6-Weeks Pregnant Ultrasound: What This Scan Reveals About Your Baby’s Development

If you’re in the early stages of your pregnancy and your doctor recommends a 6-week ultrasound, this may be your first experience with this type of scan. Understanding what to expect can be reassuring, from the process itself to the details of fetal development and other aspects of prenatal care.

In this guide, we’ll cover how an ultrasound works, what kinds of data to expect from your scan and answer common questions that you might have about your early pregnancy.

 

 

What your 6 week pregnancy ultrasound can tell you

While a 6-week ultrasound isn’t always necessary, many expectant mothers undergo this early scan for various reasons. Typically, the first ultrasound of your pregnancy occurs around 12 weeks, but an earlier scan doesn’t indicate a problem. Here’s what you can expect to learn from your 6-week ultrasound and why it might be recommended.

Estimates your due date

Determining the embryo size helps confirm the due date or how far along you are. This is one of the most common reasons for a 6-week ultrasound, especially when the mother is unsure of when conception took place.

Detects a heartbeat

Even though your developing baby’s heart is still forming, there is a good chance the ultrasound will detect a pulse, confirming your pregnancy and progression of fetal growth.

Checks for an ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, in places such as the fallopian tube or even, rarely, the cervix. Because it should be attached to the uterine lining, these misplaced implantations create a life-threatening risk for the mother. Unfortunately, the fertilized egg can’t develop properly in this condition, making it impossible to carry to term.

Immediate treatment is essential to avoid possible internal bleeding. A 6-week ultrasound will confirm if the embryo is in the uterus or implanted elsewhere. If you have a history of ectopic pregnancies, your doctor will likely have you screened early.

Checks for multiples (See what twins look like on a 6-week ultrasound!)

Another reason to have first-trimester ultrasounds early is to check for twins or multiple pregnancies. Most doctors will measure your hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) early on to check the levels of this pregnancy hormone. If your levels rise faster than expected or atypically increase, this can be a sign of twins or higher-order multiples. The only way to confirm this is through an ultrasound, though sometimes 6 weeks is still too early to be sure. In the U.S., you have a 3 percent chance of having twins, but a family history of multiple pregnancies can increase this percentage.

Twin pregnancy seen on a 6-week ultrasound

Assesses the yolk sac

An early pregnancy scan can assess the shape and size of the yolk sac, which indicates how well the baby is developing. This tiny balloon-shaped sac gives the embryo sustenance and produces cells that will later become vital constructs, such as blood cells, reproductive organs and the umbilical cord.

Monitors high-risk pregnancies

Events in your health history, symptoms and age can lead doctors to recommend early ultrasounds. Examples would be previous pregnancy loss, vaginal bleeding, advanced maternal age or any number of pre-existing health conditions. In these cases, doctors often request an ultrasound exam prior to 12 weeks in order to better understand how things are progressing.

 

What to expect at your 6-week pregnancy ultrasound: All your questions answered!

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect at your early ultrasound exam to help you be more prepared for your appointment.

6-weeks pregnant: Is your ultrasound internal or external?

While many people associate abdominal ultrasounds (external) with pregnancies, you may have a transvaginal ultrasound (internal) for your 6-week scan. Because your developing baby is so small, the internal scan may provide clearer images than the abdominal scan.

Ultrasounds function via high-frequency sound waves that bounce around your internal structures, echoing back to help create images on a computer. This allows the technician to get a detailed view of elements such as the fetal pole, the yolk-sac and specific measurements of your unborn baby.

During the appointment, the ultrasound technician will insert a gel-covered wand, called a transducer, about 2-3 inches inside your vagina in order to get a better imaging angle. This shouldn’t hurt, but it may be somewhat uncomfortable. Be sure to communicate any concerns or discomfort to the person conducting the exam so they can make adjustments.

What can you see at a 6-week ultrasound?

A patient looking at a 6-week ultrasound image

At this early stage, your fetus is roughly a quarter of an inch long, which means there isn’t much to see yet. As your pregnancy progresses, the baby’s anatomy will develop and become more apparent, revealing details such as their sex and providing clearer views of their organs. At 6 weeks, simpler structures begin to form, which the ultrasound report will help detail. Some physical developments the ultrasound may cover include:

• The beginning of the nostrils and eyes, which look like dark spots
• Small depressions that show the beginning of the ear formations
• Small, paddle-like limbs that will become the arms and legs
• The temporarily tail-like backbone, which will change as the baby grows
• The start of vocal cords and the tongue
• The number of fetuses (in case of multiples)

Once the ultrasound report and images are interpreted and released, you can access them on PocketHealth the moment they become available. The report will cover anatomical structure and specific measurements, which you can discuss with your doctor at your next prenatal appointment.

 

 

What if a heartbeat isn’t detected?

You may feel stressed if your baby’s heartbeat isn’t detected during this ultrasound. However, it’s important to remember that detecting the heartbeat at this early stage can be challenging. It may not be possible to detect a heartbeat until the fetus develops further. The heartbeat is more detectable around the seventh week or later, so your doctor will likely have you return for another ultrasound as the pregnancy progresses.

Another reason not to hear the heartbeat is there may be inaccuracy with how far along you are. It can be hard to identify the precise beginning of your pregnancy. If your conception date is incorrect, you may be less far along than you thought, which affects how well the fetal heartbeat can be heard.

Can a sac look empty at 6 weeks?

