Gestogram is a tool that can be very useful during pregnancy, especially if you are a new mother. Whether in the form of a wheel, table or diagram, this instrument offers you valuable information about pregnancy week by week and allows you to know what is happening inside you as your baby grows and its structures are formed. In Stage Infant we explain everything about this tool, what it consists of and how to use it to get the most out of it during your pregnancy.
Who was the inventor of the gestogram?
It is not known exactly who the inventor of the gestogram was, but everything seems to indicate that it was developed by a group of specialists based on Naegele’s rule. This other standardized method to calculate the expected date of delivery in a normal pregnancy was created by the German obstetrician Franz Karl Naegele who lived from 1778 to 1851, which is why many consider him his precursor.
In any case , today many experts create their own gestogram based on the Naegele Rule, which is why it is common to find different models and formats that, although they work in different ways, are based on the same calculations.
What exactly is the pregnancy gestogram?
Basically, the gestogram is a graphic tool that allows you to calculate the exact time of pregnancy and the approximate date of delivery. Also known as a pregnancy wheel or gestational disc, this instrument gives you the possibility of knowing the rate at which some of the baby’s structures and organs grow week by week.
Its use offers information of interest on some specific parameters of the development at each stage of pregnancy such as the average weight and height of the baby. It also provides data on the length of the femur and the biparietal diameter, which is nothing more than the measurement of the fetus’s skull, an indicator that can be useful to know how the baby’s brain evolves as it grows .
Some more advanced Gestogram models also inform the mother about the date of the different ultrasound scans and other important tests throughout the pregnancy. In this way, you will be able to know what period is the most appropriate to undergo gestational tests and make an appointment with your gynecologist.
Gestogram: How does it work?
Working with the gestogram is very simple, you only need to know the first day of your last menstrual period. If it is a classic gestogram, place the indicator on the day the last menstruation began. In the case of an online gestogram, its operation is very similar to a pregnancy calculator, so you must select or include the date in the application as appropriate.
When entering this data, the tool indicates the exact weeks of pregnancy you have and offers an approximate estimate of the day of delivery. It is important to bear in mind that the gestogram is configured to perform the calculations considering that a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, so its standard results are valid under ideal conditions and may be subject to variations. Therefore, consider the date of delivery as indicative.
If you already know how far along you are in your pregnancy, turn the indicator until the number of weeks coincides with the current day and you will be able to consult the rest of the values on the growth of the baby at each moment of gestation. In the classic gestogram, you will find this detailed information in each of the rings if you follow the indicator. In most online gestograms, reviewing the information is much easier since it appears automatically after entering the date of your menstrual period at the beginning.
Advantages of the gestogram
The gestogram is a very useful tool that allows the future mother to know how many weeks pregnant she is, to be aware of how the pregnancy is progressing and to determine an estimated date of childbirth. Thus you can be calmer about the evolution of the pregnancy and you will solve some of your doubts without having to consult the gynecologist.
Furthermore, the values offered by the gestogram contribute to the early detection of anomalies that may jeopardize the advancement of pregnancy or the growth of the baby. Although each little one follows its own developmental rhythm, knowing that she does not gain weight or that her height is below average can alert us to the existence of a gestational alteration. In many cases, this type of problem can be solved with vitamin and mineral supplements, so the gestogram is also a tool that helps prevent the development of more serious health disorders.
Are the results of the gestogram reliable?
Gestogram is a reliable tool, but it is important to bear in mind that its results work with average values. Indicators such as the weight and height of the baby or the approximate date of delivery are part of an average statistic and are calculated from large population samples.
This means that when working with average values, the results of the gestogram are standard and may have a small margin of variation, so you should always interpret them as indicative values. To know the exact values of the baby’s weight and height you should contrast the information from the gestogram with other more precise tests such as ultrasound.
Where to find a gestogram?
In most prenatal consultations, midwives have a gestogram that they use to check some of the indicators of the baby’s growth. You can ask your midwife if she has a gestogram available that you can take home to keep track of your own pregnancy. In some consultations they even provide it to you in the first prenatal appointment. You can also buy a gestogram online at Amazon, such as the one shown below.
AND In any case, on the Internet you can also find many gestograms to consult for free. You can find the classic wheel gestogram that you can manipulate virtually, but also other models to print that will allow you to create your own gestogram at home. If you prefer, you can use one of the gestogram applications of table or outline style that you can use without downloading them and, in addition, many of them are free.