Pregnancy age-how long does a pregnancy last?

How long does a pregnancy last?

A full-term physiological pregnancy lasts 280 days, or 40 weeks. Note that its beginning is considered the date of the last menstrual period. This is due to, among other things. from the fact that many women have an irregular menstrual cycle and it is difficult to predict the exact day of ovulation and thus fertilization. For this reason, the beginning of pregnancy is considered the first day of the last menstrual period.

Note that a gestational age of more than 37 is considered a carried pregnancy. of the week. For various complications, such as
diabetes
or in multiple pregnancies, however, the pregnancy may be shorter depending on the condition of the baby and mother, as well as medical indications.

How do you count the days and weeks of pregnancy?

Gynecologists use the number of weeks and days when describing the age of pregnancy. This is because the medical nomenclature does not use the term “months of pregnancy.” The number of weeks indicates how many full weeks have passed since the first day of your last period. The age determined by the last menstrual period can be modified during the ultrasound examination in the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition to weeks, the number of days is also used. For example, if the stated gestational age is 7. weeks+ 0 days, this means that the full 7 weeks of pregnancy have passed. And when the number of days is +6, it means that the next week of pregnancy is about to end (for example, 7 weeks +6 days, means that the next day will be the 8th week of pregnancy). This method for those who are not involved in gynecology and obstetrics on a daily basis may seem quite complicated at first, but after some time mothers freely use it to determine their gestational age. Also useful for this purpose are various types of apps that show, not only the number of weeks and days of pregnancy, but also the predicted development of the baby at any given time. 

Pregnancy age on ultrasound

In the first trimester, the date of delivery determined according to the day of the last menstrual period can be modified during the ultrasound examination by the gynecologist. Pregnancy age is then determined by the baby’s parietal and sitting length (CRL). This measurement must be taken as precisely as possible, because thanks to it, in addition to the age of pregnancy, the date of delivery is determined. If the CRL measurement is 45 mm, it means that the baby is 11 weeks + 0 days, and 84 mm – 13 weeks + 6 days. And if a woman makes an appointment only in the second trimester, the doctor can estimate the age of pregnancy by measuring the circumference of the baby’s head (HC).

How do I calculate my due date?

In addition to the aforementioned determination of the date of planned delivery during an ultrasound in the first trimester, it can also be calculated on the basis of the so-called. Naegele’s Rules. Add 1 year to the date of the first day of the last menstrual period, subtract 3 months, and then add 7 days. However, this is a method that works for cycles that are regular and last 28 days. If the cycle is longer, it will be necessary to add up to 7 days as many more days as they used to be in menstrual cycles. For example: for a woman with a regular 32-day cycle, the due date is calculated as follows: 1 year is added to the first day of the last period, 3 months are subtracted, and then 11 days are added. The analogy is for cycles of less than 28 days. Then the number of 7 days is reduced: for example, in 26-day cycles by 2.