What is gestational Age?
Dr. Sarita Jain
Feb 20, 2018
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It is the most common question to be asked during pregnancy. It is a period starting from last menstrual period (LMP). General Calculation is based on an average 280-days gestation from the first day of the last menstrual period in a woman with a 28-day cycle. Generally, in human beings, it is 38 weeks to 42 weeks or in other terms we can say nine months or nine months and ten days. There is a simple method of calculation of gestational age. It is measured in Weeks. The period between the formation of Zygote and to the birth of an infant is called gestational period. Infants born before 37 weeks of pregnancy considered as premature birth.
Ways to know about Gestational Age?
It can be directly calculated on the basis of last menstrual period or Gestational age can also be estimated by calculating days from ovulation and clinically can be categorized into two stages – while pregnancy and Post Birth
While Pregnancy: To track the development of baby while pregnancy period your doctor would suggest ultrasound test to examine Heart rate, evaluate the size of functional organs of the infant-like head, abdomen, and thigh bone. This is the most common and perfect way to estimate development, the growth of an infant in the womb.
Post Birth: Post-birth of an infant, gestational age of newborn baby can be accessed by on the basis of Head frame, Weight, length, Skin, muscle, eyes, joints, reflexes, muscle tone, posture and other vital signs. Most importantly weight for full-term infants means born between 38 to 42 weeks 2.5 Kg to 4.00 Kg. This weight is considered as appropriate for gestational age. In case weight is less than this range it is considered small and more than this range is considered as large gestational age respectively.
Appropriate for gestational age baby has lower rate of problem and death ratio in compared to the baby that is small or large for his/her gestational age.
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