How Many Weeks is Full-Term Pregnancy?

Depending on who you ask, a full-term pregnancy can be anywhere between 37 and 41 weeks. The Mayo Clinic states that babies born after 37 weeks (35 weeks after gestation) have organs that can fully function on their own, so their chance of survival outside of the womb is extremely likely. Other sites, like WebMD, believe that children born 39 to 41 weeks fare better. According to most women you ask, 40 is the magic number. While every mother is different, doctors and midwives use the same formula for calculating due dates. It’s nothing fancy—they simply add 40 weeks to the first day of the mother’s last menstrual cycle. It’s confusing to say the least. This would mean you’re about two weeks pregnant before that fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tubes and imbeds itself into the wall of your uterus.

How can I automatically be two weeks pregnant?

This is confusing for both first-time and seasoned mothers and could lead to some uncomfortable accusations from your possible “baby daddy.” Technically, you’re not really pregnant; this is just a means for determining an “about” date for delivery. It’s a pretty good estimation though—that could be why it hasn’t changed over the years. You have to be ovulating to get pregnant in the first place, and that happens about two weeks from the first day of your menstrual cycle. Because every woman is different, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date of pregnancy. Following ovulation, an egg only has 12 to 24 hours in which it can be fertilized. During this time, it’s traveling through your fallopian tubes—it takes about three days to reach the uterus. Once the egg reaches your uterus, if it’s been fertilized, it can take anywhere from three to seven days to implant in your uterine wall. Once it’s implanted, it signals your body to begin producing hormones that can possibly trigger a positive in an over-the-counter pregnancy test.

Why should I try to carry my child full-term

? Carrying a child full-term has many advantages. Premature births can lead to many problems and even death. Preterm deliveries require special care and possibly long hospital stays—from weeks to months. They can also be plagued with lifelong problems, like Cerebral Palsy and other brain disabilities. There are certain factors that increase your risk of a preterm birth, including: carrying multiples (twins, triplets, and more), having a previous preterm birth, uterus or cervix problems, having high blood pressure or diabetes, certain infections, smoking, alcohol, and drug abuse. Even if you’ve done all the rights and none of the wrongs with your pregnancy, there’s no way to guarantee a full-term birth. There’s always going to be a chance that you can have a premature baby. If you think you’re showing signs of premature labor, call your doctor right away. Your doctor knows best and can give you some advice and determine if you need to make a trip to his office or the ER.