The 9-week ultrasound: from embryo to fetus

What is visible

A fetus of roughly 22 to 30 mm — grape to strawberry sized — with a distinct head, body and limbs, and a much less curled posture than a fortnight ago.

Clear movement on screen: kicking, twitching, sometimes what looks like a jump. You will not feel any of it for months.

A heart rate around its peak, commonly 160 to 180 beats per minute.

The head is disproportionately large, which is normal — the brain is developing fastest.

What this week marks

From the end of week ten by dating convention, the embryo is called a fetus, and the highest-risk period for structural development is passing. The organs are all present and now grow rather than form.

The risk of miscarriage falls substantially once a normal heartbeat has been seen at this stage.

This is also around the earliest that NIPT — the maternal blood test analysing the baby's DNA — can be done, from about ten weeks, if you and your doctor are considering it.

One thing applies to every scan in India: determining or disclosing the sex of the fetus is a criminal offence under the PCPNDT Act, for the doctor, the clinic and the person who asks. The sonographer will not tell you, and asking puts them at risk of losing their registration.

When to see a doctor

Go to hospital immediately for heavy bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, fainting or dizziness, shoulder-tip pain, or fever with pelvic pain. Call 108 if you cannot travel quickly.

Same-day: bleeding, severe or one-sided abdominal pain, fever, vomiting that keeps nothing down for 24 hours, or dizziness and fainting.

This article is general information, not medical advice, and is no substitute for personal medical advice. For any decision about your or your child's health, please consult your doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Q: I could see it moving. Why can I not feel it? — The fetus is about three centimetres and there is a great deal of fluid and muscle between it and your nerve endings. First movements are felt between about 16 and 22 weeks, later in first pregnancies.

Q: Is the big head normal? — Yes. The head grows fastest early and the body catches up over the coming months.

Q: Do I need a scan every few weeks? — Not without a reason. The standard schedule is enough for most pregnancies; extra scans are for bleeding, pain, twins, previous complications or specific concerns.

Q: My nausea is unbearable at nine weeks. — This is usually the peak. Ask your doctor about safe anti-nausea medication rather than enduring it — see our morning sickness guide.