One of the first, most asked questions you’ll have once you realize you are pregnant, is how far gone you are.
How do I know how many weeks pregnant I am?
If you know the date of the first day of your last menstrual period or the date of conception, the easiest way to get an estimate of how far along you are is by using the Babymigo due date calculator. Keep in mind that your healthcare provider will be able to give you a more accurate answer at your first prenatal care appointment.
Other ways to know how many weeks pregnant you are
There are several different ways to figure out your due date and gauge how far along you are.
Last menstrual period (LMP)
Pregnancy normally lasts about 40 weeks from the first day of your last period. Accordingly, the number of weeks that have passed indicate what week of pregnancy you’re in. To work out your likely due date, count 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of your last period.
Date of conception
You probably conceived around the time of ovulation, which is around day 14 of the average menstrual cycle of 28 days. If you happen to know the exact date, count 266 days (38 weeks) to get an estimate of your due date. Alternatively, head to the Pampers due date calculator, where all the counting will be done for you.
Ultrasound
At some point during your pregnancy, you will likely have an ultrasound scan. This enables your healthcare provider to check on fetal growth and monitor other development milestones; it also provides the most accurate estimate for how many weeks pregnant you are and what your due date will be. This method is the most reliable, and particularly useful if you don’t know the date of your last period or if your menstrual cycles are irregular.
When figuring out how far along you are, it can be confusing that the weeks of pregnancy are not the same as the gestational age of the baby. Remember, conception most likely occurred about 14 days into your last cycle, whereas pregnancy is calculated from the beginning of that cycle, so there’s a two-week difference. For example, when you’re six weeks pregnant, your baby’s gestational age is only four weeks.
What are the pregnancy milestones?
1) First trimester (weeks 0-13): This phase comes with symptoms such as morning sickness and food cravings.
2) Second trimester (weeks 14-27): 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 exercises.
3) Third trimester (weeks 28-42): 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.
Learn more about the symptoms you will be experiencing weekly.
Now that you’ve learned how to know how far along you are and what important milestones await you during your pregnancy, remember that your baby will be here soon, and a new, exciting chapter is about to begin.
Reference
- The National Health Service. Pregnancy and Baby. Accessed on 25th September 2018.
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