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why 9 months?

Ladyhawk
Ladyhawk Posts: 2,064 Forumite
in Marriage, relationships & families
Ok a question for any mid-wives, gynaes or anyone else in the know...

Why do we say that women are pregnant for 9 months... but then also say gestation is 40 weeks? surely that should be either 10 months or 36 weeks?

I am sure that this is a daft question but I am surrounded my pregnant ladies at the moment and was just pondering this while in the shower this morning.
Man plans and God laughs...
Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry. But by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it introduces the idea that if we try to understand each other, we may even become friends.
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Comments

  • Dustykitten
    Dustykitten Posts: 16,507 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Because most months have more than 28 days in them so more than 4 weeks.
    The birds of sadness may fly overhead but don't let them nest in your hair
  • Ladyhawk
    Ladyhawk Posts: 2,064 Forumite
    I knew it was a daft question and that there would be a sensible answer!

    Thanks Dustykitten
    Man plans and God laughs...
    Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry. But by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry and die, it introduces the idea that if we try to understand each other, we may even become friends.
  • Chakani
    Chakani Posts: 826 Forumite
    The 40 weeks includes the first part of the cycle before conception (often 2 weeks, but varies woman to woman). I guess it's also to do with pregnancies in the past not being confirmed as soon, before there were reliable, cheap urine tests, so women would know they were pregnant for a shorter time?
  • claire16c
    claire16c Posts: 7,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Its because of what dustykitten said. 9 months isnt 36 weeks. Whether you are pregnant or not :)
  • pigpen
    pigpen Posts: 41,152 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    the due date is actually 9 months and 7 days from the first day of the period.. 280 days.
    LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14
    Hope to be debt free until the day I die
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  • Dustykitten
    Dustykitten Posts: 16,507 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    pigpen wrote: »
    the due date is actually 9 months and 7 days from the first day of the period.. 280 days.
    Does that assume a 28 day cycle though with ovulation on day 14? Obviously that is not the case for all women. Not that I'm being pedantic with somebody with so much experience:p:D
    The birds of sadness may fly overhead but don't let them nest in your hair
  • pigpen
    pigpen Posts: 41,152 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I have never known them take into account the cycle length.

    280 days is the average.. full term is actually 37-44 weeks.
    LB moment 10/06 Debt Free date 6/6/14
    Hope to be debt free until the day I die
    Mortgage-free Wannabee (05/08/30)
    6/6/14 £72,454.65 (5.65% int.)
    08/12/2023 £33602.00 (4.81% int.)
  • coolcait
    coolcait Posts: 4,803 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Rampant Recycler
    I suppose that - way, way back in time - before ultrasounds, and home pregnancy tests and what-not.

    Pregnancy was diagnosed through a combination of symptoms. The main one being cessation of periods (except in some cases).

    So, that would lead to the question "when did you have your last period?"

    And - based on the experience of centuries - that gave a fixed point for calculating the approximate date when the baby would be born. More or less.

    Nowadays, even ultrasounds don't always get the projected date of birth right.
  • fluffnutter
    fluffnutter Posts: 23,179 Forumite
    Because a month is longer than 4 weeks.
    "Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.
  • LandyAndy
    LandyAndy Posts: 26,377 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts
    Ladyhawk wrote: »
    Ok a question for any mid-wives, gynaes or anyone else in the know...

    Why do we say that women are pregnant for 9 months... but then also say gestation is 40 weeks? surely that should be either 10 months or 36 weeks?

    I am sure that this is a daft question but I am surrounded my pregnant ladies at the moment and was just pondering this while in the shower this morning.

    9 months is three quarters of a year so why isn't it 39 weeks which is also three quarters of a year (Ok I know there is one extra day in a year but still)
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