The Pregnancy Calculator may generate a pregnancy timeline based on the given due date, last period date, ultrasound date, conception date, or IVF transfer date.
Pregnancy refers to the development of one or more offspring within a woman's body throughout 9 months. Childbirth normally happens at 38 weeks after conception or 40 weeks following the last menstrual cycle. The World Health Organization defines a normal pregnancy as lasting between 37 and 42 weeks. During a person's first OB-GYN appointment, the doctor will generally offer an estimated date of birth (based on a sonogram), often known as the due date. Alternatively, the due date can be predicted using a person's latest menstrual cycle.
While the due date may be anticipated, the actual length of the pregnancy is determined by a number of factors, including age, prior pregnancies, and the mother's weight at delivery.1 However, there are still unknown elements that influence natural variance in pregnancy terms. According to studies, fewer than 4% of deliveries take place on the exact due date, 60% within a week of the due date, and almost 90% within two weeks of the due date.2 As a result, while it is reasonable to expect a person's kid to be delivered within two weeks of their due date, it is currently impossible to forecast the actual day of delivery with accuracy.
Pregnancy can be identified by pregnancy tests or by the woman herself recognizing signs such as a missing menstrual cycle, elevated basal body temperature, exhaustion, nausea, and increased frequency of urine
Pregnancy tests involve the identification of hormones that act as biomarkers for pregnancy, such as clinical blood or urine tests that can identify pregnancy six to eight days after conception. While clinical blood tests are more reliable and can identify exact concentrations of the hormone hCG (which is only present during pregnancy) sooner and in lower amounts, they take longer to interpret and cost more than home pregnancy urine tests. Clinical urine tests are also available, although they are not always more reliable than home pregnancy tests and may be more expensive.
There are several elements to consider during pregnancy, many of which are very dependent on the individual's circumstances, such as medication, weight gain, activity, and diet.
Taking some drugs during pregnancy can have long-term impacts on the baby. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States classifies medications A, B, C, D, and X depending on prospective benefits vs. fetal danger. Pharmaceuticals that have favorable advantages for the mother but pose little danger to the baby are classed as category A. In contrast, pharmaceuticals with documented, considerable fetal hazards that exceed possible maternal benefits are classified as category X. A pregnant person should contact their doctor about any drugs they intend to use throughout their pregnancy.
Weight gain is a generally unavoidable and necessary component of pregnancy that varies by individual. It influences numerous elements of fetal growth, including the baby's weight, the placenta, extra-circulatory fluid, and fat and protein reserves. Weight control is important because insufficient or excessive weight growth can have harmful consequences for both the mother and the fetus, including the necessity for a cesarean section (C-section) and gestational hypertension. The Institute of Medicine recommends a pregnancy weight gain of 25-35 pounds for women with "normal" weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), 28-40 pounds for underweight (BMI < 18.5), 15-25 pounds for overweight (BMI 25-29.9), and 11-20 pounds for obese (BMI > 30).3 Our pregnancy weight gain calculator is based on the Institute of Medicine's recommendations.
According to studies, aerobic activity during pregnancy improves or maintains physical fitness while also potentially lowering the likelihood of C-sections. Although it varies for each woman, regular aerobic and strength-conditioning exercise is frequently suggested for pregnant women, and women who exercised regularly before pregnancy and had easy pregnancies should be able to maintain high-intensity exercise regimens.4 According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, exercise is unlikely to cause fetal damage in an uncomplicated pregnancy. However, pregnant women should consult their doctor if they experience any of the following symptoms: vaginal bleeding, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, calf pain or swelling, amniotic fluid leakage, decreased fetal movement, preterm labor, muscle weakness, or chest pain.5
Nutrition during pregnancy is critical to both the mother's and baby's health. Pregnancy necessitates distinct dietary considerations than a non-pregnant state due to higher energy and particular micronutrient requirements.6
Certain vitamins, such as Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, can help reduce the risk of certain defects. In contrast, other nutrients, such as DHA omega-3, which is required for proper brain and retinal development, cannot be efficiently produced by infants and must be obtained through the placenta during pregnancy or in breast milk after birth. Many additional micronutrients contribute to optimal fetal growth, and there are numerous sources of advice on what pregnant women should and should not eat or do. All of the information might be difficult to sort through and differs from person to person. Pregnant women should contact their doctors and dietitians to identify the best course of action for their requirements.
Jukic, AM, Baird, DD, Weinberg, CR, et al. 2013. "Length of human pregnancy and factors influencing natural variation." Human Reproduction 28(10): 2848–55. PMC3777570.
Moore, Keith (2015). "How accurate are 'due dates'?" BBC, Feb. 3, 2015. www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31046144.
Institute of Medicine, 2009. "Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines." National Academy Press.
Davies, GA, Wolfe, LA, Mottola, MF, et al.(2003). "Exercise in pregnancy and the postpartum period." Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada, 25(6), 516-29.
Artal, R., and O'Toole, M., "Guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period." British Journal of Sports Medicine 37: 6-12; doi:10.1136/bjsm.37.1.6.
Lammi-Keefe, CJ, Couch, SC, and Philipson, E. 2008. "Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy." Humana Press.