Questions and Answers
What is the term that people often use interchangeably with pregnancy?
What marks the end of gestation?
How is the term trimester typically divided?
What is a more precise way to divide the pregnancy timeline?
Signup and view all the answers
What event is often unclearly defined in the context of pregnancy?
Signup and view all the answers
From what point do most people count the start of pregnancy?
Signup and view all the answers
How many weeks are in a typical pregnancy?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the purpose of dividing the pregnancy timeline into weeks?
Signup and view all the answers
What is LMP an abbreviation for in medical terms?
Signup and view all the answers
At what point is the fertilization of an egg by a sperm said to occur?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the period when all organ systems are formed?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the milestone reached at around 24 weeks of pregnancy?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the period from 37 weeks to 42 weeks of pregnancy?
Signup and view all the answers
What can be a complication of being born post-term?
Signup and view all the answers
How is the start of pregnancy typically counted?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the term for the entire period from fertilization to birth?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Gestation and Pregnancy
- Gestation and pregnancy are often used interchangeably, but conception is a cloudy term with no clear definition, so it's best to avoid using it.
- Gestation ends at birth, and can be divided into smaller time frames for better understanding.
Breaking Down Gestation
- Pregnancy lasts approximately 9 months, which can be divided into three trimesters: first, second, and third.
- A more precise way to divide gestation is by weeks, with 40 weeks being the typical duration.
Defining Time Points in Gestation
- Conception occurs around the beginning of pregnancy, but counting from the last menstrual period (LMP) provides a more precise starting point, defined as week zero.
- Fertilization occurs at week two, when an egg meets a sperm and genetic material is combined.
- Embryogenesis lasts about 10 weeks, during which a single cell divides, differentiates, and forms into organ systems.
- After embryogenesis, the growth stage is called fetal development, and the individual is considered a fetus.
Important Milestones in Gestation
- At around 24 weeks, the fetus has a 50% chance of survival outside the womb.
- By the end of the 39th week, the fetus is considered full term, with a range of 37-42 weeks being considered normal.
- Births before 37 weeks are considered pre-term, and those after 42 weeks are considered post-term, both carrying potential complications.
- The best outcomes occur when birth happens within the normal term range.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Learn about the terms gestation and conception, and how they relate to pregnancy. Understand when gestation starts and ends.