What does ultrasound show at 6 weeks pregnant. What is an ultrasound examination and what is its purpose? Why is pregnancy testing done?

The fifth week of pregnancy is the period with which most often they come to register with gynecology. Usually, the delay in menstruation at this time is at least 14 days, now it can no longer be attributed to chance. Usually, by this time, signs of toxicosis begin to manifest themselves clearly. This is not to say that these are especially pleasant moments, but such is the first trimester. It is ultrasound at the 5th week of pregnancy that is the first documentary evidence of this special condition, so doctors often refer women for the first examination in order to resolve all doubts and make a diagnosis.

How much ultrasound is needed at this time

Usually, doctors are in no hurry to send expectant mothers for examination. The period is still very small, and there is no urgent need to do an ultrasound at the 5th week of pregnancy. However, sometimes especially impatient mothers themselves sign up for an examination, which today can be done at any clinic, especially on a paid basis. Most of all, this applies to the category of women who have been waiting for pregnancy for a long time and want to get confirmation that they will really become mothers as soon as possible. Most often, at such a short time, the doctor will send for an ultrasound if a woman wants to terminate the pregnancy. Therefore, if nothing bothers you, there is no bleeding, severe pain, then it is better to wait a bit, because the study at this time may not be very reliable.

What is the uterus at this time

Outwardly, the expectant mother is still no different from her friends, but miracles are already starting to happen inside her. First of all, the uterus itself changes. Ultrasound pregnancy 5 weeks confirms only if it is carried out on good equipment. However, an experienced doctor can determine the increase in the uterus itself. This is a normal phenomenon, because inside it there is a fetal bladder larger than 1 cm. However, this increase occurs unevenly: it is on the side where the embryo is attached to the uterus inside that it protrudes. Ultrasound at 5 weeks of gestation is not very informative, so even an experienced specialist who works on good equipment will not be able to say much besides the fact that you will be a mother. When the image is enlarged several times, he will be able to determine the embryo itself. Moreover, it is at this time that the baby's heart begins to beat. In addition, at this time in the ovary, from which the egg was released, the corpus luteum is still noticeable, which is evidence of early pregnancy.

What is seen on the monitor

Not always a woman undergoes ultrasound in a specialized clinic, where there is special equipment for three-dimensional ultrasound. And on a conventional device, no one except the specialist himself will be able to make out what he sees on the screen. Therefore, you will have to rely on the experience of a doctor. An ultrasound at the 5th week of pregnancy allows you to see the embryo itself, which is still very similar to a small cylinder. Its length is five millimeters, and its weight is only 3.5 grams. However, despite the fact that it is still very small, the most important processes take place inside it, which determine all subsequent development. Now the neural tube is being formed, the respiratory system, liver and pancreas are being laid, cells are being formed, from which male and female sex cells will then develop. On the monitor, not only the tail and head are visible, but also the rudiments of arms and legs, fingers and eyes. With the help of a special sensor, the first heartbeat of a little man is heard.

First measurements

Ultrasound at the 5th obstetric week of pregnancy allows you to make the first measurements and approximately determine whether the embryo is developing correctly. The coccygeal-parietal size of the embryo is measured, on the basis of this it will be possible to calculate the weight of the unborn child during childbirth. Be sure the doctor will assess the position of the fetus in the uterus, the condition of the ovaries and the corpus luteum. At the same time, the doctor on the monitor sees an enlarged egg resembling the shape. This asymmetry appears due to the implantation of a fertilized egg in the thickness of the endometrium.

Embryo movements

It's amazing how much doctors can learn about a baby when the gestational age is 5 weeks. Ultrasound allows the doctor to draw a conclusion about how actively the embryo is moving. It is the frequency of his movements together with the heart rate that allows us to draw the first conclusions about his viability and well-being. If now the embryo is motionless, then the doctor will raise the issue of terminating the pregnancy. There are still a few weeks to wait and compare the indicators at the next examination, but these are alarming signs.

What is important for expectant mothers to know?

