The 8th-week ultrasound is usually the first imaging scan in your pregnancy. It is very exciting for the parents as this scan gives you the first glimpse of your baby. This scan is also called the dating scan. It uses sound waves to create a picture of the fetus in the womb. Read this post as we tell you about the ultrasound procedure, what you can see at eight weeks of pregnancy, the fetus’ development, and what abnormalities may be discovered in the eight-week of pregnancy scan.
Why Should You Have An Ultrasound At Eight Weeks?
The first ultrasound is usually done around the eighth week to check if both the expectant mother and the growing baby are fine. It might also be suggested to (1) (2):
Calculate the gestational age and due date. It is also done when you are not sure about your last period date (which can give an approximate gestational age)
Know the cause of bleeding, if any, in the pregnant mom
Check the embryo size and the heartbeat
Confirm multiple pregnancies
Check if the ovaries and fallopian tubes are healthy
Rule out pregnancy complications such as ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage
How To Prepare For Your 8th-week Scan?
Your doctor can recommend either the abdominal ultrasound or the transvaginal ultrasound (3).
For the abdominal scan, you will be asked to have a full bladder. At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus is tiny, and a full bladder helps move the uterus up for getting a better image of the fetus. Wear comfortable and loose clothing since you will have to expose your abdomen during the scan.
For the transvaginal scan, you will be asked to empty your bladder since a full bladder blocks the fetal view.
The Ultrasound Procedure
A sonographer performs the ultrasound scan, which is neither harmful nor painful for the mother and the baby (1).
Abdominal ultrasound scan: A conductive gel is applied over the abdomen, and a handheld scanner is run over it. This gel allows the ultrasound waves to pass into the uterus through the skin. The waves will then rebound, creating a picture of the fetus in the uterus.
Transvaginal ultrasound scan: Here, a small wand called the transducer is placed inside the vagina and pressed against the cervix. It may be moved around a little for the right angle to view and capture an image of the pelvic organs and the fetus. You may experience a little pressure or discomfort during the procedure.
What Is The Duration Of The Ultrasound?
The first ultrasound takes up to 30 minutes (4). In some cases, it might take longer if the baby is positioned unusually, or if the body tissues are dense.
What Can You See At 8th Week Ultrasound?
The 8th-week ultrasound can give you a great deal of information including the (5):
Umbilical cord functioning
Size of the placenta
Size of the embryo
Fetal heartbeat and heart rate
Presence of multiple fetuses that can be detected through the presence of multiple heartbeats
The growth of tiny hands, legs, the formation of internal organs, eyes, nostrils, and mouth
How Is The Baby Developing In The 8th Week?
The baby will attain basic human features and is now called a fetus, but not an embryo.
The baby has tiny arms, legs, and buds where hands and feet will grow later
Face and internal organs begin to take shape
A tiny mouth, nostrils, eyes and tooth buds begin to form
The baby begins to move, but you may not feel it (2)
Heart rate would be around 140 – 160bpm
If the Ultrasound Doesn’t Detect The Fetal heartbeat, Does It Indicate A Miscarriage?
No, it does not. If the heartbeat is not detected in the eight-week ultrasound, your doctor will suggest a follow-up scan to check for the pulse again and rule out the possibility of a miscarriage.
What If Any Other Abnormalities Are Found In The 8th Week Pregnancy Scan?
If the ultrasound shows any abnormalities, the sonographer or the health care provider might suggest another scan. In some cases, they might suggest tests such as amniocentesis or CVS to detect the problem.
