnancy Am I In

How Do I Know What Week I Am Currently In My Pregnancy

Your doctor says you’re 15 weeks pregnant, but youre also hearing that youre in week 16. Which is right? The short answer: both.

It turns out how many weeks into pregnancy you are is a little different than how many weeks pregnant you are. If youre in week 16, youre actually 15 weeks and some days pregnant. Fifteen full weeks have gone by, but not 16 weeks, so people say that you’re both 15 weeks pregnant and in week 16 of pregnancy.

To clear things up, think about birthdays. When you turned 1 year old, you had lived through your first year and were starting on your second. In other words, on your first birthday, you were in day one of your second year. But no one said you were 2 years old until you’d finished that second year and had begun your third.

The same rules apply when talking about your weeks of pregnancy: You are x weeks pregnant, but in your x+1 week of pregnancy.

What To Do When Youre Trying To Conceive

Sometimes pregnancy is a wonderful surprise! Other times, youve been planning and hoping to get pregnant for quite a while. If youre actively trying to conceive, your prenatal care can start now! Here are a few ways to get ready and prepare your body.

• Start taking a prenatal vitamin. Folic acid is especially important!
• Get a checkup and go to the dentist.
• Make sure youre up-to-date on immunizations like MMR and Tetanus.
• Find out how your health insurance covers prenatal care and delivery.
• Create a budget for prenatal care and baby expenses.
• Put a stop to unhealthy habits, like smoking and drug use.
• Cut down on alcohol and caffeine consumption.
• Eat healthy, balanced meals.
• Start exercising if you arent active already.

Once you do conceive, its game on! Heres the pregnancy checklist you need to stay organized, healthy, and ready to welcome your baby into your home.

How Accurate Is My Due Date

The due date is a guesstimate of when the prospective mother will give birth. It is just an estimation and it is not necessary that the birth of your child takes place exactly on the same date as the due date. It is okay for a baby to arrive between 37 weeks and 42 weeks of pregnancy.

TWO IS ALWAYS BETTER |

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What Monitoring May Be Necessary During Your Pregnancy

Electronic fetal monitoring: Sometimes late in pregnancy, a woman who is pregnant may be placed on a fetal monitor to verify the health of the fetus or to see if the woman is in early labor.

Biophysical Profile Test: This is a noninvasive test that uses ultrasound to assess whether or not the baby is receiving an adequate supply of oxygen. It is typically performed during high-risk pregnancies or if a woman has gone past her due date.

What Are Some Less Common Signs Of Early Pregnancy

There are some additional signs of early pregnancy that arent as common. Just like with the most common symptoms, these signs of pregnancy may or may not happen. Its important to remember that everyone is different and will experience unique symptoms.

Less common signs of early pregnancy can include:

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Does Pregnancy Last 10 Months

Yes … No …..

The common idea of 10 months of pregnancy came about because obstetricians traditionally counted pregnancy in months that were exactly 4 weeks long. Using these 4-week months, an average 40 week pregnancy lasts 10 months.

Unfortunately, this does not line up well with the calendar months we use in everyday life, most of which are approximately 4 and a half weeks long. When measuring pregnancy by calendar months, an average pregnancy lasts about nine months plus one week .

Over the course of a typical pregnancy there is therefore a discrepancy of approximately one month between the two systems, both of which are counting “months.”

The correct way of measuring pregnancy avoids this confusion since the word “month” is not used at all. Any official reference to pregnancy dates is always in weeks or trimesters.

Note: Our months are calendar months but in the pregnancy world a month may be any of the following:

• 4 weeks
• 5 weeks
• A lunar month

Any reference to how many months pregnant you are contains this uncertainty unless the type of month is specified.

Pregnancy Term & Due Date

Pregnancy is a term used to describe a woman’s state over a time period during which one or more offspring develops inside of a woman. Childbirth usually occurs approximately 38 weeks after conception, or about 40 weeks after the last menstrual period. The World Health Organization defines a normal pregnancy term to last between 37 and 42 weeks. During a person’s first OB-GYN visit, the doctor will usually provide an estimated date at which the child will be born, or due date. Alternatively, the due date can also be estimated based on a person’s last menstrual period.

While the due date can be estimated, the actual length of pregnancy depends on various factors, including age, length of previous pregnancies, and weight of the mother at birth.1 However, there are still more factors affecting natural variation in pregnancy terms that are not well understood. Studies have shown that fewer than 4% of births occur on the exact due date, 60% occur within a week of the due date, and almost 90% occur within two weeks of the due date.2 As such, while it is possible to be fairly confident that a person’s child will be born within about two weeks of the due date, it is currently not possible to predict the exact day of birth with certainty.

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What If You Dont Know The Date Of Your Last Period Or Have Irregular Periods

The due date calculation works best if the menstrual cycle is regular and the periods take place every 28 days. Just in case, one has an irregular menstrual cycle, then she might be unable to figure out her date of LMP. Or if her cycle differs in length, calculating from the first day of her LMP might not give us a date that we can trust. However, it can be really tough figuring out the date of the last period if the prospective mother has irregular period.

But the dating scan that is the first ultrasound of the prospective mother accurately tells us about the due date of the baby. The sonographer will carry out Crown Rump Length which will give an estimate idea of how far along is the pregnancy.

Smell Sensitivity And Food Aversions During Early Pregnancy

Smell sensitivity is a symptom of early pregnancy thats mostly self-reported. Theres little scientific evidence about smell sensitivity during the first trimester. However, it might be important, since smell sensitivity may trigger nausea and vomiting. It may also cause strong distaste for certain foods.

You may experience either a heightened or lessened sense of smell during pregnancy, according to 2017 research. This is especially common during the first and third trimesters. Heightened smell is more common than lessened smell. Some smells that never bothered you before may become less pleasing or even trigger nausea.

The good news is that your sense of smell usually returns to normal after delivery, or within 6 to 12 weeks postpartum.

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Pregnancy By Month: Emphasis On Third Trimester

This weekly pregnancy breakdown includes every moment from the last normal menstrual cycle and considers the fact that some women have their babies earlier than forty weeks.

• Month 1: Week 1 through week 4
• Month 3: Week 9 through week 12
• Month 4: Week 13 through week 16
• Month 5: Week 17 through week 20
• Month 6: Week 21 through week 24
• Month 7: Week 25 through week 28
• Month 8: Week 29 through week 32
• Month 9: Week 33+

As you can see from the two schedules, there are different ways to describe which month of pregnancy you are in based on how you interpret the weeks. There is no right or wrong way to answer when people want to know how far along you are. Simply provide the week or month you feel is appropriate for your gestational age.

How Do I Switch From Pregnancy To Baby Newsletters

• Either use the link above, or click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
• This will take you to the family details page.
• You can then remove or change your due date or birth date information.
• When you’ve changed your due date or your baby’s birth date, click on “Save changes”.

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Weeks Pregnant: Ask Your Healthcare Provider

At this point in your pregnancy, you may want to ask your healthcare provider a few questions. Remember, you are on this journey together, and your provider is there to support you. Consider the following questions, but feel free to ask more:

• Are there any pregnancy screenings or tests that you need to schedule during the rest of this trimester?

• Is it necessary to drink filtered tap water?

• Are there any foods to prioritize at 24 weeks pregnant? Any foods you need to avoid?

• Are there any vaccinations needed during pregnancy? When is the best time to have them?

• What help is available if youâre feeling down while pregnant?

Weeks Pregnant Symptoms: Girl Or Boy

Can pregnancy symptoms predict the sex of your baby? Many of us have heard that if youre carrying high or have a severe bout of morning sickness, youre having a girl. Carrying the majority of weight in front and craving salty snacks? Some believe that means a baby boy will be making an arrival.

Trying to figure out the gender of your baby is fun, but gender-specific pregnancy symptoms are mostly myths. There is no scientific proof to them. The most reliable way to determine the sex of your little one prior to birth is during an ultrasound, usually performed by week 20, or through amniocentesis conducted around week 16. Of course, you could also wait until your baby is born and let nature reveal the wonderful surprise.

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How Does Conception Work

Each month, your body goes through a reproductive cycle that can end in one of two ways. You will either have a menstrual period or become pregnant. This cycle is continuously happening during your reproductive years from puberty in your teen years to menopause around age 50.

In a cycle that ends with pregnancy, there are several steps. First, a group of eggs gets ready to leave the ovary for ovulation . The eggs develop in small, fluid-filled cysts called follicles. Think of these follicles as small containers for each immature egg. Out of this group of eggs, one will become mature and continue on through the cycle. This follicle then suppresses all the other follicles in the group. The other follicles stop growing at this point.

The mature follicle now opens and releases the egg from the ovary. This is ovulation. Ovulation generally happens about two weeks before your next menstrual period begins. Its generally in the middle of your cycle.

After ovulation, the opened follicle develops into a structure called the corpus luteum. This secretes the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone helps prepare the endometrium . This lining is the place where a fertilized egg settles to develop. If you dont become pregnant during a cycle, this lining is what is shed during your period.

