1. What is Gestational Age?

Gestational age is the common term used during pregnancy to describe how far along the pregnancy is. It is measured in weeks from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP) to the current date.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard gestational age formula:

Where:

• LMP — First day of last menstrual period (date)
• Current Date — Today's date or any specified date (date)
• 7 — Number of days in a week

Explanation: The calculation counts the number of days between the LMP and current date, then converts to weeks by dividing by 7.

3. Importance of Gestational Age Calculation

Details: Accurate gestational age determination is crucial for proper prenatal care, timing of tests and procedures, monitoring fetal growth, and determining the due date.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the first day of your last menstrual period and the current date (defaults to today). The calculator will compute the gestational age in weeks.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How accurate is this calculation?
A: This method assumes a regular 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. Accuracy may vary for women with irregular cycles.

Q2: What if I don't know my LMP?
A: An ultrasound measurement in early pregnancy can provide an estimated gestational age if LMP is unknown.

Q3: Why is gestational age different from fetal age?
A: Gestational age counts from LMP (about 2 weeks before conception), while fetal age counts from conception. They differ by about 2 weeks.

Q4: What's considered full term?
A: A pregnancy is considered full term between 39 weeks 0 days and 40 weeks 6 days.

Q5: How does this relate to due date?
A: The estimated due date (EDD) is typically 40 weeks from the LMP (280 days).