If you’re new here, Welcome! We’re so glad you found us!

You’re more than likely on this post to see and understand the differences in early ultrasounds & what you can expect. I would like to start off by explaining that First Glimpse is a NON-DIAGNOSTIC facility. We cannot measure your baby. Why? Because we do not have a licensed Doctor on staff & measuring is considering diagnosing which is heavily frowned upon outside of a medical office or setting. We are registered ultrasound technicians but we are not Doctors.

Please keep in mind that with early ultrasounds it is required to be under the supervision of a licensed Doctor or Midwife. We do this to ensure you & your baby’s health is the number one priority. I know when we find out we’re pregnant its very exciting & we want to know as much as possible as soon as possible, believe me I’ve been there, but it is best to consult with your medical professional first as they are able to answer more questions than we are.

Now with early ultrasounds, because we are a non-diagnostic facility, we do NOT have a trans-vaginal ultrasound probe. What does that mean? A trans-vaginal ultrasound probe is the probe that is put inside your vagina to see up close & personal that adorable little baby. Here at First Glimpse all of our ultrasounds are performed trans-abdominally; aka on top of your belly. We do not have the option to perform trans-vaginal ultrasounds outside of a medical office for many legal & safety reasons.

Due to all ultrasound, especially the early ones, being performed trans-abdominally, we will need a very full bladder for your scans between 6-16 weeks. Why? Think of your bladder as a flash light inside of your body. The more fluid in your bladder the brighter the light can shine on the organs around it; specifically your uterus, which is where your baby should be. Please understand that everyone’s anatomy is different and we cannot guarantee that we can fully make out your uterus & the precious cargo it is containing, in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes a trans-vaginal probe is needed and that is out of our hands. We will always do our best to help you but please also do your part and fill your bladder as much as you possibly can while also having the understanding that it is not always 100% possible for us to see something.

I would like to also note that most 6 week babies, or what I like to refer to as the MM stage, do not have a visible heartbeat/flicker for us to see trans-abdominally. If we are able to note a heartbeat/flicker we will 100% point it out & show you, but a lot of the time it’s best to be at least 7 weeks to see this. At 7 weeks we can typically see a heartbeat/flicker starting. It is hard to measure the rate at this point but we will do our best. Now at 8 weeks we should see an adorable little gummy bear looking baby in there! We can typically measure the heartbeat and tell you the beats per minute.

The number one question we get asked is- “Can I Hear My Baby’s Heartbeat?” Short answer is No. Why? Because the studies have proven it is not a safe thing to do, with an ultrasound machine, on a baby’s small forming heart. It is better to allow us to use a different method on our machines that tells us the beats per minute. Once that adorable little one has reached the 2nd trimester, 13+ weeks, we would LOVE to play that heartbeat for you. This is also the time you can start purchasing a heartbeat animal as well. Please keep in mind that ultrasound machines and hand held dopplers are completely different items/machines.

One more thing to mention is timing. We understand that based off your last menstrual period you should be so far along. When we perform that first ultrasound it is not uncommon for these dates to be off. The baby could be a little bigger and more common than not the baby can be a little smaller, harder to see. Everyone ovulates at different times throughout their cycles and we always need to have some grace and patience in the beginning as the body grows and changes with this new little visitor. This is also another reason why we do not measure and date the baby. Things can change a lot in those first few weeks. Please consult with your medical professional on this if you have any questions.

Now with all that being said I would like to show you some examples of 6, 7 & 8 week ultrasounds. These are images we have gotten from the internet to show you an array of examples. We are hoping to help you have a better idea of what to expect when coming into our facility or anywhere else for that matter.

Six Week Ultrasound Examples

6 Weeks

This is a 6 week ultrasound. Aka what I like to refer to as the MM stage. It looks like a cute little candy MM.

6 Weeks

This ultrasound was performed trans-vaginally so you can see it a little better.

7 Week Ultrasound Examples

7 Week Ultrasound

Your baby starts growing off of the MM. Now you can typically start seeing a little flicker for the heart.

7 Week Ultrasound

This ultrasound was also performed trans-vaginally so it is very clear & easy to see.

8 Week Ultrasound Examples

6 - 7 -8 Week Pregnancy Ultrasound Examples

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