First Trimester Scans | ||
The first trimester is months one, two, and three of your pregnancy. Scans in early pregnancy are usually performed in the first trimester around 12 weeks. You may have a earlier scan, if you are experiencing pain or bleeding for example or unsure of LMP dates.It is recommended that all pregnant women have a scan in the first trimester, to establish the date when the baby is due, check the number of babies also the position of the placenta. First trimester ultrasonic scans may show 'soft' markers for chromosomal abnormalities, such as the absence of fetal nasal bone or an increased fetal nuchal translucency (back of the neck) to enable detection of Down syndrome fetuses. While your sonographer takes measurments they will explain what you are looking at. It may not be easy for you to make out what you are seeing on the screen in the early scans. What to expect during an ultrasound examination? Examples of Ultrasound scans | ||
Week 4 Scan | ||||
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Week 5 Scans | |||||||||
The yolk sac is first visible at 5 weeks and it is always present by 5 weeks and 4 days. There are lacunary structures at the site of implantation. The embryonic pole appears adjacent to the yolk sac, soon showing cardiac activity. Since the connecting stalk is short, the embryonic pole is found near the wall. At the end of week 5, the heart rate is about 60 – 90 bpm. In early pregnancies, the actual cardiac rate is less important than its presence or absence. | |||||||||
Week 6 Scan | ||||
The fetal pole grows at a rate of about 1 mm a day, starting at the 6th week of gestational age. Thus, a simple way to "date" an early pregnancy is to add the length of the fetus (in mm) to 6 weeks. Using this method, a fetal pole measuring 5 mm would have a gestational age of 6 weeks and 5 days. | ||||
7 Weeks Scans | ||||
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8 Weeks Scan | ||||
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9 Weeks Scans | ||||
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Week 10 Scan | ||||||
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11 Weeks Scan | ||||
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Week 12 Scan | ||||||
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13 Weeks Scan | ||||
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