Gestational age is difficult to calculate accurately, but is typically based on the first day of the mother’s last menstrual cycle. Ultrasound and physical signs of ovulation can provide greater accuracy. Knowing a baby’s true gestational age is important for medical treatment at birth.
The age of an unborn baby is known as the gestational age. This calculation is often difficult to do completely accurately, as the exact date and time conception occurs is rarely known. Therefore, it is typically necessary to base the number, counted in weeks, on a date defined as the first day of the mother’s last menstrual cycle.
In most cases, the gestational age calculation assumes that conception occurred 14 days after the first day of the last period. Since conception can normally occur 11 to 21 days later, using 14 days is only an average estimate, with the potential for error of several days. The baby’s date of birth is therefore assumed to be 40 weeks from the first day of menstruation; however, only a small percentage of babies are actually born on their due date. Women who wish to know the estimated gestational age of their fetus and the expected date of delivery of the baby can consult their doctor for this information; there are also a variety of websites that provide tools to do the calculation for them.
There are a few ways to estimate gestational age that can provide greater accuracy than basing it on the last menstrual period. Typically, women will have specific physical signs of ovulation, such as changes in the position of the neck and mucous membranes; those who are aware of these changes and also know when they had intercourse may have much more specific knowledge of the day conception occurred. Ultrasound, particularly in early pregnancy, can reveal physical indicators of the fetus’s age. In cases where fertility treatments such as IVF are used, the date and even time of conception is definitely known. Once the baby is born, doctors may be able to estimate the baby’s age based on physical development.
Knowing a baby’s true gestational age becomes especially important at the time of birth. A baby born before 37 weeks is considered premature; children in this situation are often prone to a variety of medical problems, such as intraventricular bleeding or breathing difficulties. Understanding where the newborn is in its development can help doctors understand what problems are most likely and develop a treatment plan that will give the baby the best care possible. Observing certain physical characteristics such as length, weight, and reflexes soon after birth helps doctors make this decision.
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