While not seeing a yolk sac during an early ultrasound can sometimes indicate early pregnancy loss or an ectopic pregnancy, it can often be due to miscalculated gestational dates. If you are earlier in your pregnancy than you thought, it may be too soon to detect the yolk sac. If your healthcare provider suspects you may be pregnant but no sac is visible, they will likely ask you to return in 1-2 weeks for another ultrasound.

Your doctor may order blood work to see if your HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) levels are rising. This pregnancy hormone increases rapidly in healthy development and is a way to measure progression alongside your ultrasound results.

Is no fetal pole at 6 weeks normal?

The fetal pole is the embryo and is visible during the initial phases of the pregnancy. As the embryo grows, it becomes a fetus. Your 6-week ultrasound is an opportunity to find and measure the fetal pole, which can help determine the gestational age, if there are multiples and other general health markers.

No pole at 6 weeks gestation could indicate a possible miscarriage or erroneous conception dates. If your dates are off, it could be too early to see, and your doctor will have you return for another scan once time passes. A fetal pole found anywhere outside of the uterus, such as the fallopian tubes, is an unviable ectopic pregnancy.

What if the pregnancy test is positive but there’s nothing on ultrasound?

There are a variety of reasons why an ultrasound would show nothing after a positive pregnancy test:

• Your ultrasound is too early
• False positive pregnancy test result
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Miscarriage or loss of pregnancy
• Infertility treatments affecting hCG levels
• Other medical conditions, like pituitary abnormalities

How to prepare for your appointment

Here are some helpful tips to better prepare you for your ultrasound:

• Bring a copy of your requisition: Your ultrasound orders may already be in the medical record system, but every doctor’s office is different. To save time, bring the documentation with you so that the ultrasound tech has the official requisition of what kind of scan you need and if they should be looking for anything specific.
• Ask whether you need a full bladder: Liquid helps the ultrasonic waves travel better to improve imaging. It also can tilt the uterus up to get a better angle. Many abdominal ultrasounds will require a full bladder. For a vaginal ultrasound, however, it’s common to need the bladder to be empty. Be sure to ask your doctor beforehand what their instruction is and check your requisition for instructions.
• Wear something comfortable: Choose clothing that is easy to remove so that you can easily transition to a hospital gown or other such garment.
• If you wish, ask beforehand if you can bring someone with you: Plenty of expectant mothers come to ultrasounds alone. However, if you’re stressed, worried or simply want someone else to share in the experience, ask in advance if you can bring someone with you. Keep in mind that children may not be allowed, depending on the clinic policies and preference of the ultrasound technician. There may also be restrictions on the number of adults who can be present, so find out the rules and prepare accordingly.
• Don’t expect the ultrasound tech to give diagnoses or much information: Typically, the doctor will review the report with you at a follow-up appointment, once the images have been interpreted. So, don’t worry if the tech doesn’t offer many details.

What you should know about hCG levels at 6 weeks

By the time you reach 6 weeks of pregnancy, your body is producing significant amounts of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a crucial hormone that supports the development of your pregnancy. Understanding your hCG levels can provide valuable insight into the progress of your pregnancy and help your healthcare provider determine whether everything is on track. Here’s what you need to know about hCG levels at this stage.

What is hCG and why is it important?

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta shortly after the embryo attaches to the uterine lining. It plays a vital role in maintaining the early stages of pregnancy by supporting the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone to sustain the uterine lining. Monitoring hCG levels can help assess the health of the pregnancy and identify any potential issues early on.

What if hCG levels are lower or higher than expected?

hCG levels can vary widely among pregnant individuals. However, significantly lower or higher levels than expected may indicate potential concerns. Low hCG levels might suggest an ectopic pregnancy or the possibility of a miscarriage, while extremely high levels could indicate multiple pregnancies or a molar pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may recommend additional testing or monitoring to determine the cause and appropriate next steps.

At what hCG level can you see an embryo?

The pregnancy hormone, hCG, is produced by the placenta and can be identified via blood tests around 11 days from conception. Usually hCG levels increase twofold every 72 hours, peaking in the first trimester, then lowering and staying level the rest of the pregnancy.

The gestational sac should be visible with a transvaginal ultrasound by the time hCG measurements reach 1,000-2,000 mIU/mL. Transabdominal ultrasounds will show development by 3,600 mIU/mL. 

What hCG levels can I expect at 6 weeks?

 

How quickly can you get your 6-week pregnancy report and ultrasound pictures?

Patients generally get their 6-week ultrasound report at their follow-up appointment with their doctor. For faster access, you can use PocketHealth to obtain the finished records as soon as they are officially released. Often, you’ll receive this data before your next prenatal visit with your doctor, which allows you to examine your reports. You can also use MyCare Navigator to help prepare and personalize any questions you might have in advance.

PocketHealth also lets you securely store and access your reports and images in one place. It’s easy to share these with other medical facilities or even family and friends who want to see how your pregnancy is progressing. PocketHealth’s Report Reader simplifies medical terminology within your records, clarifying technical vocabulary so you can be prepared to discuss your ultrasound with your doctor.

 

Feel confident throughout your pregnancy journey

Keeping track of your medical reports and ultrasound scans is simple with PocketHealth. All of your vital imaging is in one protected location and accessed anytime you need. When used in conjunction with your health provider’s professional advice, it is a powerful tool to organize and understand the progress of your developing pregnancy.