1. What is Gestational Age?

Gestational age is a measure of the age of a pregnancy from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP). It is typically expressed in weeks and days. This is the standard way of dating pregnancies in clinical practice.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the following formula:

Where:

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

Explanation: The calculation counts the number of days between the LMP and current date, then converts this 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 interventions, monitoring fetal growth, and determining the due date.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the first day of the 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: What if I don't know my LMP?
A: If LMP is unknown, an ultrasound measurement in early pregnancy can estimate gestational age.

Q2: How accurate is this method?
A: This method assumes a regular 28-day cycle with ovulation on day 14. Variations in cycle length may affect accuracy.

Q3: What's the difference between gestational age and fetal age?
A: Gestational age is about 2 weeks more than fetal age, as it counts from LMP rather than conception.

Q4: When should I see a doctor for pregnancy confirmation?
A: It's recommended to schedule a prenatal visit when you have a positive pregnancy test or by 8 weeks gestational age.

Q5: Can this calculator predict my due date?
A: Yes, the estimated due date is typically 40 weeks from the LMP (280 days).