So how do you work out your due date?
Your expected due date will be calculated as 40 weeks from the first day of your last period because the first week of your pregnancy is actually counted as your last menstrual cycle (so before conception even actually takes place – just to confuse you even more!).
In need of a little helping hand? Check out Gen%E2%80%99s courses below Use code %E2%80%98EXPERT10%E2%80%99 at checkout for 10% off
Alternatively, you can add 38 weeks to this if you know the exact day you conceived.
But don’t worry if you can’t recall any of these dates; your doctor will be able to estimate your due date when you have a scan. Since every woman has a unique cycle and a different day when she ovulates and the egg is fertilized, this usually results in a more accurate prediction.
So what are the three trimesters?
The term “full term” refers to the time after week 39 when the baby is thought to be fully developed and would survive outside the womb (weeks 37–38 are referred to as “early term”). After week 42, the placenta begins to lose viability and puts the mother and unborn child at risk.
With a month(ish) of being pregnant before you even realize it and the possibility of going past due, the total time is more like 10 months.
Is pregnancy nine or 10 months long?
Your 40 weeks of pregnancy are counted as nine months. However, there are four weeks in a month, so 40 weeks would be equivalent to 10 months. Right? Not exactly.
Months (with the exception of February, of course) have 30 or 31 days, making each one approximately four weeks long. Four weeks is equal to 28 days. 3 weeks long.