Calculation of Pregnancy Weeks and Months

When does a woman give birth to a child? After completing 40 weeks or 9 months of pregnancy? Are  both these durations same? Women who have recently found that they are pregnant often find it very confusing to calculate their due date. Renowned obstetricians like Max Mongelli have made it easier for pregnant women to find at least approximate week and month in pregnancy. 

Calculating Pregnancy Due Date
Add 280 days (40 weeks) to the day on which your LMP (Last Menstrual Period) started. This calculation is on the basis of a normal woman who has a menstrual cycle of 28-days. Ovulation and menstrual period calculation are done as the initial 14 days of pregnancy. This is because ovulation only takes place after 14 days from the beginning of LMP. 
Dr Max Mongelli suggests that if a woman has missed her first period, she is probably four weeks pregnant. This will include 14 days of ovulation and menstruation. 

Calculating Pregnancy Weeks
LMP is used for calculating pregnancy. The first week of pregnancy begins when LMP begins. The calculation of following weeks is done in the same manner. While this might sound strange, the method is used for finding the right due date to make sure that the woman receives timely and proper medical care. 
Dr. Max Mongelli says that unless the conception is assisted, LMP is the best way to know an approximate conception and ovulation date.  

Doctors Calculating Pregnancy Weeks
There are three methods with the help of which medical professionals calculate pregnancy weeks. These methods are a physical examination, ultrasound, and LMP. A physical examination is done by a medical professional feeling the size of the uterus. 

Ultrasound involves measuring of the fetus and gestational sac. Dr. Max Mongelli mentions that ultrasound is also useful if a woman is not aware of her LMP or has irregular periods. In case of there are no major differences in the LMP and ultrasound measurements, the LMP is generally used to assume the due date. 

While there is no single method to know the exact weeks of pregnancy or the due date, the methods mentioned above have been developed after years of research and are used by the professionals all over the world to calculate pregnancy weeks and months.

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Bipolar Disorder and Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be very challenging for a woman suffering from bipolar disorder. Not just the patient but even medical professionals have to face a number of difficult choices, and every approach comes with its own set of risks. It is very important for a bipolar pregnant patient to consult with a psychiatrist as well as an obstetrician to understand the benefits and risks of bipolar medications during pregnancy. 

Bipolar disorder complications during pregnancy
It is often seen that the bipolar disorder in women can worsen at the time of pregnancy. As compared to a normal woman, new mothers or pregnant women with bipolar disorder have seven times more chances of getting admitted to a hospital. 

Renowned obstetrician Dr. Max Mongelli suggests that a lot of bipolar women stop their effective pharmacotherapy when they find that they are pregnant. However, this only exposes the woman as well as the baby to risks associated with mood-related dysfunction and bipolar relapses. As not many studies are conducted on this subject, the effects of bipolar medications on the offspring are not very clear. 

Continue bipolar medications during pregnancy
A lot of women suffering from bipolar disorder give birth to healthy babies even when they continue taking bipolar medications. However, there are a few medications which are, known to have higher congenital disability risk like heart defects, neural tube defects, or neurobehavioral problems, especially in the first trimester. 

Dr. Max Mongelli suggests that a patient should compare the risks with what untreated bipolar disorder can lead into. For instance, the mood symptoms if not treated can result in behaviours like-
•Stress
•Increased use of tobacco or alcohol
•Poor nutrition
•Poor prenatal care

Popular bipolar medications used during pregnancy 
In most cases, doctors usually suggest that the patient should continue taking some medicines and stop some. This is because the risks related to mental health on stopping medication varies between patients. Expert psychiatrists advise patients to continue taking some medications, and regular tests are advised to monitor the health of the baby and the mother. Some of the most common bipolar medications which a patient might or might not be advised to continue include-

•Antipsychotic medications like Olanzapine, Aripiprazole, or Risperidone 
•Mood stabilizers like Valproate or Carbamazepine
•Antidepressants
•ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) during pregnancy

No matter what a patient decides, Max Mongelli suggests that it is very important for a bipolar pregnant woman not to stop taking any medication or treating without first consulting with a psychiatrist and an obstetrician.

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