When is the embryo visible on ultrasound? Reliability of the study in the first weeks

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

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 sex of the child. The expectant mother is interested in some questions related to this type of research, for example, when an embryo is visible on an ultrasound scan. This is one of the first questions and the most important. Therefore, let's deal with it and dispel all ambiguities.

What is an embryo

In science, a human embryo is understood as a living organism, starting from the stage of appearance and up to 10 obstetric weeks. The obstetric period is understood as the calculation of the duration of pregnancy from the moment the last menstruation began. If exactly 10 weeks are counted from this day, you can get the duration of the development of the embryo. Then the existence of the fetus begins, and until birth the child is called that way. embryo developmentis viewed by the day and calculated accurately, because it is at this moment that the unborn child is at risk and the likelihood of a miscarriage is high. In addition, at this time, organ systems are laid and the 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 the embryo is visible on ultrasound, we will determine the stages of its development.

Stages of embryonic development

There are several:

1. At the moment 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 a morula.
2. After the morula has slowed down in its division, the process of cell migration begins, resulting in a hole in the center of the morula. The embryo is now called a blastula. It has hundreds of cells; just during this period, the appearance of identical twins is possible.
3. 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 a gastrula. In time, this period occurs on the 8th day after fertilization.
4. The process of implantation begins - the attachment of a new organism to the wall of the uterus.
5. Formation of the nervous system. The neurula stage begins, within whichthe 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.
6. After the formation of the nervous system, blood vessels appear, and from them - the heart of the future baby. By the time it is the 20th day. The first heartbeat is heard between 22 and 28 days. It is at this time that the lungs, ears, spinal cord and mouth appear, as well as the spleen and tail. Next, the embryo enters the fetal stage.

Now that we have de alt with the initial stages of the formation of the human body, we can move on to answering the question of when the embryo is visible on ultrasound.

The importance of ultrasound during pregnancy

Recall that as soon as a woman finds out about her pregnancy or there is such a possibility, you need to contact the antenatal clinic and register. This is necessary for a he althy normal course of pregnancy. Why ultrasound is important:

1. If the fact of fertilization is not confirmed, then the study will help determine the cause of failures in the cycle, because this may indicate a disease.
2. You can understand if the implantation went well and if there are any anomalies in the development of the embryo.
3. Exclusion of possible ectopic pregnancy and other negative processes that may put the baby at risk.
4. Ultrasound shows increased uterine tone in advance, the possibility of miscarriage.
5. You can exclude a missed pregnancy when the embryo stops in its development and dies,while still in the mother's body.

And, of course, it is worth understanding when an embryo is visible on an ultrasound, because this is such an exciting question. Let us draw your attention to the fact that the arguments about the harmfulness of the study are completely false and are myths. Ultrasound does not have any negative effect on either the mother or the embryo.

When can I have 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, there is a pulling pain in the lower abdomen. It is often confused with premenstrual pain, but it is not.

So, at what time is the embryo visible on ultrasound? The fact of fertilization and the birth of a small organism can be seen with the help of ultrasound at the 3rd week of pregnancy. As a rule, research is not carried out at such a time, because if we turn to the stages of embryo development, 3 weeks is the implantation period. Therefore, apart from the cell, the doctor will not see anything else, and he will not hear the sound of a beating heart, even more so. At such a time, ultrasound can be done, 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 the woman is he althy and there are no risks, there is no need for an ultrasound yet either.

When should I do research according to plan?

If above we have analyzed how long the ultrasound "sees" the embryo, now we will analyze when it is already necessary to do this, even for a he althy woman. When registering with a antenatal clinic, the doctor forms a plan for undergoing examinations and conducting research, passinganalyses. If the pregnancy is normal, then, as a general rule, the first ultrasound is prescribed at the 10th week of pregnancy. It is 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 will answer that in the absence of special indications - at 10 weeks. At this time, you can already hear the heartbeat, a small heart and other organs, the foundations of which have already been laid. Don't rush into an unnecessarily ultrasound, everything has its time.

Determining the duration of pregnancy by transvaginal ultrasound

The 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 version of the study is the most complete, the embryo can be seen already on the 21st day after conception, that is, after 3 weeks.

To prepare for such a study, it is necessary to give up sexual activity 2 days before the ultrasound, do not eat foods that cause gas formation. It is also necessary to empty the bladder and bowels to increase the visibility of the device. There is a contraindication in the form of aching pains, cramps in the abdomen in a woman, red or brown discharge. If these symptoms are present, this type of study should be abandoned. If, nevertheless, such an ultrasound is prescribed, you need to contact a qualified specialist, because the input of the sensor can harmembryo.

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 safer. 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 foods that promote gas formation from the diet in 2 days. 3 hours before the procedure, you need to drink 2 liters of water so that the bladder is full at the time of the procedure. If it is empty, it will not work to determine pregnancy. It is this ultrasound that is performed by a pregnant woman at the 10th week according to the plan.

Perhaps a woman will have a question which ultrasound to choose. This question will be answered by the doctor leading the pregnancy. All this is individual and depends on the characteristics of the woman's body and on the indications.

What is the significance of 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 a woman's body with the onset of pregnancy. It is he who influences the pregnancy test, 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 at the antenatal clinicis a blood test for hCG levels. It actively grows in the first days of pregnancy. At what hCG is the embryo visible on 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 moment, if there are indications (ectopic pregnancy, finding out the reasons for the failure of the cycle, if there is no pregnancy, the threat of miscarriage) for an early ultrasound, the doctor sends the woman to it.

So, using the level of hCG, you can determine the presence of pregnancy and proceed 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 are and indications for them. Active assistance and necessary consultations will be provided by a gynecologist who leads the pregnancy. It is he who examines the test results and predicts possible threats to the unborn child.