Ultrasound at week 7 of pregnancy: features

One of the most difficult and simultaneously expected events in the life of any woman is pregnancy. All nine months the future mummy carries her baby, talks to him, gets used to her mutated body, and also follows the recommendations of the doctor. The most frequent procedure that allows you to determine the very fact of pregnancy and possible complications is ultrasound. Is it dangerous to do it at 6-8 weeks? How is ultrasound done at week 7?

What is "obstetric weeks"

To begin with, it is necessary to clarify what constitutes obstetric weeks and how they differ from usual ones. When discussing the obstetrical week, we mean the period of pregnancy, the counting of which began from the first day of the last month. In the second case, the count begins with the day of conception. The obstetric week, as a rule, is exactly 14 days longer than the initial period. For example, six obstetric weeks correspond to four normal or embryonic weeks.

Features of the embryo at week 6

Like any other, the sixth obstetric week has its own characteristics. It is at this time the size of your future baby is only 2-4 mm, which corresponds to a small peach-pea. At the same time, a small rising heart begins to work actively, the beat of which is still too low to be heard with a stethoscope. However, it can be seen on the ultrasound machine, where it will be displayed in the form of a small pulsating point.

Why do ultrasound at 6 weeks

Ultrasound at 6-7 weeks of pregnancy is done to determine the very fact of an "interesting situation". This examination allows you to catch the heartbeat and shape of the fetus, as well as to clarify its location. In particular, if you use an ultrasonic device at an early stage, you can see whether the pregnancy is taking place according to a standard schedule, or a malfunction occurred during conception, and the seed got into the fallopian tube (with ectopic pregnancy).

Can I cancel my ultrasound scan at week 6?

Do or not to do ultrasound, this decision is purely individual. As a rule, it is prescribed for suspected pregnancy. In the case of a positive result, the future mother is put on medical records. From that moment she is obliged to listen to the advice and recommendations of her doctor, to take tests and come to a routine examination.

In addition, it is worth doing ultrasound in the event that you have certain ailments, suspicious discharges from the perineal zones, there were vomiting, etc. About what purpose ultrasound is prescribed for the 7th week of pregnancy, we will tell further.

Embryo development at week 7

The seventh obstetric week corresponds to the fifth embryonic week. In this period, the growth of the baby is already 5-13 mm, and weight - 0.8 g. The tiny creature in this case acquires the size of a small white string bean. He still has a small tail, and apparently the embryo is not too similar to the future child.

However, he already stretched his head, and on the pictures you can already distinguish the place where his neck will be. Also, his limbs are somewhat lengthened, but there is still no separation of the fingers. Why do an ultrasound of an embryo at week 7 of pregnancy?

For what it is necessary to do or make US on 7 week

At this time, the gynecologist can see a threat for miscarriage or a dead pregnancy. In addition, it is in the seventh week that the existing uterine tone can be assessed, and the presence of uterine myoma can be determined. At this time, the ovaries are examined with an assessment of their size and condition. Then it's realistic to calculate the future date for delivery.

As in the previous case, ultrasound examination is voluntary. Only a doctor can prescribe an ultrasound at week 7 of pregnancy. And he does this usually when there is a suspicion of any deviation.

Often at this time, women learn that they are pregnant, and for some of them this is not a pleasant surprise. Therefore, at these dates, as many experts say, a woman should carefully think about whether it is worth preserving her future child.

Pregnancy 7 weeks: Ultrasonography

A very important point, which doctors pay attention to, is the palpitation of the fetus. It is on how much it corresponds to the established norms, and the medical verdict will depend. In particular, doctors are interested in three main evaluation criteria:

• The limiting frequency of cardiac fluctuations;
• Rhythm and periodicity of heartbeat;
• Nature of the abbreviations.

For example, when appointing ultrasound at 7 midwifery week of pregnancy, doctors look at the frequency of beats per minute. Thus, in a fetus at 6-8 weeks, a small heart beats at a frequency of no more than 110-130 beats per minute. At a period of 9-12 weeks, the beat frequency ranges from 170-190 beats, and at 13-40 weeks - 140-160 beats per minute.

