What do you do when you see a fetal pole?

The fetal pole is usually identified at ~6.5 weeks with transabdominal ultrasound imaging and at ~6 weeks 2 with transvaginal ultrasound imaging, although it may not be seen until ~9 weeks in some cases. When the fetal pole measures ≥7 mm, a fetal heartbeat should be detected.

What does possible fetal pole mean?

Medically speaking, a fetal pole isn’t yet a baby. It’s an embryo until about the 10th week of gestation. It then becomes a fetus and goes through fetal development until birth.

Does fetal pole confirm pregnancy?

The fetal pole becomes visible somewhere between 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 weeks of gestational age (typically determined based on the date of the last normal menstrual period). Any small error in dating the pregnancy can throw off an ultrasound interpretation.

What comes first heartbeat or fetal pole?

A fetal heartbeat may first be detected by a vaginal ultrasound as early as 5 1/2 to 6 weeks after gestation. That’s when a fetal pole, the first visible sign of a developing embryo, can sometimes be seen. But between 6 1/2 to 7 weeks after gestation, a heartbeat can be better assessed.

Can fetal pole grow without heartbeat?

This is called an anembryonic pregnancy, which is also known as a blighted ovum. Or it may be that your baby started to grow, but then stopped growing and they have no heartbeat. Occasionally it happens beyond the first few weeks, perhaps at eight weeks or 10 weeks, or even further on.

When does a fetal pole develop in pregnancy?

Between 5 ½ to 6 ½ weeks, a fetal pole or even a fetal heartbeat may be detected by vaginal ultrasound. The fetal pole is the first visible sign of a developing embryo. This pole structure actually has some curve to it with the embryo’s head at one end and what looks like a tail at the other end.

How quickly does fetal pole grow?

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.

Should you see a fetal pole at 7 weeks?

Fetal pole. It can usually be detected by 6 weeks of gestation on a transvaginal ultrasound. This is where you would see the baby’s heartbeat.

Is the fetal pole the embryo?

The fetal pole is the first direct imaging manifestation of the fetus and is seen as a thickening on the margin of the yolk sac during early pregnancy. It is often used synonymously with the term “embryo”.

Can a fetus grow without a heartbeat?