When a woman becomes pregnant, the world as she knows it immediately turned upside down. The uncertainty that occurs during the first few weeks of pregnancy is what causes most of the stress and anxiety in the first trimester, and this is primarily due to the risks of having a miscarriage. However, there are strategies to cope with this issue. Nowadays is possible, as a result of advances in both technology and medicine, to track a fetus’s health and make educated decisions about what lies ahead and up to the moment of delivery. As an ultrasound technician, one of the questions I am asked the most is, “Can a pregnancy at 6 weeks be detected in an ultrasound?” In this post, I am going to answer that question, show you ultrasound images of a 6 weeks pregnancy and more, keep on reading.
Can 6 Weeks Pregnancy Be Detected in Ultrasound? Here is What You Need to Know.
To Begin, Why a Woman May Need to Have an Ultrasound Scan at 6 Weeks?
Generally speaking, baby ultrasounds in the first trimester starts at 7 to 8 weeks and I’ll explain why in the next paragraph. However, during the sixth week of pregnancy, a woman is needed to get an ultrasound scan for several reasons:
Mainly Because You are Experiencing Abnormal Symptoms Such As:
- Abnormal cramping.
- Any form of bleeding or spotting.
An Ultrasound at 6-weeks might Check the Following:
- The possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. Therefore, verifying that the pregnancy is developing normally inside the uterus.
- To determine the total number of babies developing. (Rule out single baby versus multiple pregnancy such as twins, triplets etc.)
- To determine viability, this implies seeing a baby’s heartbeat.
- To determine how far along the pregnancy is.
- To examine the mother’s reproductive organs, this includes checking for cysts, fibroids or any other co-existent abnormalities in the maternal organs.
- To determine the presence of bleeding within the uterus. This is known as Subchorionic bleeding.
How far along is a pregnancy at 6 weeks?
You are in your first trimester and the early stages of pregnancy at 6 weeks pregnant. Even though your last menstrual cycle was 6 weeks ago, and you were not pregnant for the first 2 weeks (your fertilized egg implants roughly 2 weeks after your monthly period), you are still six weeks pregnant, which many first-time parents find confusing.
Unless you are experiencing signs and symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, which can be fatal if not treated appropriately, you will not normally be offered your first ultrasound at 6 weeks pregnant. The first trimester ultrasound usually begins at 7 or 8 weeks, the reason for that is that a fetal pole at 6 weeks is hard to see because is very small, this is especially remarkable for women that suffers with irregular periods or long cycles because their baby might be smaller than 6 weeks. However, some women who have had several miscarriages or who have undergone fertility treatments may be offered their first ultrasound at 6 weeks.
So, the answer for the question: Can 6 Weeks Pregnancy Be Detected in Ultrasound? is below.
Even though a developing fetus at 6 weeks is very small, you should be able to see the gestational sac (which appears as a black fluid rounded area during an ultrasound scan) and the yolk sac (which appears as a small white ring inside the gestational sac). In addition to that, you will observe the fetal pole (the embryo). When it comes to these early scans, a few days may make a significant impact, therefore the doctor may suggest scheduling a follow-up ultrasound if they are having difficulty seeing clearly anything.
This is How an Ultrasound At 6-weeks Should Look Like.
At the six-week Pregnancy Should a Baby have a heartbeat?
At the six-week ultrasound appointment, you might be able to see a flickering that represents the heart of the baby. Please do not freak out if you do not observe a heartbeat at this stage; it is not uncommon to have difficulties seeing a heartbeat and/or getting a strong doppler signal at 6 weeks due to the small size of a baby. Heartbeat at this time if recorded tends to be in lower side as well, meaning that the normal heartbeat of a baby is faster than the heartbeat of a person, normally ranging from 120 to 180 beats-per-minute. At 6 weeks a heartbeat can be as low as 100 to 110 beats-per-minute and this is considered to be normal.
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What Does it Means that an Ultrasound at 6-weeks doesn’t Show a Fetal Pole?
There is a possibility that the ultrasound will not detect the embryo or any of its vital signs in specific situations. The absence of a heartbeat does not indicate anything critical about the pregnancy because subsequent scans will undoubtedly reveal the fetus’s heartbeat if there is one. It’s possible that you’ve got the timing of the pregnancy all wrong, thinking that it’s been going on for far longer than it actually has been. In most cases, this indicates that the indications of the embryo come along later than you originally anticipated they would.
If a 6-week ultrasound reveals that there is no heartbeat, should I be concerned about a possible miscarriage?
Even while an ultrasound can provide the physician with some insight about the likelihood of a miscarriage, the absence of a heartbeat during the exam is not necessarily an indication of an imminent tragedy. It’s possible that the heartbeat is simply too faint to hear at this point, and that it will become audible in a week or two, when it has developed sufficiently.
Other articles you might want to check after.
All you need to know about early pregnancy.
Routine Prenatal Screening and Tests During Pregnancy.
11 Signs of a Really Early Pregnancy.
Tips to Prepare for a Healthy Pregnancy.
Final thoughts about: Can 6 Weeks Pregnancy Be Detected in Ultrasound?
Every pregnant woman should get an ultrasound examination within the first trimester, not only to check the health of the baby but also the health of the mother herself. Additionally, it assists in the reduction of worry and assists in the taking of essential timely steps in the event of anomalies. And although the ultrasound at 6 weeks of pregnancy is not ideal to clearly see everything that is happening inside the womb, it is possible to see normal formation signs of a pregnancy inside of it at 6-weeks.
I hope this article was able to help someone, feel free to share your thoughts below or reach out to me if you still have other questions.
Zadi, xo
Disclaimer: The medical information on this post is for educational and entertainment use only. Under no circumstances, this information is to replace your doctor’s advice or to treat any disease. For proper care, always visit your doctor.
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