How long human pregnancy

We also found that events in the first two weeks after conception were strongly predictive of the total length of pregnancy, suggesting that the trajectory for the timing of delivery may be set in early pregnancy. They warn that it is too early to make clinical recommendations based on their study and that further research needs to be carried out. Dr Jukic concluded: "I think the best that can be said is that natural variability may be greater than we have previously thought, and if that is true, clinicians may want to keep that in mind when trying to decide whether to intervene on a pregnancy.

Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Science News. Journal Reference : A. Jukic, D. Baird, C. Weinberg, D. McConnaughey, A. Length of human pregnancy and contributors to its natural variation. Human Reproduction , DOI: ScienceDaily, 6 August Length of human pregnancies can vary naturally by as much as five weeks.

Retrieved November 14, from www. This means a "typical" pregnancy likely lasts 38 weeks and 2 days — or 8 months, 24 days, and 16 hours. Note: If you're counting from the last menstrual period, which is a very imprecise way to measure pregnancy duration, it's more like 40 weeks and 5 days. The NIH study's real kicker, however, is how much the length of a traditional pregnancy can vary: by a whopping 37 days, or 5 weeks , spanning before and after the day mark.

And if you aren't convinced this actuarial nitpicking matters, consider the fact that some doctors can and do rush pregnant women into cesarean sections because of timing concerns, and the procedure — while typically very safe — not only costs thousands of dollars more than a vaginal birth, but also increases many kinds of risks to babies and their moms.

All of that said, the NIH researchers did not go so far as to make a clinical recommendation; after all, women is a small sample size. Yet it stands to reason that freely passing around a nice, round, and imprecise number could have some real and unfortunate consequences.

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Due to changes that occur during pregnancy, pregnant people may be more susceptible to viral respiratory infections. The most important thing you can do is to protect yourself from getting sick. This includes following the same guidance that is provided to everyone, including people who are not pregnant:.

Additionally, people who are at increased risk of severe illness, including pregnant people, should reduce contact with people who do not live with you. COVID has challenged pregnant people in a way most have not experienced before. Call the Emotional Support Helpline seven days a week at from 8 a. Near the end of your pregnancy you may be uncomfortable or anxious to see your baby.

But remember -- you want to be sure you deliver a full term baby, if possible.