Ultrasound at 4, 5 weeks of pregnancy is not always done, but at this time, usually a woman already knows that she is pregnant. Therefore, it is extremely important to know about the features of the development of the embryo, as well as the rules that a pregnant woman must follow. First of all, remember that right now the neural tube is completing its formation. Do you want your baby to be born healthy, calm and smiling? Then leave all worries and troubles, and also drink any soothing herbal tea more often. We must not forget about folic acid preparations, which are extremely important for the proper development of the nervous system. In addition, this is exactly the time when you need to especially carefully monitor your health. Taking most medicines during this period is prohibited, and the simplest cold threatens with serious pathologies. It is for this reason that doctors try to dissuade you from taking the first ultrasound photo. 5 weeks of pregnancy is the period when you first need to think about the health of the baby, despite the fact that the harm of this procedure has not been proven, it is necessary to minimize all risks.

Opinion and reviews of expectant mothers

Usually this examination does not cause special emotions in women. Ultrasound at the 5th obstetric week of pregnancy does not carry any information load. Everything that the doctor sees is still too approximate, you will not be able to find out either about the field of the future baby, or about how his development is going. However, if the doctor turns out to be a real specialist, as well as a kind and attentive person, then he can tell you a lot about the features of the development of the embryo at this stage, the main milestones that you need to pay attention to. It is this examination that allows you to completely exclude an ectopic pregnancy and establish that the fetus develops exactly where it should be. But do not rush to take a photo for memory. An ultrasound of 5 weeks of pregnancy shows very schematically, so you are unlikely to be pleased with a striped background with incomprehensible dots in your family album. You will still have enough time and opportunities to capture the baby.

Is ultrasound harmful at this time?

In fact, no one can answer this question with complete certainty. Too many ingredients. There is still no reliable data that would confirm that this procedure is harmful to the embryo. However, speaking about whether ultrasound is done at the 5th week of pregnancy, it should be noted that this procedure is not prescribed without serious reasons. These may be the patient's own complaints (pain, discomfort, bleeding) or the doctor's suspicions. And, to eliminate the risk to the mother, the gynecologist can send for an ultrasound. Of course, any paid clinic will do it to you even without a referral, especially if you say that you are going for a medical abortion.

However, in medical circles, the question is periodically raised as to whether ultrasound can harm the fetus if this examination is performed in the first weeks of pregnancy. Meeting such information, expectant mothers themselves begin to be wary of such a procedure, so if the doctor does not prescribe an examination for you, it is better to refrain from it.

Identification of possible pathologies

Probably, all women are interested in the question of whether an ultrasound scan at the 5th week of pregnancy will show any malformations of the baby. In fact, this is unlikely, which is why it is believed that the ultrasound procedure at this time is of little use. It's not even that it is harmful, which has not been proven, but that it is not informative. That is, if a woman is not worried about anything, then it is quite possible to do without this procedure. But if any failures and violations are already noted, then the doctor will definitely offer to undergo an ultrasound scan as soon as possible.

We note right away that it will not be possible to see anomalies in the structure of the embryo, but it is quite possible to note such disorders as detachment of the fetal bladder or uterine hypertonicity. Of course, it is ultrasound that can determine the presence of an ectopic pregnancy.

If the embryo is not detected on ultrasound

In fact, ultrasound cannot show, but who can guarantee that the doctor was not mistaken with the deadline? If you have a period of only 2-3 weeks, then the doctor will definitely not be able to see the embryo inside the fetal egg. This can be a serious stress for a woman, especially if the doctor rushes to give a referral to terminate the pregnancy, referring to the fact that the embryo froze at an early stage. However, do not rush to panic, you still have enough time to wait. After 10-15 days, repeat the procedure, if the results match, you will have to make a decision. However, it must be remembered that this applies only to those women who feel good. If you are worried about pain, then you should not pull, it is better to trust the doctor. The health of a woman is a priority, because she will be able to become a mother more than once.

Ultrasound in the following weeks

Perhaps this will convince you, but the doctor will see a slightly different picture if you are 5 weeks, 5 days pregnant. Ultrasound can be more informative. At the sixth week, the doctor should definitely detect in the uterine cavity. The yolk sac is clearly defined in the fetal egg. The size of the embryo is already 6-19 mm, and before its own internal organs begin to work, the tissues of the yolk sac perform all metabolic functions. In this case, its size should not be about 6 mm. At the sixth week, the doctor should already see a white ring, this is the future placenta.

