A fertilized egg can show on an ultrasound as early as five weeks into a pregnancy.
It initially shows as a very small sac inside the wall of the uterus. A due date for the birth can be given at this time, but the chances of this date being entirely correct are very slim, it would simply be an estimation based on the size and appearance of the baby.
Ultrasounds can also be used to determine the sex of the baby, as well as the condition of the baby and whether or not there are likely to be any complications or abnormalities. An ultrasound to determine these factors is usually best taken at between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound given at this stage of pregnancy is called a foetal anatomy survey.
Ultrasounds can be performed in two ways, abdominally or vaginally. It is always best for the woman to have a full bladder when receiving an ultrasound, as both the baby and the uterus are more visible with a full bladder. If a woman is to have a vaginal ultrasound, which is rare, then this is normally carried out earlier in a pregnancy, and simply involves a probe being inserted into the vagina.
The more common form of ultrasound, performed abdominally, simply involves a probe that sends high frequency sound waves into the body and returns them as electrical signals. A cold gel is normally applied, and this assists with the appearance of the baby on the monitor. Ultrasounds are said to have very little risk attached to them and it is thought that the benefits (knowing the sex of the baby, and also the condition of the baby) make the test worthwhile.
It initially shows as a very small sac inside the wall of the uterus. A due date for the birth can be given at this time, but the chances of this date being entirely correct are very slim, it would simply be an estimation based on the size and appearance of the baby.
Ultrasounds can also be used to determine the sex of the baby, as well as the condition of the baby and whether or not there are likely to be any complications or abnormalities. An ultrasound to determine these factors is usually best taken at between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. An ultrasound given at this stage of pregnancy is called a foetal anatomy survey.
Ultrasounds can be performed in two ways, abdominally or vaginally. It is always best for the woman to have a full bladder when receiving an ultrasound, as both the baby and the uterus are more visible with a full bladder. If a woman is to have a vaginal ultrasound, which is rare, then this is normally carried out earlier in a pregnancy, and simply involves a probe being inserted into the vagina.
The more common form of ultrasound, performed abdominally, simply involves a probe that sends high frequency sound waves into the body and returns them as electrical signals. A cold gel is normally applied, and this assists with the appearance of the baby on the monitor. Ultrasounds are said to have very little risk attached to them and it is thought that the benefits (knowing the sex of the baby, and also the condition of the baby) make the test worthwhile.
