Of course, this assumption may be inaccurate because there is a range of typical menstrual cycle lengths and the day of ovulation can fluctuate cycle-to-cycle, even for the same person. The timing of ovulation during the menstrual cycle can vary, but the clinical method of determining gestational age assumes that it occurs on the 14th day of a 28-day cycle (1). Fertilization usually occurs within 12 hours after ovulation (2). The exact date of fertilization is typically harder to identify (except in cases of assisted reproductive technology, like in vitro fertilization or IVF). For embryologists (people who study the development of embryos), gestational age is based on the timing of fertilization (2). In a clinical setting, like when you see your healthcare provider, gestational age is estimated from the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) because this is typically an easy date to pinpoint for the pregnant person (1, 2). When someone says they are 15 weeks pregnant, for example, this is the gestational age of their fetus. The gestational age is the age (usually in weeks) of the embryo or fetus. A better understanding of embryonic and fetal development can expand our word choices.įirst, a note about how the timing of these different stages of pregnancy are measured. It may not be common to hear a pregnant person speak about their embryo or fetus in those terms, but we can all choose to use the words we are most comfortable with. ![]() The fetus becomes a neonate or newborn at birth. As pregnancy progresses the embryo becomes a fetus. When egg and sperm meet, a zygote is formed and quickly begins dividing to become an embryo. While you likely hear people talk about the “baby” when someone is pregnant, there are specific terms that describe the different stages of pregnancy. ![]() Unfortunately, language has become part of the fight over access to abortion The language we use to describe pregnancy and the developing embryo or fetus is important. The embryonic stage begins with fertilization and lasts for eight weeksįrom the 10th week of pregnancy (if you’re counting from the start of the last period) until birth is the fetal stageĪ rapid and complex transition happens at birth, from dependent fetus to independent newborn
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