At the seventh week, not only the presence of an embryo in the fetal egg is already clearly diagnosed, but also the sensor captures its heartbeats and motor activity. The size of the fetal egg is 19-27 mm. Heart rate - up to 150 beats per minute.

Important Points

First of all, it should be noted that if the doctor suggests some kind of pathology, then this is not yet a diagnosis, but only suspicions. Since it is considered the most uninformative ultrasound at the 5th week of pregnancy. We have already told you what the doctor can see, but if the deadline is set incorrectly, then the conclusions will be unreliable. But even if the term is correct, then there may be individual developmental features. That is why we say that all ultrasound data obtained once are interpreted in favor of pregnancy and require mandatory confirmation in a few days. If no fertilized egg is found in the uterus, an ectopic pregnancy may be suspected. Suspicion of anembronia (empty ovum) may arise if there is no yolk sac in a fetal egg larger than 20 mm, if there is no embryo in a fetal egg with a diameter of 25 mm, or the size of the yolk sac is more than 8 mm. The doctor can also assume if he cannot detect a heartbeat in an embryo larger than 5 mm.

Alarms

So far, we have talked about what the doctor can tell from the results of an ultrasound scan if the pregnancy is proceeding normally. However, in this case, for a period of 5 weeks, you can not rush not only to the examination, but even to the doctors. After all, registration is carried out no earlier than 10-12 weeks, that is, by the end of the first trimester. However, there are a number of signs that are evidence of a violation of the natural process of pregnancy. Normally, at this time, a woman should not yet feel her pregnancy, so if you have attacks of pain or discharge of a different nature, run to the doctor for a referral to an ultrasound! Signs of a miscarriage may be a thickening of one of the walls of the uterus. That is, excessive tension, hypertonicity of the uterine muscle threatens to expel the fetal egg. A timely study will help to conduct appropriate therapy and maintain pregnancy. The second sign may be a thickened myometrium. It changes the configuration of the fetal egg, and also does not escape the attention of the doctor conducting the ultrasound. And, finally, the most formidable sign is the detection in the uterine cavity, next to the fetal egg, of a certain amount of blood. Such clots are a sign of a threatened or ongoing miscarriage. The source of this blood is small vessels destroyed by the fetal egg when it penetrates the wall of the uterus. However, if the hematoma increases in size, it can put pressure on the fertilized egg itself.

Thus, it can be said that an ultrasound at the fifth week is not necessary. It should be carried out if there are some alarming signs that bother the doctor in order to eliminate the risk to the life and health of the mother. If nothing bothers you, then you can calmly wait for the tenth - twelfth week, and then go through the first ultrasound and register. And most importantly, do not forget to eat fruits, drink vitamins and walk more in the fresh air. Pregnancy is not a time for worries, so ask your relatives to switch all worries to yourself for a while, and listen to beautiful music yourself and communicate with your child, who will very soon learn to distinguish your voice from thousands of others.

Hello!
Starting to write for this blog, I thought, but for whom, in fact, will these articles be? Should they be written in dry, scientific language for strict medical critics, or in the form of interesting stories, answers to common questions of expectant parents?
One of the purposes of a blog is a personal online diary. Therefore, with your permission, I will talk about what I think, what I know, what I love and what I understand.
Since it so happened that I am a doctor of ultrasound diagnostics, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, I will talk about issues one way or another related to ultrasound when planning and managing pregnancy. The first thing we will talk about is Ultrasound in early pregnancy.

Ultrasound during pregnancy. Ultrasound examination up to 11 weeks of pregnancy. First ultrasound and first questions.

I was expecting my period this week and...

The morning does not begin with coffee.

When to go for the first ultrasound?
Is ultrasound in early pregnancy harmful?
How to prepare for the first ultrasound?
What to expect?

