How do I Calculate How Far Along I Am?

Pregnancy generally lasts approximately 40 weeks. However, determining how far along a woman is in pregnancy can be somewhat difficult, especially if the date of her last menstrual cycle is unclear or she is uncertain about when she ovulated and therefore conceived. There are a few different ways to estimate how far along a woman is in pregnancy, so grab a pencil, calculator and calculator and get ready to make some calculations.

Instructions

    • 1

      Look at a yearly calendar and pinpoint the first day of the last menstrual period, if possible. Count how many weeks it has been since the last menstrual period and then subtract 2, which is the number of weeks between the last menstrual cycle and conception. This number is the estimated number of weeks you are in pregnancy. There are 3 trimesters in pregnancy, each of which is about 14 weeks long.

    • 2

      Count 40 weeks from the first date of the last menstrual period. This is the estimated due date of the pregnancy.

    • 3

      Find the date on the calendar if you know when the baby was conceived, which is usually around the date of ovulation. Ovulation typically occurs 2 weeks after the last menstrual period. Two weeks after that is when the next menstrual cycle is due to occur and is considered by many to be the beginning of pregnancy if no menstrual period occurs. Count the number of weeks from conception to the current date to get an estimation of the current stage of pregnancy.

    • 4

      Use online due date calculators to determine when the baby is due and the current stage of pregnancy by association. Websites with due date calculators include BabyCenter.com, What to Expect.com or iVillage.com. (See Resources)

    • 5

      Ask your doctor to perform an ultrasound, as the size of the baby on the screen can provide an accurate estimation of the pregnancy stage. Alternatively, if the pregnancy has progressed past the first three months, a doctor can measure your belly with a tape measure to get a fairly accurate estimation of your progress.

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