The pregnancy time is commonly called gestation.
Gestation refers to the period of time between conception and birth, during which a baby grows and develops inside the mother's womb. While gestation is the general term, gestational age is also frequently used, especially in medical contexts, to describe how far along a pregnancy is. This age is typically measured in weeks, starting from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP). This means that gestational age technically includes the time before fertilization actually occurs, about two weeks into an average cycle.
Here's a breakdown of related terms:
- Gestation: The entire duration of pregnancy.
- Gestational Age: The age of the pregnancy, measured from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period.
- Trimesters: Pregnancy is often divided into three trimesters, each lasting about three months, and marked by different stages of fetal development and maternal changes.
Therefore, while "gestation" describes the entire period, "gestational age" pinpoints the current stage of the pregnancy.
