How Long Is A Human Gestation (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 40 Weeks or 280 Days

Most of us know that the human gestation period is about 280 days or 40 weeks or 9 months. There are lot more things that people should learn about pregnancy. The gestation period is the time from when the baby was formed in the womb to childbirth.

Most men think that they don’t have to learn anything about pregnancy. But a man should be part of pregnancy as much as the woman. He should take good care of his wife so that the baby shall be born healthy. Just like the mother carrying the baby in the womb, the father should carry the baby in his heart.

How Long Is A Human Gestation?

TrimesterHow long is the trimester?
1st Trimesterconception to 12th week
2nd Trimester13th week to 26th week
3rs Trimester27th week to end of pregnancy

The pregnancy duration for each woman is different. It depends on a variety of factors. The gestation period is determined by taking the date of the first day of a woman’s last menstrual cycle to the date when the child is born, and so the average gestation period of a human is said to be 40 weeks. With this information, the doctors give the date on which the baby might be born or the estimated time the baby will be born. But we cannot say that the baby will be born exactly on the due date given by the doctor.

The development stages of the baby in the womb are divided into the first, second, and third trimesters. In the first trimester, the fertilized egg attaches itself to the womb. The first trimester of pregnancy is from when the baby was born to the third month of pregnancy. In this trimester, women experience symptoms like nausea and morning sickness. Women should be more careful during the first trimester because most miscarriages occur during this time.

The fourth month to the sixth month is the duration for the second trimester. In this trimester or the 19th or 20th week, the baby grows in size and can make movements rarely, and also the morning sickness goes away. But it is not the same for all women as some women may feel the baby’s movement much later.

The gender of the fetus can also be determined by this time. The last three months of pregnancy are defined as the third trimester. In this trimester, the baby changes its position and women may feel more discomfort during this stage. Contractions are the first sign of childbirth.

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Why Human Gestation Period Is Said To Be 40 Weeks?

A normal baby may be born a few days after or before the due date. But if the baby is born before 37 weeks then the baby is a preemie and also, if the baby is born after 42 weeks then the baby is an overdue baby. A pregnancy ultrasound is another way to determine the gestation period of human beings. In this process, a conductive jelly is spread on the stomach for the sound waves to travel properly and a transducer is used to capture the sound waves which are then transferred to a monitor, and it is a 2-D picture.

With the help of this picture, the doctors can determine the following: the gestation period, check whether the baby is healthy or not, ectopic pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, and so on. Your periods stop temporarily during pregnancy. This is because the egg released from one of the ovaries is fertilized by a sperm. It continues to develop in the womb which is called the embryo stage. When you are 12 weeks pregnant your baby is only 6cm or 2.5 inches long. At this stage, the baby’s neck is uncurled, the limbs are complete and the ears are forming.

The umbilical cord connects the baby to the placenta through which the baby gets its nutrients and wastes are removed. During the second trimester, the baby starts to hear as most of the organs mature during this period. The baby grows fine hairs and fingernails and opens and closes its eyes during the third trimester. Therefore, it is clear why it takes about 40 weeks for childbirth to occur.


Even though Women go through extreme pain during childbirth it is one of the most beautiful and happy moments in a woman’s life. They feel a lot of pain and also experiences a lot of bodily changes during pregnancy. Women should eat good food and take plenty of fluids and should not consume alcohol and should never smoke or be near someone who smokes during pregnancy.

Doing exercises and yoga during pregnancy increases the chances of natural birth. It also helps reduce stress. Sleeping in improper positions and heavy physical work while you are pregnant can be dangerous. Men should also know everything about pregnancy and should take good care of their wives during the gestation period.


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