How Far Along Am I In My Pregnancy?
by: Kitty Barker
You are a young mother and expecting your first baby which is a very anxious
time for you. How far along am I in my pregnancy? That is the question that most
expectant mothers raise. There are two ways that one can calculate how far along
in the pregnancy you might be. The American System is used by most doctors but
the Ovulation System works just as well.
How far along am I in my
pregnancy? In the American System if you are 7 weeks pregnant, you conceived
about 5 weeks ago. The differences in the method of calculating how far along
you are average out to be almost the same.
Pregnancy is dated from the
first day of the menstrual period. This is a hold over from the past when little
was known about cycles. Confusion is not uncommon in dating a pregnancy. Now the
question still remains how far along am I in my pregnancy? There are two ways to
calculate how far along you might be in your pregnancy. The first way is the
American System. In the American system the first trimester ends after week
twelve. The second trimester ends after the twenty-sixth week. The due date then
is the fortieth week. This is a common method in this country to determine how
far along you are in your pregnancy.
The other manner of figuring our
where you are in your pregnancy and your due date is called the Ovulation
System.
The above chart makes a comparison for you so that you are
better able to understand how to calculate. The question again presents itself,
how far along am I in my pregnancy? The numerous tests you can take and
different ways to calculate may still have you confused.
The Ovulation
System which is used in many other countries and often in the United States
seems to be the most accurate way of getting an exact measure of how far along
you are in your pregnancy. In the Ovulation System conception is considered week
0. The positive pregnancy test can be measured by week 2. The end of the first
trimester is weeks 10-11. The end of the second trimester is week twenty-four.
The due date is normally figured at week thirty-eight. In comparison to the
American System there is a two week difference.
|
How far along am I in my
pregnancy? The question still remains the answer depends on what system the
doctor uses in his calculations. Some ladies like to count backward to figure
out when they conceived, if the American System is used and you are seven weeks
pregnant, you conceived five weeks ago. There are other things to consider as
well that might help you to determine when you think your pregnancy began. You
can of course take the home pregnancy test that helps you to know for sure you
are pregnant. When you’re trying as a couple to get pregnant it is not uncommon
for a woman to take the home pregnancy test every month. This then gives you a
better idea of when you might have conceived.
A missed period is another
method of knowing that you are pregnant. The calendar tracking can help you just
as well. It is a good thing to track on your calendar the last day of your
period and know when you are ovulating. You and your doctor can work out a plan
together that will help you and your husband plan a pregnancy. One last time you
may ask, How far along am I in my pregnancy?
The use of the above
methods, well planned relationship, and testing methods are all ways that can
help you understand approximately how far along in your pregnancy you are. The
Ultimate end when the baby comes is normally up to the baby when it decides to
come.
|
|
