how soon can a baby be seen on an ultrasound?

[dianaexoh]

Just found out I'm pregnant two days ago. I thiiiink I'm five and a half to six weeks but want to be sure how far along I am. How soon can a baby be seen on a transvaginal ultrasound?

[criseldangeorge]

When was the first day of last cycle; mine was feb 16;  I'm 4 weeks already wnt to dr and have another appt n 4 weeks; so ill be about 8; and I assume he will do an ultrasound

[Ashelen]

Ohhh ok I see well they'll ask for your last menstrual period starting date, and most likely won't give you an ultrasound until you're 8 weeks as counted from your last menstrual period....but if you're really concerned about how far along you are you can request that they do a dating ultrasound earlier, it just depends on the doc and your insurance :-). If you have irregular periods or don't remember the date your last one started, you're more likely to get an ultrasound for dating purposes.

[dianaexoh]

I haven't gone to the doctor since I just found out Friday. No one is I'm office so I'm gonna call tomorrow. The whole reason I wanted this ultrasound is to find out how far along I am, haha. So I don't know if I'm ready for an ultrasound because I don't know. Since my last pregnancy test taken was yesterday and I've had no cramps or bleeding I'm sure o haven't miscarried.

[Ashelen]

well at around 5 weeks you should be able to see a developing embryo in a sac..definitely by 6/7wks...and by the end of 6, sometimes as late as 8 weeks, the heartbeat will be visible as a flicker. The baby is not really visible as a baby yet though- more like a little blob with arm and leg buds, and the earliest you can see that is ABOUT 7 weeks.

Most doctors won't do an ultrasound until around 8 weeks just to avoid the stress of looking too early and having the mom think she's miscarried because not enough is visible when in reality her dates were just a few dates off and things aren't visible YET. Did your doctor offer to do an early ultrasound for dating purposes?