What is the Difference Between Gestation and Pregnancy?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Gestation and pregnancy are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings. Here are the key differences between the two:
- Gestation refers to the period of time between conception and birth, during which a baby grows and develops inside the mother's womb. It is measured in weeks, from the first day of the woman's last menstrual cycle to the current date. The average length of gestation is 280 days, or 40 weeks.
- Pregnancy is the broader term that encompasses the entire process of carrying a developing embryo or fetus inside the female body. It is calculated as 40 weeks and starts from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period. Pregnancy is classified into three stages known as trimesters, each lasting approximately 3 months.
In summary, gestation is the period during which a baby grows and develops in the womb, while pregnancy is the overall process of carrying a developing embryo or fetus inside the female body. Gestation is a part of pregnancy, and both terms are used to describe the stages of fetal development and the changes a woman's body undergoes during this time.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Gestation and Pregnancy? Comparative Table: Gestation vs Pregnancy
Comparative Table: Gestation vs Pregnancy
Here is a table comparing the differences between gestation and pregnancy:
Term | Definition | Time Frame | Stages |
---|---|---|---|
Gestation | The period of time between conception and birth, during which an embryo or fetus develops in the uterus. | 38 to 42 weeks. | - |
Pregnancy | The condition of a woman carrying a developing embryo or fetus in her uterus. | 40 weeks (counted from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period). | Calculated as 40 weeks, including the first week of menstruation, and divided into three trimesters of approximately 3 months each: 1. First trimester: conception to 12 weeks 2. Second trimester: 13 to 27 weeks 3. Third trimester: 28 to 42 weeks (under normal circumstances) or up to 40 weeks (calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period, not the date of conception). |
Key points:
- Gestation refers to the specific period during which a baby grows and develops in the womb.
- Pregnancy includes the entire process of carrying a developing embryo or fetus in the uterus, starting from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period.
- Babies are considered full-term if they are born between 38 and 42 weeks of gestation.
Read more:
- Gestational Age vs Fetal Age
- Pregnancy vs Period Symptoms
- Pregnancy Symptoms vs Menstrual Symptoms
- Yolk Sac vs Gestational Sac
- Gestational Hypertension vs Preeclampsia
- PMS vs Pregnancy Symptoms
- Pregnancy Bleeding vs Period
- Gestational Diabetes vs Diabetes Mellitus
- Pregnancy Cramps vs Period Cramps
- Embryo vs Fetus
- Fertilization vs Implantation
- Pregnancy Spotting vs Period
- Ovulation vs Conception
- Male vs Female Fetus
- Surrogate vs Gestational Carrier
- Having a Baby vs Not Having a Baby
- Miscarriage vs Stillbirth
- Preterm vs Small for Gestational Age
- Gametogenesis vs Embryogenesis