The fetal pole is the first sign of an embryo and a key indicator of pregnancy. Visible on an ultrasound around 6 weeks gestation the fetal pole is crucial for monitoring pregnancy health and progress. Understanding what it is will help you navigate the early stages of gestation with confidence. As the embryo grows the fetal pole will grow and eventually form into the structures that will support a healthy baby. This post will cover what the fetal pole is, its role in prenatal care and how to create a healthy environment for fetal development. Whether you’re a first time mum or just looking to brush up on your knowledge this will be helpful.
What is a Fetal Pole ?
You may have heard of a fetal pole in pregnancy or a fetal pole ultrasound in some cases. The fetal pole is an embryo and one of the earliest pregnancy stages. In case of a healthy pregnancy, the fetal pole will steadily transform into the fetus. An early ultrasound will help in measurement and viewing of the fetal pole in question. This ensures greater information on the location of the embryo, the complications, gestational age and whether there is more than a single embryo. After developing into the fetus, it grows into the infant. The other name for this is embryonic pole or embryo.
A fetal pole is not a baby and is only the embryo until the tenth week of the gestation phase. It ultimately grows into the fetus and undergoes fetal development till the time of birth.Â
Learn more about fetal pole development and associated aspects. This is one of the earliest and most intrinsic stages of fetal development. You should learn more about anatomical, functional and other aspects in this regard.
Fetal Pole – Functional Aspects
- The fetal pole may be tracked via prenatal ultrasound technologies. Images may ensure crucial data for healthcare systems early on in a pregnancy.Â
- The fetal pole size may help in the determination of gestational age, particularly if you are not sure of the last period date or in case of irregular periods.Â
- If you are already pregnant with several embryos, then multiple fetal poles will also be present.Â
- The location of the pregnancy is also essential. The pregnancy should be visible in the uterus instead of the fallopian tubes.Â
- If the fetal is too small or invisible, then it may be a sign of a miscarriage or the wrong dates.Â
Fetal Pole – Anatomical Aspects
- The fetal pole lies next to the yolk sac which resembles a pouch. It derives its nutrients here. Both of these lie within the gestational sac in the uterus in case of a regular pregnancy.Â
- The fetal pole has a curved shape with the embryo head at one end and is known as the crown. The other end has the rump that looks like a tail.Â
- The size of the fetal pole is dependent upon the pregnancy stage. The measurement of the embryo takes place to the rump from the crown. Whenever the embryo detection happens, it may be approximately 1-2 millimeters, growing to roughly 30 millimeters by the tenth week.Â
- The fetal pole is often seen with the vaginal ultrasound procedure at approximately 5 ½ weeks in the stage of pregnancy. However, it may remain invisible for many weeks, based on the ultrasound type and the uterus angle.Â
- The heartbeat is sometimes felt after six weeks or after the fetal pole is examined by the doctor.Â
Fetal Pole – Possible Issues
- Ultrasounds may not find the fetal pole at all times. Repeat testing may be needed in such cases.Â
- The blighted ovum happens when the uterine fertilized egg implants do not grow into embryos. This leads to miscarriage taking place early on.Â
- If the pregnancy ultrasound cannot find the feta pole or the gestational sac, then a miscarriage may be possible.Â
- If the pregnancy is still in its early stages, you may be unable to view the embryo. The gestational age is sometimes dependent upon an estimate and may not always be correct, particularly if there have been irregular menstrual cycles.Â
- If the fetal pole is discovered in any other location than the uterus, then it is perceived as a condition called the ectopic pregnancy. This indicates a medical issue. Other areas where you can find gestational sacs include the cervix, abdomen, ovary, fallopian tube, etc.Â
- If the fetal pole measurement is more than 7mm and the doctor can’t see a heartbeat, then it’s abnormal pregnancy and you may miscarry
How To Maintain A Healthy Fetal Pole
Maintaining a healthy fetal pole and suitably caring for the same, requires a few steps to be taken at your end. Many issues happening with the fetal pole are not always preventable. For instance, it is impossible to prevent genetic issues or switch ectopic pregnancy locations. But you can still avoid raw meat/eggs, mercury containing items and unpasteurized dairy products. Talk to your doctor about prescriptions, supplements or OTC meds.
