The wonderful time of pregnancy is accompanied by regular studies, including ultrasound, which help track the growth and development of the baby, as well as determine the gender of the baby. The future mom is interested in some questions related to this type of study, for example, when an embryo is seen on an ultrasound scan. This is one of the first and most important questions. Therefore, let's deal with it and dispel all ambiguities.
What is an embryo?
In science, the human embryo is understood as a living organism, starting from the appearance stage and up to 10 obstetric weeks. Under the obstetric term refers to calculating the duration of pregnancy from the moment the last menstruation begins. If you count exactly 10 weeks from this day, you can get the duration of the developmental period of the embryo. Then the existence of the fetus begins, and before birth the baby is called that way. The development of the embryo is monitored by the day and calculated accurately, because it is at this moment that the unborn child is at risk and there is a high probability of a miscarriage. In addition, at this time, organ systems are laid and a nerve column is formed, which is very important. The duration of development at this stage is 49 days. In order to answer in detail the question of when an embryo is seen on an ultrasound scan, we determine the stages of its development.
Stages of development of the embryo
There are several of them:
- At the time of fertilization, the genes of the father and mother are mixed in the cell, which means that a fundamentally new and perfect genotype is formed. The division mechanism starts, and 30 hours after fertilization, the cell divides into two parts, then into 4, and so on. The cells are so small that the size of the embryo does not increase much, and it is called morula.
- After the morula has slowed down in its division, the process of cell migration begins, as a result of which a hole forms in the center of the morula. Now the embryo is called a blastula. There are hundreds of cells in it; just in this period the appearance of identical twins is possible.
- At this stage, the cells of the small embryo begin to move and form three layers. Each of the layers of cells in the future will be separate organ systems. At this point, the body is called gastrula. In time, this period occurs on the 8th day after fertilization.
- The process of implantation begins - the attachment of a new organism to the uterine wall.
- The formation of the nervous system. The stage of neurula begins, within which the foundations of the nervous system are laid. That is why it is necessary at such a moment to avoid stress, illness, as well as the use of antibiotics, alcohol and other harmful substances.
- After the formation of the nervous system, blood vessels appear, and from them - the heart of the future baby. By time, this is the 20th day. The first heartbeat is heard in the interval from 22 to 28 days. It was at this time that the lungs, ears, spinal cord and mouth appeared, as well as the spleen and tail. Next, the embryo passes into the stage of the fetus.
Now that we have figured out the initial stages of the formation of the human body, we can proceed to answer the question of when the embryo is visible on an ultrasound scan.
The value of ultrasound during pregnancy
Recall that as soon as a woman finds out about her pregnancy or there is such a possibility, it is necessary to contact a antenatal clinic and register. This is necessary for a healthy, normal pregnancy. Why is it important to do an ultrasound:
- If the fact of fertilization is not confirmed, then the study will help determine the cause of the failures in the cycle, because this may indicate a disease.
- It is possible to understand whether implantation proceeded well and if there were any abnormalities in the development of the embryo.
- The exclusion of a possible ectopic pregnancy and other negative processes that may put the baby at risk.
- Ultrasound in advance shows an increased tone of the uterus, the possibility of a miscarriage.
- It is possible to exclude a frozen pregnancy, when the embryo stops in its development and dies, while continuing to be in the mother's body.
Well, of course, it is worthwhile to understand when an embryo is seen on an ultrasound scan, because this is such an exciting question. We draw your attention to the fact that the arguments about the harmfulness of research are completely false and are myths. Ultrasound does not have any negative effect on either the mother or the embryo.
When can I do an ultrasound?
Recall that the egg is fertilized on the day of ovulation or within two days after it. After the egg moves through the fallopian tubes into the uterus, a pulling pain appears in the lower abdomen. She is often confused with pain before menstruation, but this is not so.
