How Many Weeks Pregnant Am I?
Congratulations, you’re soon going to be a mom! Now that you have found out you’re pregnant, you must be wondering: How many weeks pregnant am I? Before you jump into knowing your due date and all the latter important stuff, you need to know how many weeks pregnant are you. This will help you better track your pregnancy milestones along the way, as well as the due date.
The next question that takes up your mind would be: How do I know about my pregnancy week? Well, you’ve just got the news, and your emotions must be at peak right now. So, let us do the work for you. We’ve curated a simple guide for your reference that will help you prepare for the journey!
How Do I Know How Many Weeks Pregnant I Am and What My Due Date Is?
There are many ways to get an answer for ‘how many weeks pregnant am I’ question. The simplest way to check at home is by using the Pampers due date calculator. All you need is the first day of your last period or the date of your conception to calculate due date. Irrespective of what pregnancy calculator you use, it is essential to get it confirmed by your doctor, as he/she will have accurate answers to all your questions.
Other ways to know your expected date of delivery and how far along you are, include:
Last menstrual period (LMP)
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey of 40 weeks that begins from the first day of your last period. You can determine what week of pregnancy you are in by the number of weeks passed since the first day of your last period. You can use the pregnancy calculator too.
An alternate method is to subtract 3 months from the first day of your last period and add 7 days. For example: If your last period started on 1st April, you would count back to 1st January and add 7 to it. This means your due date will be around 18th January.
Conception date
An average menstrual cycle is of 28 days, in which you ovulate around the 14th day. This is most probably your time of conception. If you know the exact date, you can count 38 weeks or 266 days to estimate your due date.
Ultrasound
After a few weeks of pregnancy, you will have your first ultrasound scan. During this check-up, your doctor will be able to accurately tell you about your fetal growth and other developmental milestones. This method is an accurate way to determine how many weeks pregnant you are and your due date. It is the most reliable method, even if you don’t know the day of your last period in case of an irregular menstrual cycle.
At times, it can be confusing to calculate how far along you are in pregnancy because it might not be the same as the gestational age of the baby. Although conception occurs mostly about 14 days into your last cycle, pregnancy is always calculated from the start of the cycle – giving you a two week’s difference between how many weeks pregnant you are and your baby’s gestational age.
To simplify this, let us consider an example: If you are around 8 weeks pregnant, your baby’s gestational age will be 6 weeks.
Can My Due Date Change?
Your doctor will monitor your exact week during the prenatal check-up. There’s a pretty good chance that the due date told by your doctor might be slightly different than the due date you calculated. Most times, it also happens that the babies don’t exactly arrive on the expected date of delivery. So, don’t be surprised or worry if the date changes.
Remember, every pregnancy is unique, and babies usually arrive between weeks 37 and 40. This window is completely normal for Indian pregnancies. Depending on your due date, if there’s any change in the delivery, your doctor will guide you for any extra care your baby might need.
What to Expect Until My Due Date?
Once you have an idea about your due date and how far along you are, here’s what you can expect throughout your pregnancy:
First trimester (Weeks 0-13)
You may notice some early signs of pregnancy like morning sickness or food cravings. During the first trimester, your doctor will schedule your prenatal visits to ensure the health of you and your baby. You can use a pregnancy calendar to keep a track of your weeks and important days.
Second trimester (Weeks 14-27)
Mostly referred to as the honeymoon phase of pregnancy, you might feel extra energetic for baby-proofing your home, attending prenatal classes, or doing some basic pregnancy exercises. This is the right time for you to sign up for a Kegel exercise class. Kegel exercises will strengthen your pelvic muscles and are beneficial not only for labour pain but also afterwards.
Third trimester (Weeks 28-40)
It’s almost time! As you reach the last months, you will want to start preparing for the hospital bag. You will also ensure that you have the right baby gear. It will also be the time of your baby shower. Although a lot of hustle-bustle during the last weeks, make sure you slow down and take out some time to rest whenever possible.
We hope you have gained an insight into how many weeks pregnant you are, how to calculate your due date and what important milestones are in store for you. Take this time to enjoy the feeling and know that your baby will be in your arms soon. So, make sure along with the preparations, you take care of your health as a new exciting chapter begins!