First of all, remember and mark on your calendar when your last period began. Throughout your pregnancy, you will be asked this question in all health care settings: “First day of your last period?”
It is from this day, and not from the estimated date of conception, even if you are absolutely sure of it, that they will count the obstetric gestational age and the estimated date of birth, possibly adjusted per week, if the cycle is shortened (21-26 days) or extended (31 -35 days). The exception is irregular menstrual cycles. In this case, it is more correct to focus on the data of an ultrasound scan performed in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. A correctly measured coccyx-parietal size (KTR) of the fetus with an accuracy of + - 4-5 days will show the obstetric gestational age. It is the obstetric, and not the embryonic period, as is often indicated on the Internet and even in the offices of gynecologists. Embryonic period is 14 days less than obstetric. That is, if you are sure that more than 4-5 weeks could not have passed from the date of conception (for example, the spouse was on a business trip or you know the day of ovulation), and in the conclusion of the ultrasound it says “Pregnancy 6-7 weeks” - then everything matches and there is no disagreement, the obstetric term is 6-7 weeks, and this figure should be based on when planning the next visits to doctors and assessing fetal development throughout pregnancy. In the future, all the weeks of pregnancy indicated by me will be obstetric. We won’t be able to tell you a more accurate gestational age than + - 4-5 days, even if it’s very, very important for you whether you got pregnant on Wednesday or Saturday.

When to go for the first ultrasound and what to expect?
With a transvaginal examination, a fetal egg located in the uterine cavity can be determined after a few days of delayed menstruation, when its size is from 2 mm. “A rounded anechoic inclusion with a hyperechoic rim (fetal egg?) is visualized in the uterine cavity” - this is all that can be said at this time, apart from possible changes in the structure of the uterus and appendages. And in the conclusion it will be written "Uterine pregnancy of a small period." Is it necessary to do an ultrasound so early? In my opinion, in most cases it is not necessary. But you know who most often comes to me for research in the first 2-3 days of a missed period, without any appointments and not even wanting to hear about waiting another week? Women who have experienced a rupture of the fallopian tube due to an ectopic pregnancy not diagnosed in a timely manner.
In addition to its diagnostic significance, visiting the ultrasound room is acquiring an increasing psychological role. Therefore, my advice is this: if you do not have pain, bloody discharge from the genital tract, your soul is calm, and you perceive the ultrasound as an unpleasant necessity, then it is better to come for the first time at an estimated period of 7-8 weeks in order to make sure that pregnancy progresses and clarification of the gestational age. This week, the CTE of the embryo should be 10-15 mm, and with the progression of pregnancy, the heartbeat is always determined, the heart rate is considered normal at this time in the range of 100-190 beats per minute. Thus, in one visit, you can get maximum information for up to 11 weeks. In addition, at this time, in most cases, the embryo is already quite well visualized during transabdominal examination.
If you are calmer to keep your finger on the pulse of events, you are worried and nervous, remaining in the unknown, it is important for you to find out everything as early as possible, well, and be sure in the case of bleeding and pain, then first do a blood test to determine the level hCG. With numbers of 500 - 1000mIU / ml, the fetal egg should already be visualized in the uterine cavity. If the hCG numbers are less, then repeat the analysis in a day or two and come to the ultrasound with the result. This will help the ultrasound doctor to make a differential diagnosis between ectopic pregnancy, non-developing and progressing short-term pregnancy.
Quite often there is a situation when the estimated gestational age is 6-7 or 7-8 weeks, and during the study it turns out that the CTE corresponds to 5-6 weeks and the heartbeat of the embryo is not determined, or the heart rate is less than 80 beats per minute. In this case, it is necessary to conduct a control ultrasound after 7-10 days, since only in dynamics can a differential diagnosis be made between a normally developing pregnancy of a shorter duration (due to late ovulation) and a non-developing pregnancy. If the CTE is more than 7 mm, and the heartbeat is not detected, or the SVD of the fetal egg is more than 25 mm, and the embryo is not visualized, then there is no point in doing a second ultrasound - this is a non-developing pregnancy.

And finally, how to prepare for an ultrasound before 11 weeks?
No special preparation is required. You do not need to fill the bladder specifically, and if you really want to, it is better to go to the toilet before the study. Increased gas production and a full intestine can interfere with the study and cause discomfort. You should understand that a transvaginal examination may be required, and you can choose clothes that are comfortable for this.