So, at what period is the embryo seen on an ultrasound? The fact of fertilization and the birth of a small organism can be seen using ultrasound at 3 weeks of pregnancy. As a rule, research is not carried out at such a time, because if you turn to the stages of embryo development, 3 weeks is the implantation period. Therefore, except for the cell, the doctor will not see anything else, and the sound of a beating heart will not hear even more so. It is possible to do an ultrasound at this time, but they do it in order to exclude pathologies. If, after examination, the doctor has indications for an ultrasound scan, then it is done. If a woman is healthy and there are no risks, there is no need for ultrasound either.
When do you need to do research according to plan?
If we examined above how long the ultrasound “sees” the embryo, now we will analyze when it is already necessary to do this, even to a healthy woman. When registering with a antenatal clinic, a doctor forms a plan for examinations and studies, and tests. If the pregnancy is normal, then, as a general rule, the first ultrasound is prescribed at the 10th week of pregnancy. It was at this time that the stage of development of the embryo ends, and the new organism begins to be called the fetus.
To the question, when they see the embryo on ultrasound, we answer that in the absence of special indications - at 10 weeks. At this time, you can already hear the heartbeat, small heart and other organs, the foundations of which are already laid. Do not rush to conduct ultrasound unnecessarily, everything has its time.
Determination of gestational age by transvaginal ultrasound
A transvaginal version of the study is carried out by inserting a special device into the vagina, at the end of which there are sensors, and you can view the entire internal cavity of the uterus and ovaries in great detail. What time is the embryo visible on transvaginal ultrasound? Due to the fact that this research option is the most complete, the embryo can be seen already 21 days after conception, that is, after 3 weeks.
To prepare for such a study, it is necessary 2 days before the ultrasound to abandon sexual activity, not to eat foods that cause gas formation. It is also necessary to empty the bladder and intestines to increase the visibility of the device. There is a contraindication in the form of aching pains, cramps in the abdomen of a woman, secretions of red or brown. If these symptoms are, you need to abandon this type of study. If, however, such an ultrasound is prescribed, you need to contact a qualified specialist, because entering the sensor can harm the embryo.
Transabdominal Ultrasound
This type of ultrasound is probably known to every girl, and indeed to every person. It is a study of the pelvic organs through the front of the woman’s abdomen. This option is less informative, but more secure. How many weeks can an embryo be seen on an ultrasound in this format? Unlike the previous study, this will help to see a new organism at 5 weeks after conception. To prepare for such an ultrasound, it is also necessary to exclude products that contribute to gas formation in 2 days from the diet. 3 hours before the procedure, you need to drink 2 liters of water, so that at the time of its holding, the bladder is full. If it is empty, pregnancy cannot be determined. This is the kind of ultrasound performed by a pregnant woman at week 10 according to plan.
Perhaps the woman will have a question, which ultrasound to choose. This question will be answered by the doctor conducting the pregnancy. All this is individual and depends on the characteristics of the woman’s body and on the indications.
What is the level of hCG during ultrasound?
Oddly enough, but the level of hCG is reflected in the results of the study. To begin with, we recall that hCG is an indicator that increases in the body of a woman with the onset of pregnancy. It is he who influences the test for determining pregnancy, as a result of which a second strip appears. This is a type of hormone that appears on the 6th day after conception.
The first study when registering in a antenatal clinic is a blood test for hCG levels. It is actively growing in the early days of pregnancy. At what hCG is the embryo visible on an ultrasound? In the event that the result of blood tests reaches the range of 1000 - 2000 mU per liter, the study will show the embryo. At this point, if there is evidence (ectopic pregnancy, finding out the reasons for the failure of the cycle, if there is no pregnancy, the risk of miscarriage) to early ultrasound, the doctor sends a woman to him.
So, using the level of hCG, you can determine the presence of pregnancy and act further depending on the results and individual indicators of the pregnant woman.
Conclusion
The article told what week the embryo is seen on ultrasound, how the cell generally develops from the moment of fertilization to 10 weeks, what types of ultrasound there are and indications for them. Active assistance and necessary advice will be provided by a gynecologist who conducts pregnancy. It is he who examines the results of the analyzes and predicts possible threats to the unborn child.