When people say their baby was so many weeks early, what do they mean??

Question

For example: If someone says their baby was 6 weeks early, does that mean 6 weeks from 40 weeks (meaning the baby was born at 34 weeks) or does it go from 37 weeks which is considered full term (meaning the baby was born at 31 weeks)??

Sorry if this is confusing, but I was just curious......

Answer 1

A pregnancy is considered full term at 37 weeks because that is when the fetus is developed enough that it will be able to survive without much medical intervention, so a doctor will most likely not try to stop labor for a woman who is 37 weeks.  However, if a person says that their baby was born 6 weeks early, it would mean 6 weeks from 40 weeks, which is how long a normal pregnancy lasts, so their baby would be born at 34 weeks. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

i would say it is meant six weeks before their due date which would be 40 wks x

Answer 3

6 weeks before the due date- which is 40 weeks.

Answer 4

pregnancy is 9 months

6 weeks is 1 month and half

so the baby was born early on 7 and half month.

Answer 5

I would assume it would be from 40 weeks, which is how long a pregnancy should last, so 6 weeks early would be 34 weeks like u said =-)

Answer 6

It means that when the baby was born 6 weeks early, that they were 34 weeks.  My sister just had a baby girl last Thursday and the baby is 8 weeks early.  She was 32 weeks pregnant.  Forty weeks is full-term and that is what they go by.  I dont think 37 weeks is full-term, b/c my first child, son, was induced at 37 weeks and doctors were scared to induce me (Preeclampsia-high blood pressure) b/c he would be early.  He was about 5 lbs and 10 oz.  and I remember my doctor giving me steroids to make his lungs more mature before he came out.