Ultrasound at CIR

By the time of 6 weeks, the expectant mother is usually already aware of her situation. It is still far from rounding the tummy or feeling the movements of the unborn baby, but the woman clearly notices changes in her well-being. Do I need to undergo a pelvic ultrasound at this stage of pregnancy? What can be seen with such an examination? How many times do you need to visit an ultrasound doctor and is it harmful?

A woman came to the gynecologist to register for pregnancy

If the pregnancy proceeds without complications, the woman will visit the ultrasound diagnostic room three times during the waiting period for the baby:

• for a period of 10-14 weeks;
• at 20-24 weeks;
• at 30-34 weeks.

Additional ultrasound visits in the first trimester may be prescribed by an obstetrician-gynecologist who observes the expectant mother in the following cases:

• if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected,
• if there are signs of a threatened abortion - an admixture of blood in the vaginal discharge, pulling pains in the lower abdomen.

A woman can independently apply to a paid clinic and, in the absence of complaints, to confirm the onset of pregnancy and determine its exact term.

What can be seen on a pelvic ultrasound at the sixth week of pregnancy?

This is still a very short period - the dimensions of the embryo reach only 4-6 mm, and the fetal egg - about 2.5 cm. The doctor will be able to determine several parameters:

• the very fact of pregnancy;
• the presence of the fetal egg and the embryo in the uterus (ultrasound is mandatory if an ectopic pregnancy is suspected), whether their size is within the normal range;
• the number of embryos - whether a woman should expect one baby or twins;

Twins in the sixth week of pregnancy

• the presence of cystic drift - a pathological condition similar in symptoms to pregnancy, but requiring mandatory gynecological intervention;
• signs of missed pregnancy or threat of termination;
• symptoms of concomitant diseases of the pelvic organs.

Some diagnostic rooms offer a separate service - a photo of the embryo. For a period of 6 weeks, it is still not very significant. The future baby looks more like a tadpole - only a thickened head end of the body and the rudiments of future arms or legs are visible. Sexual characteristics, fingers, face are not yet formed. But in the sixth week, you can already hear the heartbeat of the unborn child: every day the tiny heart is more and more like an adult and is already distilling blood.

Remember that the gestational age in medical institutions is usually considered not from delay or conception, but from the day the last menstruation begins.

If the expectant mother counted 6 weeks from a suspicious delay, then most likely, her term at the gynecologist's appointment will be determined as 10-11 obstetric weeks, which means that the norms for the size of the embryo and fetal egg will differ from those named. In total, the gestational age is 40 obstetric weeks.

How is the early ultrasound procedure performed?

Ultrasound in early pregnancy

Sonography of the pelvic organs at the sixth week can be performed with two approaches - transabdominal (through the front wall of the abdomen) and transvaginal (with the introduction of a sensor into the vagina).

For examination, a woman should bring with her:

• clean or disposable diaper
• small clean towel
• a pair of clean socks
• condom,
• shoe covers or replacement shoes,
• 1 liter of drinking water.

Preparation for the study includes several important points. Firstly, the examination is carried out "on a full bladder", since the liquid improves the conduction of ultrasound waves. To do this, one hour before the pelvic ultrasound, you need to drink 1 liter of water (often women do this in line in front of the office) or not urinate for 2-3 hours. Secondly, before the examination, it is necessary to perform hygiene of the external genital organs.

The results will be as accurate as possible if the examination is not obstructed by intestinal gases. To do this, you will have to limit legumes, white cabbage, black bread, whole milk, carbonated drinks in the diet for about a day.

The day before the study, it is necessary to exclude carbonated drinks

Ultrasound of the pelvis is performed in the supine position with bent legs, which the woman takes on the couch. First, the doctor applies a special gel to the skin of the abdomen, which improves the conduction of the ultrasound signal, and then examines the uterus and appendages through the anterior abdominal wall. The next step is to replace the sensor with a vaginal one, put it in a condom and examine it through the vagina. This method is considered more reliable, since the internal genital organs are located as close as possible to the sensor.

Is a Pelvic Ultrasound Harmful in Early Pregnancy?

