So, you just found out that you are pregnant. Congratulations! You must be excited and nervous at the same time. One of the first things you might want to know is how many weeks pregnant you are based on your due date.
Don't worry, we've got you covered.
Understanding Gestational Age
Before we dive in, let's talk about gestational age. Gestational age refers to how far along the pregnancy is measured from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP). So even though conception typically occurs around two weeks after LMP, doctors count those two weeks as part of gestational age.
Using gestational age instead of fetal age allows healthcare providers to monitor fetal development more accurately since it aligns with a woman's cycle and ovulation patterns.
The Standard for Pregnancy Dating
The standard for pregnancy dating in the United States sets 40 weeks or 280 days as full term starting from LMP.
This means that if your estimated due date is May 1st and your last period started on July 25th, then you'd be considered 36 weeks pregnant, which leaves four more until delivery - yikes!
However, women can give birth anywhere between three weeks before their due dates up to three weeks after without being considered premature or post-term respectively.
Doctors use various methods for calculating due dates such as ultrasound scans or measurement-based calculations using an expectant mother’s height and weight— but there’s always some margin of error involved no matter what course they take.
Using Online Calculators
If math isn't really your thing or if trying to count back from a future date feels too daunting -- don’t worry because online calculators have made this process way easier over time than speaking with medical professionals directly regarding all one's medical queries like Back pain during pregnancy or Flu Shots while pregnant.
Simply enter your LMP and voila, the calculator will give you a due date as well as how far along you are. There are also some calculators which cater to multiple pregnancies.
Keeping Track
Any expecting mother can rapidly wrap her head around tracking weekly pregnancy milestones when there is an excellent guide to follow throughout the whole process.
Moms-to-be may use specialized mobile apps, read informative blogs like Momtastic or just maintain their own chart. The important thing here is that every week of fetal development brings new changes to both baby and mother - so celebrate each completed milestone!
Baby's development timeline starts from fertilization but most healthcare providers only track it in weeks; so let's take a rundown from those early stages up until term.
First Trimester: Week 1-12
Week 1 Sperm have survivability for roughly five days after intercourse, therefore conception doesn't typically happen immediately upon having sex. So technically speaking at this stage there does not exist any “baby” yet. Week 2 The ovum (AKA egg) has been released by one of the ovaries while inside the fallopian tube prompting sperm cells usually from a semen now advancing towards it if they haven't already attempted before now. Once sperm penetrates through its outer coating successfully - fertilization happens! At this point celldivision happens resulting in differentiation between placenta tissue surrounding growing embryo and forming embryonic cells. It’s worth mentioning however that during these early phases many eggs might attach themselves to uterine walls but eventually get rejected within days after trying.
Weeks 3 & 4 After successful fertilisation Within these periods something called primitive streak occurs marking out prominent areas where developing vital orgams come into play — neural tubes included amongst them too.
| ^ | Developmental Checklist | ^ |
|---|---|---|
| Embryo establishes itself in the uterine wall | ||
| Major organs of Cardiovascular System are formed | ||
| Baby's Body systems begin Development |
Week 5 At this point let’s a heartbeat shall be audible whenever imaging and detection starts to kick in. The amniotic sac encompassing the baby now forms, functioning as a protective cushion for growing fetus
Weeks 6 - 8 During week six prominent development takes place such as brain bulges and leg buds starting to appear where muscle tissues will follow suit later on. Organ formation continues with heart expanding increasingly along-side development of essential body parts like small intestines.
| ^ | Developmental Checklist | ^ |
|---|---|---|
| "Hairiness' begins developing" on skin surface | ||
| Rudimentary circulation forming within connected vessels | ||
| Rapid growth & Muscle Co-Ordination advancement (up from Cerebellm) |
Weeks 9 – 12 By now that emerging little one has started looking more human thanks to distinctive facial structure taking shape along with nails while deciduous teeth are slowly forming too. Nervous systems mature rapidly during this period meaning babies have better motor control sensing ability than before.
Once the expecting mother passes through these stages she enters into Second Trimester
Second Trimester: Week 13-27
Welcome to easiest part of pregnancy!
From week thirteen up until twenty-seven your baby grows significantly larger making his or her movements detectable when examining via ultrasound or even at times by gentle prodding.
By week fourteen, infants can hear sounds outside their mothers wombs so it’s recommended parents-to-be start communicating early enough--trust us those early conversations can pile-up quickly weeks later!
Let me walk you through some important developmental stages happening across weeks whilst in second trimester,
Weeks 13–16
Usually around the thirteen-week mark is when pregnant bellies really start popping out showing physical evidence of growing foetus. Developmental-wise, heartbeat and circulation patterns are fully established. During the same timespan fetal gender gets more recognizable any genetic abnormalities come into spotlight too.
Weeks 17-20
After marking week seventeen , Baby’s movements inside the womb grow much stronger because he or she has grown significantly larger in size also start seeing signs of hearing and kicking! During this time you may be able to find out if you are carrying a little boy or girl for certain!
The baby's ears will become as visible on ultrasound readings which would enable him / her to hear basic sounds – outside world slowly becoming alive one sensation at a time.
Weeks 21-24 Milestone food cravings fall under this, along with fleshing-out neonate is getting chubbier while necessary balancing mechanisms further develop
| ^ | Developmental Checklist | ^ |
|---|---|---|
| "Hiccups" can now sometimes get sensed | ||
| Lanugo hair covering body starts forming | ||
| " Eyes open & responsive towards external light intensity |
Weeks 25–27 This last stage of second trimester reflects full-blown appearance of those plumper cheeks; newborns start adding layers that first assist advanced physical movement.This upswing mainly revolves around creating greasing between cheek and gum line -lethallinggaggedness surrounding teething process.
Third Trimester: Week 28-birth
Third trimester sets off when completing week twenty-eight.
With an assortment in internal bodily systems operating, your baby now works on building its immunity system so that it'll have less issues fighting germs after birth.
Here's what happens during third-trimester weeks:
Weeks 28 –31
Final leg stretch from these stages onwards but nothing lesser than prior timespans--just some reduced flexibility and considerable water retention symptoms creeping-in. Foetal lenses inside eyes expand forefeel for light and dark differences.
| ^ | Developmental Checklist | ^ |
|---|---|---|
| Makes facial expressions like frowning or smiling | ||
| "Marks of individuality"- fingerprints now develop |
Weeks 32-36
Exterior features start displaying physical signs such as hair styled differently, eye color darker or white substance covering baby’s skin waxes down. For parents-to-be at this stage each week feels increasingly crucial as they hold tighter excitement about the arrival of their little one.Sometimes insomnia plays culprit when worrying on parenting bit during wee hours at night.
Weeks 37–40 The finally! The countdown has begun! During these last weeks is the time marked in expected due date calculators based off LMP. Braxton Hicks contractions may occasionally appear now since baby readies to make an entrance into world all set for beginning "real" life.
Even though babies that are late arriving often lead to expectant mothers having a hard time waiting but once delivered no amount of frustration can compete with joy felt while holding your new little human being ????
Conclusion:
Pregnancy routinely finds its mention amongst life-altering occurrences; so it's important to cherish every milestone regardless of how big or small it might seem.
Keep track especially during those final trimesters where growth spurts, newfound personalities and preferences become more visible day-by-day--you'd love maintaining memorable notes post-delivery ????!
On behalf of everyone here we wish you motherhood filled with luck & happiness!
You're doing great mom -- keep that head up and don't forget to smile too!
????????❤️