When you first learn you are pregnant, you may decide to have an early pregnancy ultrasound. Many women are eager to get the information an ultrasound can provide, such as confirming a heartbeat, how far along the pregnancy is, and ensuring it’s growing in the right place.
Medical appointments can be overwhelming, especially when they are packed with lots of new information and terms you might not be familiar with. In this article, we’ll use plain language to explain some of the medical terms you can expect to hear during early pregnancy appointments.
During an early pregnancy ultrasound, medical providers look for several key structures. You may hear terms such as:
- Gestational sac: This medical term refers to the small, fluid-filled space inside the uterus that shows a pregnancy has started in the right place. Think of it as the early “home” where the pregnancy begins. It is normally the first thing seen on an ultrasound in early pregnancy.
- Yolk sac: This medical term refers to a tiny structure inside the gestational sac. Before the placenta is formed, it helps nourish and support the embryo.
- Fetal pole: This is the medical term for a small, thickened area next to the yolk sac. It’s often where a heartbeat can first be detected. The fetal pole is the very early form of the fetus and can be seen on ultrasound around 6 weeks.
Small differences in development timing are very common, especially in early pregnancy. A difference of just a few days can affect what is visible on an ultrasound and does not automatically mean something is wrong.
Other Terms You’ll Likely Hear During an Early Pregnancy Ultrasound
- Adnexa: This is the medical term for the region next to your uterus. It consists of your ovaries, which hold and release your eggs, and your fallopian tubes, which the eggs travel through each month when you ovulate. Medical professionals often look at the adnexa during early pregnancy ultrasounds, keeping your overall health in mind. Checking this area of your reproductive system helps ensure the pregnancy is growing where it should be—in the uterus and not in the fallopian tubes or somewhere else.
- Transverse: This is a medical term that means the side-to-side view. This can be helpful for measuring how far along you are in early pregnancy and confirming the position of your baby as you get further along.
- Sagittal: This is a medical term that means the top to bottom view. It is beneficial for detecting heart activity, looking at the baby’s spine and limbs, and confirming the location of the placenta.
During an ultrasound exam, a medical professional will use a probe, or transducer, to send high-frequency sound waves and translate them into a picture on a screen. Throughout the ultrasound, they will move and angle the probe in different directions to show different areas.
These movements during an ultrasound do not change your pregnancy in any way and cannot cause harm to its development or progression.
Pregnancy begins to progress rapidly the further along you are. As a pregnancy continues, providers may look for other signs, including:
- Placenta: This is the medical term for an organ that develops during pregnancy. It provides oxygen and nutrients for the fetus and removes waste while helping protect the growing pregnancy. During the early weeks, structures like the yolk sac provide most of the support. By about 10–12 weeks, the placenta is doing most of the work.
Umbilical cord: This is the medical term for a soft, flexible cord that connects the baby to the placenta during pregnancy. It carries oxygen and nutrients from the placenta to the baby and carries waste away.
Find Support and Guidance at Jewel Women’s Center
At Jewel Women’s Center, we offer support and education on your pregnancy options, especially if you are feeling unsure about what to do next. We can provide you with an ultrasound in a judgment-free setting. Contact Jewel today to schedule an appointment.