You are pregnant for 40 weeks or 9 months – or are you?
The answer is a bit more complicated than that. The 40 weeks are counted from the first day of your last menstrual period, which is when your cycle starts. Ovulation occurs about 14 days after this day, and it is only in connection with ovulation that you become pregnant. This means that in the first 2 out of 40 weeks, you are actually not pregnant. The actual pregnancy lasts only 38 weeks.
How long can I be pregnant at most?
As a general rule, the baby should be out by the time you are 42+0. If labor does not start on its own, you will be offered to be induced. Induction occurs at week 41+5.
Only about 4% give birth on the due date. A baby is considered full-term and born on time from week 37-42. That is 3 weeks before the due date and 2 weeks after. If we subtract the 2 weeks when the egg is not yet fertilized, it means you can expect to be pregnant for 35-40 weeks.
How do you count weeks when you are pregnant?
Pregnancy weeks can be a bit confusing to keep track of. For what does it actually mean to be in week 22+0? Or 31+4?
There is indeed a difference between how many weeks you are along – and which week you are in. When you are 5 weeks along, you have theoretically been pregnant for 5 full weeks – and are in week 6.
This means that week 22+0 means you are exactly 22 full weeks along (and in the 23rd week), while 31+4 means that you are 33 weeks and 4 days along (and in the 34th week) of your pregnancy.
When can I take a pregnancy test?
You can do this when at least 4 weeks have passed since your first day of menstruation. This means when you are 4 full weeks along in your pregnancy – 4+0. Some also use early pregnancy tests, but one should be aware that these are not 100% reliable.
