when does first trimester end
The first trimester of pregnancy ends at the end of the 13th week of pregnancy (often described as 13 weeks and 6 days).
Quick Scoop: When does the first trimester end?
Most medical sources define the first trimester as lasting from the first day of your last menstrual period up to the end of week 12 or 13, depending slightly on who you ask.
- Many hospitals and organizations (like KidsHealth and Tommyâs) say it lasts until the end of week 12.
- Others, following common obstetric practice (including ACOG as cited by pregnancy resources), describe it as lasting through the end of week 13 (13 weeks + 6 days).
In dayâtoâday use, most doctors consider you in the second trimester once you hit 14 weeks pregnant.
Why the answers differ a bit
People (and apps, and websites) count slightly differently:
- By âweeks completedâ
- Some say, âFirst trimester is weeks 1â12,â meaning once you finish 12 weeks, you are in your second trimester.
- By âup to 13 weeks, 6 daysâ
- Other definitions say the first trimester runs from week 1 to 13 weeks, 6 days , and the second trimester starts at 14 weeks, 0 days.
- Realâlife example
- If youâre 12+3 (12 weeks, 3 days), you are still clearly in the first trimester in every system.
* If youâre **13+4** , some older leaflets might say youâre already in second trimester, but most modern medical definitions still count this as first trimester until you reach 14+0.
What most doctors go by
When you look at recent medical references:
- A fullâterm pregnancy is about 40 weeks , counted from the first day of your last period.
- Each trimester is roughly 13 weeks.
- So practically, many clinicians talk about:
- First trimester: 0â13 weeks
- Second trimester: 14â26 weeks
- Third trimester: 27 weeks to birth
If youâre filling out a form, planning travel, or worrying about risk (like miscarriage risk), most guidance and research talk about that risk dropping after 12 completed weeks , even though the trimester label might not switch until week 14.
Mini FAQ
- So what should I personally use?
- Safest, most widely accepted:
- âMy first trimester ends at 13 weeks, 6 days and Iâm in my second trimester from 14 weeks.â
- Safest, most widely accepted:
- Why do some apps say âsecond trimesterâ at 12 weeks?
- Theyâre using a simple â3 calendar monthsâ or â12âweek blocksâ model rather than the weekâbyâweek obstetric standard.
- When should I say Iâm âin my second trimesterâ to my doctor?
- Your doctor or midwife will usually consider you entering second trimester at your 14âweek mark.
Oneâline TL;DR
In modern medical practice, the first trimester ends at the end of week 13 (13 weeks + 6 days) , and the second trimester starts at 14 weeks.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.