how soon can you see a baby on an ultrasound

A baby can typically be seen on an ultrasound as early as about 6 weeks into the pregnancy, usually via a transvaginal ultrasound. At this stage, a small fetal pole (early embryo) and sometimes a heartbeat may be detected. However, before 6 weeks, the ultrasound usually only shows the gestational sac and yolk sac, but not the baby itself. The first ultrasound showing detailed features of the baby usually occurs around 9 to 12 weeks of pregnancy when the head, body, and limbs become more identifiable. The very first reliable ultrasound for confirming pregnancy and seeing the embryo with a heartbeat is often recommended between 6 and 8 weeks. Waiting until about 7 weeks or later is generally advised for the clearest confirmation of a viable pregnancy through ultrasound.