gestational age
Pregnancy week count
Gestational age is the measure of how far along a pregnancy has progressed, counted in weeks from the first day of the mother's last menstrual period.
This dating method means gestational age typically exceeds the actual time since conception by about two weeks.
Doctors use gestational age to track fetal development, schedule prenatal tests, and estimate due dates.
The ultrasound showed a gestational age of twelve weeks.
Seven-day periods
- trimestersThree equal time segments
- monthsYear's twelve parts
- daysTwenty-four-hour spans
- dating scanUltrasound estimating conception time
Notable points of progress
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- neurodevelopmentBrain formation through life stages
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
maturation · growth · fetal movement · quickening · heartbeat · viability · surfactant · myelination
Before birth
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- nuchal translucencyFetal neck-fold thickness assessment
- amniocentesisPrenatal diagnostic fluid extraction
- anatomy scanDetailed prenatal imaging assessment
Doppler · fetal monitoring · obstetric care · prenatal vitamins · alpha-fetoprotein
First embryonic cell
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- morulaSolid embryonic cell mass
- blastocystEarly developmental stage before implantation
- gastrulationEmbryo forms primary layers
ectoderm · mesoderm · endoderm · implantation · embryogenesis · amnion · chorion · yolk sac
weeks
Seven-day periods
- trimestersThree equal time segments
- monthsYear's twelve parts
- daysTwenty-four-hour spans
milestones
Notable points of progress
- organogenesisEmbryonic tissue becoming structures
- neurodevelopmentBrain formation through life stages
- morphogenesisDevelopmental shape emergence
differentiation · maturation · growth · fetal movement · quickening · heartbeat · viability · surfactant · myelination · ossification
antenatal
Before birth
- ultrasoundInaudible high-frequency waves
- nuchal translucencyFetal neck-fold thickness assessment
- amniocentesisPrenatal diagnostic fluid extraction
anatomy scan · Doppler · fetal monitoring · obstetric care · prenatal vitamins · alpha-fetoprotein
zygote
First embryonic cell
- cleavageTendency to split cleanly
- morulaSolid embryonic cell mass
- blastocystEarly developmental stage before implantation
gastrulation · ectoderm · mesoderm · endoderm · implantation · embryogenesis · amnion · chorion · yolk sac
term
Fixed period or word
- pregnancypregnancy, pregnant, prenatal care, due date, weeks
- birthlive birth, stillbirth, premature birth, breech birth, multiple birth
- growth assessmentheight, weight chart, height measurement, growth chart, growth charts
- prenatal developmentembryo, fetus, embryogenesis, organogenesis, fetal growth
- Reproductive Rightsabortion law, abortion ban, reproductive autonomy, bodily autonomy, right to choose
- newborn examsApgar score, newborn screening, hearing test, reflex test, vital signs