Should babies be considered 9 months old at birth?

Question

When we say how old we are, we start counting from the day, month and year of our birth. However, we were already developing in the womb for approximately 9 months. So if you just turned 21 today for example, wouldn't you really be 21 and 9 months? I guess the date of conception would be too problematic, so we just count from the day of birth. Maybe it's just a matter of simplicity.

Answer 1

No... the day we are born is known as our 'birthday' each year on that anniversary we turn a year older hence our age is counted from the day we are born.

Sometimes it is hard to know exactly when somebody was concieved and not everybody is born 9 months after conception some are born earlier and some later.

We take our first breath when we are born.. hence we are officially alive from that moment (not nine or so months earlier)

Good question tho....

Answer 2

Since you are not brought into the world until the day you are born, not when you are conceived, it would be impossible to consider someone already nine months old given the fact the the actual day of conception would be hard to if not impossible to pinpoint and in the event that the birth is premature, how could you accurately factor the total time in the womb?

The bottom line is that from the day you are born is the day you begin your life here on earth thus starts the age process. I understand your question, but there is no way to ensure the figures can accuratly be tracked.
In a sense, you are correct since once we are conceived, a fetus is formed and our life has begun but for the sake of birth age, we are only as old as the time passed from the day we were actually born.

Answer 3

No. Babies are not always considered 9 months old at birth. They could be 10 months old, 8 months old, 7 1/2 months old. Now, would you really count from the date they were conceived? Besides, the babies are called "fetus" before they are born. And they are perfect when they are officially born. Complete. And that day is the start of their age. I do not know if it is relevant to you. But when you buy a product, you do not count the expired date from the time it was being made, but from the time it was complete, right? Can't be that simple. But I hope that helps.

Answer 4

Babies aren't born, until they are fully formed, and ready to live outside the womb. That is the starting point. Up until then , although they are living, they are developing into a human being. When they are delivered from the womb, and take air into their lungs, they have then joined the human race, thus they start their "life". So, no, the first 9 mths don't count.

Answer 5

Some of the Chinese consider a baby 9 months at birth and celebrate their babys Birthday 3 months after they are born.

Answer 6

The fetus may be alive--heart beat, etc--but not indepentently alive until birth. It would be hard to say, in most cases, the exact date of conception. "Birth" date is birthday. If you want conception date--lets call it conception date.
In fact, some babies are not indepentently alive at birth. They need life support.

Answer 7

Not necessarily, I think it would depend on whether they are full-term. So if a baby is FT then yes, if earlier...then their age should be the number of months after conception until birth....enlightening question. Lets do it!!!

Answer 8

it doesn't go by date of conception. it goes by date of birth. and
your idea would make you a year and 9 months older. thats not how you count date of birth. it takes one year to make you one. you start at zero like you would anything else you count.

Answer 9

That really would not be practical since a lot of babies are not full-term when born.

Answer 10

no. because the nine months that you spent inside the womb were a gestation period. you were not yet "completed". your time period begins at birth.