Your Body At 24 Weeks Pregnant

By the time you reach 24 weeks pregnant, you may have gained about 10 to 15 pounds, and your baby bump is still growing day by day. As your belly expands, you might want to wear a maternity belt or belly band to keep your abdomen well supported, especially when exercising while pregnant. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise will help you feel better both physically and emotionally during pregnancy. Plus, staying fit during pregnancy will make it easier to lose the weight youâve gained later on, after your baby is born.

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How Many Weeks Is A Full

If you’re carrying a single baby, a full-term pregnancy is between the start of 39 weeks up to the end of 40 weeks. If you’re carrying twins, a full-term pregnancy is considered at least 38 weeks.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists uses the following terms for pregnancy, depending on when your baby is born:

• Preterm: 20 weeks to 37 weeks
• Early term: 37 weeks to 38 weeks 6 days
• Full term: 39 weeks to 40 weeks 6 days
• Late term: 41 weeks to 41 weeks 6 days
• Post term: after 42 weeks

What Are The Complications During Pregnancy

A pregnant woman and her doctor will monitor the pregnancy to exclude or prevent certain pregnancy conditions. The physician will also treat non-pregnancy-related medical conditions in such a way as to promote the appropriate physical and neurological development of the fetus. Conditions of particular importance include:

High-risk pregnancy: If you are considered prone to certain complications during pregnancy, she will be classified as high risk. Examples include pregnancies in women with diabetes and/or high blood pressure. Age-related complications can occur in women such as teenagers, women who are over the age of 35, or those who have been treated for infertility and have pregnancies resulting from the use of assisted reproductive technology.

Ectopic pregnancy: This is a pregnancy in which the egg implants somewhere other than the uterus. This complication can be life-threatening. Ectopic pregnancy must be diagnosed early to avoid damage to the Fallopian tubes and to prevent serious maternal illness or death. It is also called tubal pregnancy or extra-uterine pregnancy.

Cervical incompetence: This is a condition in which the cervix begins to open and/or efface without contractions before the pregnancy has reached term. Cervical incompetence can be a cause of mid-pregnancy miscarriage.

Preterm Labor: In this condition, the uterus begins to contract before the baby has reached full term.

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How Long Is Pregnancy

Pregnancies last approximately 280 days, which is 40 weeks, or about 10 monthsnot nine like we traditionally hear. Your pregnancy is considered full-term after 37 weeks. Delivery prior to 37 weeks is considered preterm.

• At 37 weeks, the pregnancy is considered early-term
• At 41 weeks, the pregnancy is considered late-term
• At 42 weeks, the pregnancy is considered post-term

Your Pregnant Belly At 13 Weeks

Your uterus is now big enough that its growing up and out of your pelvis. That means youre starting to actually look pregnant. Finally, right? Expect to look more and more pregnant from here on out, because carrying a 13-week fetus calls for a weight gain increase. OBs recommend you gain weight in the healthiest way possiblethat means slowly and steadily throughout your pregnancy. Here are the weight gain guidelines outlined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists :

If youre underweight :

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 28 to 40 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound per week.

If youre normal weight :

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 25 to 35 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a pound or a little less per week.

If youre overweight :

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 15 to 25 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain a little over a half pound per week.

If youre obese :

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 11 to 20 pounds.
• In the second and third trimesters, aim to gain about a half pound per week.

If youre 13 weeks pregnant with twins:

• Your recommended total pregnancy weight gain is 37 to 54 pounds.
• In the first half of your pregnancy, aim to gain about a pound per week. In the second half, aim to gain a little over a pound per week.

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Month Nine Of Pregnancy

Towards the end of the third trimester, your baby continues to grow and mature. Their lungs are nearly fully developed. Your baby’s reflexes are coordinated so they can blink, close the eyes, turn the head, grasp firmly, and respond to sounds, light, and touch.

Your baby’s position changes to prepare itself for labor and delivery. The baby drops down in your pelvis, and usually their head is facing down toward the birth canal.

A Word About Due Dates And Trimesters

After you announce your pregnancy, the first question you’ll probably be asked is “When are you due?” At your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will help you determine an expected delivery date . Your EDD is 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period .

It’s important to remember that your due date is only an estimate most babies are born between 38 and 42 weeks from the first day of their mom’s LMP and only a small percentage of women actually deliver on their due date.

Another common term you’ll hear throughout your pregnancy is trimester. A pregnancy is divided into trimesters:

• the first trimester is from week 1 to the end of week 12
• the second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 26
• the third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy

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