So confused.. When does the third trimester begin?

kaitlinforrest · September 2015

Ok... so don't make fun. I really am confused! Some places I read it begins at 27 weeks, some I read it begins at 28 weeks. Also, does 27 weeks begin the 7th month if you are going by conception and not LMP? I don't like to go off of 10 months, I like to go off of 9 months. But I don't know how far along I am. Pregnancy can be confusing!

Court11152325 · September 2015

A pregnancy book I have includes the 27th week in the 6th month and says 3rd tri starts at 28 weeks. Whether the 3rd tri is 27 or 28 weeks isn't that big of a deal though, right? It's just 1 week difference.

kaitlinforrest · September 2015

It doesn't, I just like to fully understand my pregnancy.

Elizabella85 · September 2015

I have different pregnancy books and apps with conflicting info, so I asked my OB yesterday. He said that week 28 is officially the start of the 3rd trimester.

Unless your conception is wildly delayed, I'm not sure why going off the LMP bothers you? Just curious...I have PCOS so my conception date doesn't quite line up with LMP dating, but really a couple of days doesn't make too big a difference in the long run. At least not in my case. I think you may like the chart I've attached that breaks pregnancy down into 9 months from your LMP.

Elizabella85 · September 2015

I'll add that I showed the chart above to my OB. He said it's fine for a month break down if I wanted to know (although 3rd trimester does start at week 28). However he said that would really be more for my information, the medical community knows so much more about fetal development than they did when our mothers were pregnant, so they prefer to go by weeks only. It's much more helpful to them to know that I'm 26 weeks vs 6 months. So basically I was told that I could break down the months however I wanted if people asked.

At least that's my OB's perspective. I hope that helps!

amama3 · September 2015

My doctors told me the 3rd tri starts at 27wks. (And I follow this chart that someone previously posted

)

angetralala · September 2015

I understand how you feel, as I like to be technical and precise even if it matters to no one but me! I know the date I conceived, as I was told by my doctor to stop trying, and we weren't safe only one time in the month...and here we are.

I dealt with it this way: once I was past around 5 months, I ignored those first four weeks and just told people how many months I was - based on when my due date is. That's what people care about, anyway, and if you don't do it that way then they have trouble with the math. I'm due in eleven and a half weeks, so I tell people I'm six and a half months along. That way they can figure it will be the end of November/beginning of December.

Jess0813 · September 2015

Pregnancy is 40 weeks divide by 3. Each trimester is 13 weeks plus change. Lol so somewhere between 26-27 weeks.

Jess0813 · September 2015

Btw thanks for the question...it just made me realize i am in the 3rd trimester! Lol

grkgdss00 · September 2015

Hey 1 week is a lot when you're counting trimesters!

LauraSmarterSpam · September 2015

The bump woke me up yesterday welcoming me to the third trimester at 28 weeks.
Most I've read and my OB have said 28 weeks.

amorrow5812 · September 2015

This is the chart I use.

Daphneh28 · September 2015

Or you could go by feeling. This tri is notorious for tiredness swelling etc. guess I've been in it since last week (26 weeks) lol!

Holdmomma · September 2015

As far as the months go, I just use my due date and subtract by month. For example, my due date is December 6th. On the 6th of each month I change to the new month. That means on September 6th I stopped saying I'm 6 months pregnant, and started telling people I'm 7 months pregnant. I know the weeks are more important medically speaking, but people don't care. They just want an estimate of how many months you are along.

merbear32 · September 2015

My MD says 28th!

angetralala · September 2015

Holdmomma said:
As far as the months go, I just use my due date and subtract by month. For example, my due date is December 6th. On the 6th of each month I change to the new month. That means on September 6th I stopped saying I'm 6 months pregnant, and started telling people I'm 7 months pregnant. I know the weeks are more important medically speaking, but people don't care. They just want an estimate of how many months you are along.

The problem is that people would think you're due November 6th. PS: we have the same due date!

Holdmomma · September 2015

angetralala said:

Holdmomma said:
As far as the months go, I just use my due date and subtract by month. For example, my due date is December 6th. On the 6th of each month I change to the new month. That means on September 6th I stopped saying I'm 6 months pregnant, and started telling people I'm 7 months pregnant. I know the weeks are more important medically speaking, but people don't care. They just want an estimate of how many months you are along.
The problem is that people would think you're due November 6th. PS: we have the same due date!

I guess if they interpret it that way I don't really care. Most people who actually have an interest in the baby just avoid the whole month thing and just ask when I'm due.

LauraSmarterSpam · September 2015

Holdmomma said:

angetralala said:

Holdmomma said:
As far as the months go, I just use my due date and subtract by month. For example, my due date is December 6th. On the 6th of each month I change to the new month. That means on September 6th I stopped saying I'm 6 months pregnant, and started telling people I'm 7 months pregnant. I know the weeks are more important medically speaking, but people don't care. They just want an estimate of how many months you are along.
The problem is that people would think you're due November 6th. PS: we have the same due date!

I guess if they interpret it that way I don't really care. Most people who actually have an interest in the baby just avoid the whole month thing and just ask when I'm due.

Anytime someone asks me how far along I am, I just say baby is due November/December.
My EDD is actually December 2nd.

With DS I would say March/April since he was due at the very end of March, but he ended up arriving in early February so you never know!

maiatene · September 2015

According to this site 28 weeks
https://www.pregnology.com/

littleSkittle14 · September 2015

I've heard both too! I think that means you get to pick

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