Ultrasound diagnostics is considered not only highly informative and painless, but also safe. It does not affect the appearance of any diseases and does not affect the well-being of a woman and a child. Ultrasonic waves do not harm living tissues. Their use does not require a puncture of the skin or mucous membrane, which means there is no risk of infection.

The first meeting at an ultrasound scan with an unborn child usually gives a pregnant woman a huge amount of positive emotions, which, as you know, have a good effect on the well-being of herself and the crumbs.

How does the fetus develop in the sixth week?

The shorter the gestation period, the more important processes occur with the body of the future heir. In the first trimester, all vital organs and tissues are laid. That is why it is so important to avoid occupational and household hazards, infectious diseases, beriberi at this stage.

• The active development of the neural tube - the future brain and spinal cord of the child continues. That is why it is so important for a pregnant woman to take folic acid during this period. Its deficiency increases the likelihood of brain defects by 30%.
• The brain begins to acquire the first features of maturity - convolutions and cavities. The contours of the cranium are outlined.
• The liver of the crumbs is already busy with the processes of hematopoiesis, and the heart is pumping blood.
• The rudiments of arms and legs are formed, although the fingers can be counted a little later.
• The appearance of a full-fledged skeleton is still far away, but the laying of cartilaginous structures has begun, which will eventually be replaced by real bones.
• An important stage is the baby's immune system - the thymus appears - an organ that will control immunity throughout the barefoot childhood of a daughter or son.
• The future placenta is preparing to actively function - it will provide the fetus with oxygen, nutrients, and will hormonally control the entire second half of pregnancy.

What does a woman feel at 6 weeks pregnant?

In anticipation of the baby, the body rebuilds the work of absolutely all organs and systems, which causes some discomfort to the expectant mother:

• changes in the mammary glands - an increase in their size, engorgement, a feeling of heaviness, tingling;
• increased sensitivity to smells, change in taste preferences;

Pregnancy may be oversensitive to smells

• nausea and vomiting, which disturbs most women in the morning, with a long absence of food, or as a reaction to strong odors;
• drowsiness, weakness, fatigue, mood changes, moodiness, irritability, tearfulness.

How long do you have to endure morning sickness? All these unpleasant features will pass with the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. They do not require treatment if vomiting occurs no more than 5 times a day and the woman does not lose body weight. Otherwise, you need to seek advice from the attending obstetrician-gynecologist, who will prescribe the necessary regimen, if necessary, taking medications or inpatient treatment.

Pregnancy for a period of 6 obstetric weeks is still the very beginning of a long journey that a mother and her baby have to go through together from conception to the birth of a crumb. Try to eat right, get enough rest, visit the gynecologist regularly and undergo the necessary examinations. This will make pregnancy a wonderful waiting time, reduce the risk of complications in carrying a baby and in childbirth.

At the 6th week of pregnancy, almost every woman knows or guesses about her situation. In addition to delaying menstruation, she begins to be disturbed by weakness, lethargy, drowsiness, nausea and other signs characteristic of this period of gestation. Ultrasound examination can confirm the suspicions that have arisen. In what cases is ultrasound performed at 6 weeks of gestation? What questions can it answer?

Target

Ultrasound at 6 obstetric weeks corresponds to the age of the embryo at 4 weeks. The embryo is still very small, therefore, with the help of ultrasound diagnostics, it is still impossible to identify anomalies and features of its development. At the same time, during this period, the processes of laying organs and systems are going on, cells are intensively dividing. Therefore, it is undesirable to interfere in the development of the embryo without reason. Although the harm of ultrasound has not been proven, it is better to wait with the examination until the first screening.

However, in some situations, an ultrasound scan at 6 weeks is necessary. The goals of ultrasound diagnostics during this period are:

• confirmation of the fact of pregnancy;
• determination of the age of the embryo;
• determination of the number of fetuses in the uterus;
• embryo viability assessment;
• diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy;
• identifying signs of a threatened miscarriage;
• detection of pathology and features of the reproductive organs of the mother.

