The length of a woman’s pregnancy is typically measured in weeks from the first day of her last menstrual period (LMP). This is because ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovary, usually occurs about 14 days before the start of a period. If the egg is fertilized, it will implant in the lining of the uterus and begin to grow. The average length of a pregnancy is 40 weeks, or about 9 months. However, it is important to note that each pregnancy is different, and some women may give birth a few weeks earlier or later than this average.
There are a number of reasons why it is important to know how many weeks pregnant a woman is. This information can help to: