Is anyone else confused by their dates...or is it just me?

[MB34]

I have had my first scan today and was told that I am 12+1.

However, 12 weeks ago tomorrow, was the first day of my last period.

So am I being thick, or would it have been physically impossible to be pregnant before my period!?!

Unless I was pregnant before, but surely that would make me about 14 weeks!

I'm confused... is it just preggy brain kicking in!?

Pregnancy is dated from the first day of your last period. Indeed we are not actually pregnant for those first 2 weeks!

Oh, why do they do that then, if you're not actually pregnant in the first two weeks? Following on, surely my due date is wrong - it should be two weeks later.

Also, I thought they measured the baby (as they did today) to determine how many weeks it was.

Your last period is the last visible, sure sign of the start of your cycle. In the same way that, when you start menstruation as a young adult, a period is counted as the start of your cycle, when, in fact, you are likely to have ovulated roughly 2wks before.

Pregnancy is counted as 40wks from your LMP.

They did determine how pregnant you are - you are 12wks, as both your LMP & your scan say. It doesn't actually matter that you weren't actually pregnant for 2 of those weeks - nobody is & that's the way they calculate it in the UK. I think other posts have said they do it slightly differently in the US.

In 28wks, you will be deemed to have arrived at your estimated due date & expected to deliver soon.

Don't worry about the dates too much, they have got it 'right' & you can focus on enjoying your pregnancy!!