I can tell you, From experience that a baby's heart is fully developed by week 18, which is why doctors do fetal echos between 18-24 weeks, it's the soonest they can visualize the heart without the bones getting in the way or "shadowing" it, and also the latest for them to detect holes and other issues.
There are many cases when a baby has a hole or two early on and as the baby grows and the heart continues to grow the holes close or get smaller on their own.
I heard as early as 14 wks but the probability goes up if you wait longer. Do you not have a fetal photo or sneak peak ultrasound around you? They'll tell you.
Thanks! Never had one done so early & not sure the difference in the 2 ways you mention.
It was vaginal - I think. She inserted a long wand type thing.
1st time to a new ob dr. - he did the u/s on a small machine - nothing.
Then a u/s tech did it on a MUCH larger machine - getting a pic, but no hb.
From wikipedia-
During embryological development, some fetuses may form choroid plexus cysts. These fluid-filled cysts can be detected by a level II ultrasound (18–20 weeks gestation). The finding is relatively common, with a prevalence of ~1%. Choroid plexus cysts (CPC) can be an isolated finding, which confers a 1% (variable based on population studied) risk of fetal aneuploidy. The risk of aneuploidy increases to 10.5-12% if other risk factors or ultrasound findings are noted.
Don't worry I'm 18 weeks and have already had 7 ultrasounds for varying reasons, I have my 20 week scan next week and I'm planning on a 3D/4D as well. I have friends who are high risk and had them every single week and their babies are perfectly fine.
I also had an u/s at 6 weeks where all they saw was a gestational sac (no yolk sac or fetal pole) by around 7 weeks there was a yolk sac, fetal pole and heart beat!! I think there are even women on here that have had to wait till closer to 8 weeks to see anything. My Dr. was also on the negative side, I think they feel the need to prepare you for the worst. (((HUGS))) The fact that your levels almost tripled is great! Let us know how your next appt goes!
Development, Gestation, Conception. They give different dates for when the second trimester begins and for when the third trimester begins. Your health care provider might prefer to use the Development method, while another Midwife or Doctor may use the Gestation method.
I am sure they do that just to confuse pregnant women.
by Development:
This uses actual developmental stages to divide up a pregnancy. From LMP to 12 weeks the embryo develops all the major organs and becomes a fetus.
If you break embryonic and fetal development into thirds then when you are in your 28th week the baby begins its final third of development. (Gestation is 266 days or 38 weeks of development). So either way you look at it you are in your 3rd trimester!
I has my 20 week scan today and I never realised it would be my last scan :( can't believe the next time I see her is when she's born!
Howcome there isn't another scan?
Went to do my 10 week aultrasound wensday and my baby was moving around kicking Nd I know it's small and I can't feel it is it normal to be kicking and moving so actively ?
Usually the 5th week you will see the gestational sac but maybe no fetal pole. By week 6-7 you should see the fetal pole and if you're lucky a heartbeat. By week 8 you should get a heartbeat. So if you are only 5 weeks it sounds like your development is very good seeing both a fetal pole and hb. Did he mention what the heartrate was?? I am not sure what the "likely" fetal pole means because if there is a heartbeat then there is definitely a fetal pole there!!
going for my 7 week ultrasound tomorrow - last time saw gestational sac and something that they thought was start of fetal pole. should i see heartbeat tomorrow?
Hi there
Just went for another internal ultrasound today (friday) and they found a gestasional sac and yolk sac same as on Monday but still no fetal pole. They measured me at 6 weeks 1 day today.. They said the gest sac and yolk sac had grown accordingly since Monday so that was reassuring but told me to come back in a week to see if they can find fetal pole and hbeat. I've heard all sorts of variations on when they can find hbeat anything from 6 up to 8 weeks. What do you think?
Recommended