In the case if the given value is higher than normal, then there is a high probability of having a tachycardia. At a beat frequency below the norm, there is a risk of a bradycardia. In addition, with the normal development of the fetus, its heartbeat should be bright, clear and carried out at regular intervals.

If these deviations are detected, a thorough examination with subsequent administration of treatment is recommended. And, first we make ultrasound at the 7th week of pregnancy (how to do it, we'll tell you later), a diagnosis is made, and then treatment is prescribed.

How is ultrasound done?

When getting directions for an ultrasound examination, many women are frankly frightened. This is due to ignorance of the process itself and its essence. First you should come to the doctor's office, according to the appointed time. Then you will be asked to lie down on the couch and bare your stomach.

After that, a special gel is put on it, which is gently smeared on the surface of the skin in the region of the pre-fringe zone. Simultaneously, the specialist connects the ultrasound machine, starts to drive a special sensor at the place of lubrication and displays the data on the monitor screen. As a result of this action, the physician can assess the following points:

• Condition and development of the fetal egg;
• Condition and size of the uterus;
• Gestational age;
• Condition of the ovaries.

Such an examination is most often performed at the initial stages and with the normal course of pregnancy. In the case if a more thorough examination is required, then another sensor is in operation - for a vaginal examination. When working with him, a specialist, as a rule, puts on him a usual disposable condom and then introduces him into the vagina of a pregnant woman. He will see all the information he needs on the monitor screen. As you can see, nothing strange. And whether to do or make US on 7 week of pregnancy or not, to solve to you.

What should I do before I visit a doctor?

According to the requirements of physicians, about an hour or two before the examination of ultrasound should drink 1.5-2 liters of water. Accordingly, go to the hospital before the doctor's appointed time. It is recommended that you take a small towel with which you will wipe the gel after the procedure, as well as a condom (in case of a vaginal examination) and an obstetric disposable diaper.

What are the concerns about the survey?

The fears associated with ultrasound are often explained by the fear of irradiation of the unborn child. According to experts, there is nothing dangerous here. And there is a lot of evidence for this statement. So, the main argument for the safety of the ultrasound machine is the presence in it of special sensors capable of fixing and limiting the frequency of irradiation, so that waves at this level will not harm the developing baby.

In addition, numerous studies of foreign and domestic specialists speak of the safety of ultrasound devices.

How the fetus develops at week 8

Already in the eighth week the future child has finally formed the nervous system and the brain. Its weight reaches three grams, and the height - 14-20 mm. The baby's cilia begin to grow, fingers are formed, and the folds in the elbows and hands become mobile and flexible. The heart increases in size and starts to beat at a speed of 150 beats per minute.

If you make ultrasound on the 7-8th week of pregnancy, you can see the shape of the face: ears, lips, nose. Sometimes on the pictures you can see a hand, which the child as if sends his parents greetings.

What is ultrasound used for at week 8?

The appointment of an ultrasound examination at the eighth week occurs in the event of possible abnormalities and abnormalities in pregnancy. For example, a woman in labor had certain pain sensations, which at this stage should not be.

If she has bloody or black and yellow discharge, which have a pronounced unpleasant odor. In addition, the cause of the examination may be a poor hearing of the heartbeat of the baby. Sending to ultrasound at 7 weeks gestation or 8 in this case will reduce the risk of fetal fading or detect this problem.

What is ultrasound as planned?

In medical terminology, there is such a thing as a graph of the passage of ultrasound. What does this mean? This means that with the normal course of pregnancy, the future woman in labor must make only three ultrasound:

• In 10-14 weeks;
• In 20-24 weeks;
• At the 32-34 week.

Moreover, during the first examination, the mother is examined for pregnancy, the normality of fetal development is studied in order to avoid deviations. It measures the thickness of the collar space (TB) with the purpose of timely detection of chromosomal abnormality (Down's syndrome).

During the second examination, you can determine the sex of the future baby. In addition, the doctor examines the placenta, studying blood flow, structure, location and other indicators, which allows him to see if there is a danger of early detachment of the placenta or not.

The third visit to the doctor-ultrasound will help to calculate the exact timing of childbirth and again to examine the placenta in time to detect its possible presentation and deviation from the norm.

In a word, it is thanks to ultrasound that you can see deviations in time and have time to neutralize them before the baby's birth.