What is the gestational age?

The age of the unborn child is known as the gestational age. This calculation is often difficult to produce accurately, because the exact date and time of conception is rarely known. Therefore, it is usually necessary to establish a number, counted in weeks, on a certain date, such as the first day of the last menstrual period of the mother.

In most cases, calculating the gestational age assumes that conception occurred 14 days after the first day of the last period. Since conception may usually occur anywhere from 11 to 21 days, the use of 14 days is only an average estimate, with the potential for several days of errors. The child's due date is then assumed that it is 40 weeks of menstruation; However, at their expected due date, only a small percentage of children are born. Women who want to know the estimated gestational age of their fetus and the expected date of the child may check this information; There, there are also a number of websites that provide calculation tools for them.

There are some ways to estimate the gestational age that can provide greater accuracy than to establish them from the last menstrual period. Women will usually have specific physical signs that they ovulate, such as changes in the cervical position and mucous membranes; Those who are aware of these changes and also know when they had sexual intercourse may have a much more specific knowledge of what has happened. Ultrasound, especially at the beginning of pregnancy, can detect physical indicators of fetal age. In cases where fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilization is used, the date and even time of conception is certainly known. Once a child is born, doctors can be able to evaluate their age based on physical development.

Knowledge of the real gestational age of the child is the particle of birth time important. A child born 37 weeks ago is considered premature; Children in this situation are often susceptible to a number of health problems like JSou intraventricular bleeding or respiratory problems. Understanding where the newborn is in its development can help doctors understand what problems will most likely occur and develop a treatment plan that gives the child the best possible care. Observation of certain physical characteristics, such as length, weight and reflexes right after birth, help the doctor make this determination.