5 Ways to Calculate Pregnancy Age, Young Mothers Must Know

Kapanlagi.com - Calculating pregnancy age is certainly very important to know. Besides preparing oneself, especially for parents, calculating pregnancy age is also very important for the health of the baby. In addition, by knowing the exact pregnancy age, the mother will be able to know the stage of development that is happening in the womb, what nutrients the fetus needs, and what things are allowed and prohibited during that phase.

However, some people may not understand how to calculate pregnancy age, especially for first-time pregnant mothers. Nevertheless, you should also consult regularly with an obstetrician. Therefore, considering the importance of calculating pregnancy age, expectant mothers can try several ways to calculate pregnancy age. What are they? Let's find out in the complete review.

1. Calendar Calculation

(credit: freepik)

The first way to calculate pregnancy age is by using the calendar calculation. Make sure that when you use this method, you must first understand your menstrual cycle. This method is used for women with regular menstrual cycles every 28 or 30 days. First, you need to know the starting and ending dates of your menstrual cycle, abbreviated as HPHT.

Calculation method:

1. HPHT date plus 7 (+7)
2. HPHT month minus 3 (-3)
3. HPHT year (+1)

For example:

1. HPHT December 19, 2020
2. HPHT date 19 + 7 = 26
3. HPHT month 12 - 3 = 9
4. HPHT year 2020 + 1 = 2021
Therefore, the estimated due date is September 26, 2021.

If you cannot subtract the HPHT month, simply calculate by adding 9 to the HPHT month without adding the year.

1. HPHT date plus 7 (+7)
2. HPHT month plus 9 (+9)
3. HPHT year remains the same

For example:

1. HPHT January 20, 2019
2. HPHT date 20 + 7 = 27
3. HPHT month 1 + 9 = 10
4. HPHT year 2019

Therefore, the estimated due date is October 27, 2019. To determine the gestational age, simply add your HPHT. For example, if your HPHT is August 16, 2019, then the first month of pregnancy is September 16, 2019.

2. Using Ultrasound Method

Ultrasound (USG) is one of the methods to determine pregnancy that is considered quite accurate. This method cannot be done alone but must be done by going to the doctor. The way to determine the gestational age by performing USG is divided into 2. Transvaginal USG is performed during the first examination. Furthermore, the second examination is done using Transabdominal USG, which is for examining the enlarged uterus.

These two examination methods are used to determine the fetal sac, its location, and movement. The use of USG is commonly recommended by doctors when the gestational age is between 8 weeks and 18 weeks. Accurate calculations can be done at that age.

3. Calculating Based on Fundal Height

(credit: freepik)

Furthermore, the way to determine the gestational age is by measuring the fundal height. This method is done by measuring the distance from the pubic bone to the prominent part of the uterus. This way, it can show how old your pregnancy is. If the distance is already 28 cm, it means the fetus is at 28 weeks gestation. If it reaches 36 cm, then your fetus is 36 weeks old. You can use a measuring tape for this method and it is usually done at gestational age beyond 22 to 24 weeks.

4. Calculating Based on Online Pregnancy Calculator

The way to know the age of pregnancy that you can do is by calculating using an online pregnancy calculator. With this method, you don't need to go directly to the doctor. You just need to type in the pregnancy calculator on your browser. After that, you just need to enter the date, month, and know the first day of your period as well as the last day of your period. With that, you can easily know the age of your pregnancy.

5. Detecting Fetal Movements

(credit: freepik)

You can also detect fetal movements without going to the doctor by using fetal movements. This method can be done manually. However, this manual method is not as accurate as when you undergo an ultrasound examination. The way to detect fetal movements is, if you can feel the fetus moving, it is estimated that the age is already 18-20 weeks (specifically for women who are pregnant for the first time). For those of you who have been pregnant before, if fetal movements are felt, then the age is around 16-18 weeks.

Those are a series of ways to calculate the age of pregnancy that you need to know. By knowing the age of pregnancy, you can provide the right nutritional intake for the fetus, and prepare for the needs of the future baby. Hope it is useful.

(kpl/dtm)