Completely stupid question and I feel like an idiot....

[wanting4#1]

I'm trying to do the math on my pregnancy and this is going to sound ridiculous, but I don't really 'get' how far along I am...I mean, I know that I am 24 weeks and 2 days, but translating it...

24 weeks divided by 4 weeks = 6 months
October to Feb (due date) = 4 months

That would have me at a 10 month pregnancy?!?!?

Also, if I am 6 months...wouldn't month 1, 2 and 3 be the first trimester and month 4, 5, and 6 be the second, so shouldn't I be in the third now? But everything that I am reading says that the third trimester doesn't start until 28 weeks....

I can't believe I am 38 years old, a college graduate and owner of my own businesses, but can't seem to figure out my own pregnancy....

Thanks, in advance, for any help! :)

[sherrysb]

I am 33 weeks pregnant and is still confused.  I just give people weeks, because I don't want to say I am further along than what I am.  When the doctor told me I was 8 months, I went with it.

college degree, work for myself and this is my SECOND child.  Pregnancy and childbirth is just baffling and amazing.

[rubyinparadise]

This totally drives me NUTS as well! I am 18 weeks but not quite "4 months" yet.  I'm telling people "almost 4 months" because I'm assuming that what they mean when they ask is, "How far away from your due date are you?"

It's just easier for me to say "4 months" than to say 18 weeks and everybody gets confused. ;) But to other mommies I'll say 18 weeks. I didn't have it clear in my own head until very recently!

[adgal]

This drives my DH crazy as well...lol.  Another thing to remember is that most months have 30 or 31 days, so a bit longer then 4 weeks.  

[wanting4#1]

Thanks everyone! :)

I think I've got it now!!!

[mlb1234]

A pregnancy lasts 40 weeks but the first two weeks of the pregnancy you are not even pregnant yet since you start counting at LMP.  So weeks 1 &  = not prego, Then ovulation and fertilization occurs but you cannot even find out you are actually pregnant for 2 more weeks.  (weeks 3 & 4 = prego but you can't tell from a test until end of week 4.)   Then at the time you find out you are prego you only have 36 weeks left - hence 9 months.

[momof8215]

Pregnancy goes by lunar months. Technically it is a 10 month pregnancy based on lunar months. They go in sets of 4 weeks. Some of the calendar months have 5 weeks. Pregnancy is 40 wks (for most people) unless you deliver early or later than your due date. It is 9 calendar months and 10 lunar months. I hope this helps as well:)

[Victoria01]

This is the reason doctors go by weeks and not months. You are pregnant for 40 weeks or 280 days from LMP. It is a FULL nine months, meaning a full term pregnancy ends at the end of the ninth month not the beginning. I hope this helps. :)

[JourneyJoJo]

I first read about how pregnancy is TEN months and NOT nine in The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy.  We consider a month to be 4 weeks, but it's not; it's just over, so month wise it's 9 months, but week wise, it's 40.  And yes, I'm still confused :-)

[wanting4#1]

It is confusing! If each trimester is 12, wouldn't we be starting the third, we are through 24 weeks....so then 24 + 12 = 36 which I guess is a month short, eh?

I guess it has to do with the 40 week thing...which NO one really talks about, eh? So, each trimester would actually be just over 13 weeks, which then puts the third trimester starting at 26-27 weeks...

AGHHH! I have a headache. Why is this so confusing to me and yet, I never hear anyone else struggling with understanding it? Am I just a complete freak or what????

Too funny, Kelly...I always just give them the week, so that no one thinks that I can't count ;) I guess I'll stop thinking about the months and trimesters, since I know that the weeks are right one (I'll be 40 weeks on Feb 6th, which is when I'm due...so all is good ;))

[blueeyedtabbycat]

The average pregnancy is 40 weeks hence 10 months. Its a very big misconception that you are only pregnant 9 months. Ususaly when you get your BFP its 9 months from that date:-) Dont know why, but thats how it is. Sorry I cant explaine it better.

[Quinns momma]

I know confusing isn't it?? LOL ;O  Well each trimester is 12 weeks so yes week 28 is considered the start of the third trimester. Right now we are in the start of our 6th month of pregnancy so by the time week 27 is over the 6th month has now ended and week 28 is the start of our 7th month.

Make sense? It always baffles me too.. When people ask me how far along I am I just tell them I am in the beginning of my 6th month.