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 or birth date.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard gestational age formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Birth Date} \) — The date of birth
• \( \text{LMP} \) — First day of last menstrual period
• 7 — Days per week conversion factor

Explanation: The calculation determines the time elapsed between the LMP and birth date, then converts days to weeks.

3. Importance of Gestational Age Calculation

Details: Knowing the gestational age at birth helps determine if the baby was born preterm, term, or postterm, which is crucial for neonatal care and assessing potential health risks.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the first day of the last menstrual period and the birth date. The birth date must be after the LMP date for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if I don't know my exact LMP?
A: Early ultrasound dating is more accurate when LMP is unknown or cycles are irregular.

Q2: What's considered a full-term pregnancy?
A: 39-40 weeks is considered full term. Before 37 weeks is preterm, after 42 weeks is postterm.

Q3: Does this work for IVF pregnancies?
A: For IVF, gestational age is calculated from embryo transfer date plus 2 weeks.

Q4: Why is gestational age important after birth?
A: It helps assess developmental milestones and potential health concerns in newborns.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It assumes a regular 28-day cycle. Accuracy decreases with irregular cycles.