On average, a pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, counting from the first day of the woman's last menstrual period. That's how a due date is estimated.

A baby is considered preterm if he or she is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Until now, a "term" baby was defined as one born anytime from 37 weeks to 42 weeks, a few weeks before or after the calculated due date.

Now the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is refining the definition of a term pregnancy to make clear that even at the end of the last trimester, a little more time in the womb can be better for a baby's health and development.

The new definitions, released Tuesday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology:

-Early Term, between 37 weeks and 38 weeks 6 days.

-Full Term, between 39 weeks and 40 weeks 6 days.

-Late Term, the 41st week.

-Post Term, after 42 weeks.

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