1-Week Ultrasound: Can You See Anything?

If you’ve just searched for “1-week ultrasound”, you’re probably super excited to get on with this whole pregnancy thing.

When can I see my baby for the first time?

Is there a heartbeat at 1 week pregnant?

We hear you, mama-to-be!

Getting pregnant is an exhilarating time.

But slow down for a moment.

The fact is, if you were to get a 1-week pregnant ultrasound, you wouldn’t be able to see very much yet.

Let’s talk about what’s going on in your body during week 1 of your pregnancy, and when you can expect to get the first glimpse of that bun in your oven on that ultrasound screen. 👀

In this article: 📝

How can I tell if I’m pregnant after 1 week?

Here’s the thing: in week 1 of your pregnancy you’re not technically pregnant yet.

Confused? Understandable.

This strange situation can be explained by taking a look at how your due date (the day you’re expected to give birth) is calculated.

To work this out, your doctor counts 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period.

That means that during week 1 of your “pregnancy” you’re still having your period: your body is getting ready for pregnancy by shedding the old lining of your uterus and preparing a cozy new one that can host a baby.

After about 2 weeks (although every pregnancy is different) you’ll be ovulating – releasing an egg from your ovaries, which can then be fertilized by a friendly sperm cell at the fallopian tubes.

Once fertilization happens, the embryo starts developing, from two cells to four, six, eight, and so on.

At the same time, they travel down the fallopian tube in order to finally house themselves in the uterus lining (AKA implantation).

At around week 3, the little bundle of cells that will become your baby implant in the lining of your uterus.

And then you’re finally, officially pregnant!

🧮 We did the math: How to Count Pregnancy Weeks

What is a pregnancy ultrasound?

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you no longer have to wait until you give birth to see your baby for the first time.

An ultrasound scan uses sound waves to build up an image of your baby, which is then displayed on the ultrasound screen.

The scan is carried out by a healthcare professional called a sonographer, using a probe that’s passed over your lower belly (or sometimes inside your vagina, for an early ultrasound).

During the scan, the sonographer can measure various aspects of your baby’s progress and check for certain health issues.

Can an ultrasound detect a 1-week pregnancy?

An ultrasound scan can’t pick up on a 1-week pregnancy because, as we saw above, your baby hasn’t actually been conceived by this point.

And that also means that the question What does a fetus look like at 1 week? doesn’t have a very exciting answer. Sorry!

A fetus at 1 week isn’t a fetus at all – yet – but that first week is still an essential part of your pregnancy journey.

So when is the earliest that an ultrasound can show your growing baby, and what kind of things can you see?

4.5 to 5.5 weeks

On the ultrasound screen, you might be able to see a black area in the middle.

That’s the [gestational sac(https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jum.15430), a kind of cocoon filled with fluid, which is holding a teeny, tiny embryo (your baby in miniature).

🔎 See what else is going on at 4 weeks and 5 weeks pregnant

5.5 to 6 weeks

Inside the black area of the gestational sac, you may now be able to see a small white circle.

That’s the yolk sac that is currently surrounding and nourishing the embryo.

This is also the earliest your baby’s heartbeat can be detected!

🔎 See what else is going on at 6 weeks pregnant

When will I get my first ultrasound?

The date of your first ultrasound will depend on your own individual situation and what your healthcare provider recommends.

Of course, you don’t have to have an ultrasound at all if you don’t want to.

But if you can’t wait to see that first grainy ultrasound image, here’s a rough guide to when you can expect an ultrasound scan during pregnancy:

• 6 to 8 weeks – the early ultrasound. You might be offered one of these if your medical history suggests it would be useful to take a look at the baby’s progress early on. Find out more about the 8-week ultrasound here.
  
• 10 to 13 weeks – the dating ultrasound. Most mamas-to-be will get their first ultrasound at this point. Get ready to find out a more accurate due date! Find out more about the 12-week ultrasound here.
  
• 18 to 20 weeks – the anatomical survey. The sonographer will look at lots of different aspects of your baby’s developing body and they will probably be able to tell you their sex, too. (Unless you want to keep it as a surprise.) Find out more about the 20-week ultrasound here.

So, no need to feel disappointed about the lack of a 1-week ultrasound!

You’ve got plenty more exciting ultrasound opportunities coming up as your pregnancy progresses.

And if you want to find other moms-to-be like you, why not join Peanut to meet your Bump Buddy?

We think you’ll fit right in. ❤️