Calculations of a pregnancy normally take into account the last menstrual period (LMP) and not the actual date of conception. Ovulation may differ from one woman to another, depending on the length of the menstrual cycle. A vast majority of women in a 28 day cycle will ovulate on the fourteenth day, or about 14 days before the onset of the next period.
Conception might take place within 72 hours of ovulation when the egg and the sperm meet in the fallopian tube. However, most women come to know that they are pregnant only when they miss their periods, though some may experience mild implantation pains and scant spotting soon after conception. Essentially, a 2 weeks pregnant ultrasound will show the thickened wall of the uterus getting ready to receive the fertilized egg.
In case there are two eggs released by the ovary, a 2weeks pregnant ultrasound may or may not indicate the presence of more than one egg, though higher hormone levels in the blood have been reported.
When a woman is 5 ½ weeks pregnant, the ultrasound may show the gestational sac and the yolk sac, which provides nutrition to the growing fetus, but the fetus itself may not be visible as it likely to be very small. In the case of fraternal twins, two completely different sacs may be seen. With identical twins developing from an early embryo that divided itself into two, two yolk sacs may be seen in the same gestational sac.
The sonographer may be able to measure the baby’s head to rump size in a woman’s 6 1/2 week’s pregnant ultrasound to ensure that the growth is normal. A fetal heart beat may be seen in the ultrasound image at this stage. Considering that ovulation and conception occurs roughly three weeks after the last menstrual period, the fetus is less than a month old at this stage. The expectant mother may experience the early signs of pregnancy like nausea, tender and swollen breasts, fatigue, etc.
It can be an exciting experience for women who are 7 ½ weeks pregnant, as the ultrasound images reveal a baby with recognizable eyes and hands. In some cases, heartbeats which were not detected earlier may become audible at this stage.
In the normal course of pregnancy, many women may not be asked to go for their first ultrasound in the first trimester. However, for those who are not sure of their last menstrual periods, an 8/12 week’s pregnant ultrasound may help establish when the baby is due. Though the expectant mother may not feel it, a 10 ½ week’s pregnant woman’s ultrasound can show the fetus moving. By this time, all the important organs are in place, though the fetus is just about the size of a strawberry!
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