What represents

Ultrasound at the sixth week of pregnancy is performed in most cases in a transvaginal way. A woman in the supine position with bent knees is inserted into the vagina with a sensor. You should not be afraid of the transmission of infections in this way, since a condom is put on the sensor. A pregnant woman is recommended to avoid eating foods that cause increased gas formation in the intestines (legumes, muffins, raw vegetables and fruits, etc.) 2-3 days before the ultrasound examination. Immediately before the ultrasound procedure, it is necessary to empty the bladder.

If it is impossible to conduct a transvaginal examination, they are used. In this case, the sensor using a special gel is carried along the abdomen. A couple of days before the examination, it is necessary to follow a diet in order to prevent an increased accumulation of gases in the intestines. This can interfere with the ultrasound and produce a fuzzy image. 30-60 minutes before the ultrasound, you need to drink 1-1.5 liters of water until an average desire to urinate occurs.

What can be seen

At 6 weeks of gestation, during an ultrasound examination, a fetal egg is determined against the background of a thickened hyperechoic endometrium. It is a round or oval anechoic formation with a hyperechoic rim. The internal diameter of the fetal egg in this period is about 22 millimeters. Starting from 5 weeks of pregnancy, its size increases by 1-2 mm. If its size does not correspond to the expected obstetric period, a control ultrasound examination is performed after 3-5 days.

In the fetal egg, the embryo and yolk sac should already be visualized. Located eccentrically, they form an image on the monitor in the form of a double bubble. The yolk sac is defined as a round, thin-walled formation with anechoic contents inside. Its normal value is 3-5 mm in diameter. The function of this formation is to nourish the embryo until the placenta is formed, which will take care of it. The absence of a yolk sac or its increase over 6 mm may indicate an undeveloped pregnancy.

The embryo is determined 3 weeks after conception. At the sixth week it looks like a tadpole. Although many organs are already being laid, it is not possible to identify malformations and anomalies in the development of the embryo. The main and so far the only measurable size of the fetus is the coccyx-parietal size. At 6 weeks, it is 6 millimeters. KTP is equal to the length of the embryo from the head to the coccyx. Based on its value, the gestational age and the possible date of birth are established.

In one of the ovaries, a corpus luteum is found in place of the released egg. Its size averages 16-20 mm. When conducting dopplerometry, an increased blood flow in it is recorded. The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which helps to maintain pregnancy. As the placenta forms and grows, the placenta takes over the function of producing this hormone, and the corpus luteum resolves.

Diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy

One of the indications for an ultrasound examination at the 6th week of pregnancy is a suspicion of. A similar diagnosis is often established precisely at this time. A fertilized egg can be found in one of the fallopian tubes, in the cervical canal, in the abdominal cavity.

If there is a question about the duration of pregnancy, you can determine the level of chorionic gonadotropin. With its value of 1500 units / ml or more, the fetal egg should be found in the uterus. If this does not happen, then they talk about an ectopic pregnancy. When performing ultrasound, it should be borne in mind that with an ectopic location of the embryo in the center of the uterus, a false fetal egg can be visualized. It is an anechoic formation of a rounded or irregular shape with a diameter of up to 10 mm. It is formed from the decidually altered endometrium.

If fluid is detected in the pelvis, it is necessary to exclude a disturbed uterine pregnancy with the development of intra-abdominal bleeding.

Non-developing pregnancy

In the period of 6 weeks, during an ultrasound examination, a suspicion of a non-developing pregnancy may occur if the size of the fetal egg does not correspond to the obstetric period. In this case, a control examination is carried out with an assessment of the dynamics of its growth in a week. The growth of the fetal egg every day should be 1-2 mm.

With a fetal egg diameter of 20 mm or more, the embryo and yolk sac should be visualized. Otherwise, they speak of anembryony. The viability of the fetus is assessed by its heartbeat. With a coccyx-parietal size of the embryo of 6 mm or more, its heartbeat must be recorded without fail. If it is absent, then this indicates the death of the fetus. If the heartbeat is less than 100 or more than 200 beats per minute, then this condition of the embryo is considered threatening and requires urgent therapy.

Additionally, it is possible to identify

At a short term of gestation of the embryo, when performing ultrasound diagnostics, signs of a threat of interruption can be detected. This may be the detection of a subchorial hematoma, detachment of the chorion, or disclosure of the cervical canal of the cervix. Local uterine tone can also be detected.