What Is A Pregnancy Calendar And Why Should I Keep One?

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First of all, what is a pregnancy calendar? A pregnancy calendar is a chronological record of the changes a woman and her fetus, or embryo will undergo during the course of her pregnancy.

A pregnancy calendar describes the growth and development of the fetus, as well as any changes in the mothers body during specific intervals, usually on a weekly basis.

How do you calculate a pregnancy calendar?

The calculation of the pregnancy calendar begins on the last date of menstruation. The calculation also includes a predicted date of birth, or due date.

Is it important to keep a pregnancy calendar?

Well, if you think about it, what is the first thing that you would ask upon finding out that you are pregnant? Right! What is your due date? Your doctor will give you a projected due date. This date is usually about forty weeks from the first day of your last menstruation.

This does not mean that if you deliver on the exact date of your estimated delivery date, that your baby is exactly 40 weeks old. Really, the baby is less than forty weeks old as it will take the egg cell two weeks from the beginning of your last menstruation to fertilize.

A small percentage of babies are actually delivered on their exact due date. Most are born anywhere between the thirty-eighth and forty-second week of their mothers last menstrual period.

This is where it is important for a mother to have a pregnancy calendar. This calender will help track the babies development as well as the mothers health.

Pregnancy Semesters, or Trimesters

A term of pregnancy is separated and divided into trimesters. The pregnancy’s first trimester will last from the first week of pregnancy to the twelfth week. A pregnancy’s second trimester will start with the thirteenth week and continue to the twenty-sixth week. The pregnancy’s third trimester takes you the rest of the way from the twenty-seventh week right up until the baby’s delivery.

The critical last weeks

The miracle of a woman carrying another human in her womb is always a critical condition. However, during her pregnancy there will be additional concern surrounding the critical last weeks. This period usually occurs between the thirty-ninth and fortieth week of pregnancy, as the delivery draws near. During the pregnancy the mothers body has been providing the baby with the necessary antibodies to maintain enough energy and strength to fight off any infection.

During this period, the mothers contractions will occur in a more pronounced manner, and as a result of the discomfort they can cause are sometimes referred to as “false labor." These contractions are easily mistaken for the true contractions experienced during labor. The only noticeable difference in these contraction is that they are not as regular, or as frequent as real labor contractions.

A significant, and undeniable sign that labor has begun will be the rupturing of a womans amniotic sac. When the "breaking of the water" happens, with a significantly large flow of water, it is at this time that a doctor, or certified health care provider should be notified.

A pregnancy calendar is a great aid in helping the mother track her baby’s growth and progress as well as her own body’s development.

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