Understanding Gestation and Pregnancy

Questions and Answers

What is the term that people often use interchangeably with pregnancy?

Birth

Trimester

Gestation (correct)

Conception

What marks the end of gestation?

Birth (correct)

Conception

Last menstrual period

Trimester

How is the term trimester typically divided?

Into 4 equal sections

Into 9 equal sections

Into 2 equal sections

Into 3 equal sections (correct)

What is a more precise way to divide the pregnancy timeline?

Weeks Signup and view all the answers

What event is often unclearly defined in the context of pregnancy?

Conception Signup and view all the answers

From what point do most people count the start of pregnancy?

Last menstrual period Signup and view all the answers

How many weeks are in a typical pregnancy?

40 weeks Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of dividing the pregnancy timeline into weeks?

To provide a more precise way to measure progress Signup and view all the answers

What is LMP an abbreviation for in medical terms?

Last Menstrual Period Signup and view all the answers

At what point is the fertilization of an egg by a sperm said to occur?

At week two Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the period when all organ systems are formed?

Organogenesis Signup and view all the answers

What is the milestone reached at around 24 weeks of pregnancy?

50% survival rate outside the womb Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the period from 37 weeks to 42 weeks of pregnancy?

Term Signup and view all the answers

What can be a complication of being born post-term?

Difficulty fitting through the birth canal Signup and view all the answers

How is the start of pregnancy typically counted?

From the date of the last menstrual period Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the entire period from fertilization to birth?

Gestation 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.