You should avoid tobacco and smoking and recreational drugs or alcohol. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy vegetables, fruits, proteins, whole grains and healthy fats. Exercise during pregnancy and limit your caffeine intake and take prenatal vitamins daily.
Consult a Gynaecologist today!
Fetal Pole - FAQs
Is the fetal pole the same as the baby?Â
No, the fetal pole is not the baby. It’s one of the earliest stages of pregnancy and an embryo. It will grow into a fetus if the pregnancy is healthy.
How can you care for your fetal pole?Â
Some of the steps include saying goodbye to alcohol and smoking along with avoiding raw eggs and meat. You should also avoid the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products along with consulting your doctor about OTC (over the counter) and other medication. Supplements are also recommended at times.Â
What are some other care mechanisms for a healthy fetal pole?Â
Some other things you can do are - eat healthy proteins and fruits and veggies. Add healthy fats and whole grains in your diet and exercise as advised by your doctor. Take your prenatal vitamins daily and limit your caffeine intake.
What is a foetal pole?
Foetal pole is the embryo and it is one of the earliest stages of pregnancy. Both the terms—embryo and foetal pole—are used interchangeably to refer to a fertilized egg that is developing into a fetus. The foetal pole can be seen as a thickening on the margin of the yolk sac on an ultrasound during early pregnancy and this is the first visual confirmation of pregnancy.
How long does it take for foetal pole to develop?
It can take anywhere from 6 to 9 weeks for the foetal pole to be identified. A transvaginal ultrasound can see the foetal pole at 6 weeks of pregnancy and a trans abdominal ultrasound can see it at 6.5 weeks. When the diameter of the gestational sac (or mean sac diameter/MSD) is 16 mm or more on transvaginal ultrasound or 25 mm or more on trans abdominal ultrasound, the foetal pole is visible. If the foetal pole cannot be seen on transvaginal ultrasound when the MSD is 25 mm or more, it can mean pregnancy has failed.
How to support foetal pole growth?
You can’t control the growth of the foetal pole or embryo but you can do the following to keep yourself and your embryo healthy:
- Avoid unpasteurised dairy products and food with mercury like raw eggs or meat.
- Ask your doctor for supplements.
- Stop smoking and don’t use tobacco and its products.
- Don’t drink alcohol or do drugs.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Exercise regularly (even yoga under expert guidance is a great option for those who don’t exercise).
- Eat a balanced diet with variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Limit your caffeine.
When does fetal pole develop?
The fetal pole is one of the first visible signs of an embryo during pregnancy. It shows up on a vaginal ultrasound around 5.5 to 6 weeks. The fetal pole is a thickening on the edge of the yolk sac and is an early sign of pregnancy development.
What does a fetal pole look like?
A fetal pole is one of the first visible signs of an embryo during pregnancy. It looks like a curved structure next to the yolk sac which feeds the embryo in early pregnancy. The fetal pole has a head at one end called the crown and a tail-like structure at the other end called the rump
What does a fetal pole look like at 6 weeks?
At 6 weeks of gestation the fetal pole looks like a small curved structure next to the yolk sac. It’s a tiny elongated shape with a head at one end (the crown) and a tail-like structure at the other end (the rump). The fetal pole is usually visible on a transvaginal ultrasound at this stage
When can you see a fetal pole on ultrasound?
The fetal pole is usually visible on a transvaginal ultrasound around 5.5 to 6 weeks. At this stage it’s a small curved structure next to the yolk sac. One of the first signs of an embryo and an early sign of pregnancy development.
How long after yolk sac does fetal pole develop?
The fetal pole develops soon after the yolk sac. The yolk sac usually shows up on a transvaginal ultrasound around 5 weeks of gestation. The fetal pole usually shows up around 5.5 to 6 weeks of gestation just a few days after the yolk sac.
References:
- Early Fetal Development. American Pregnancy Association [Internet].
https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/pregnancy-health-wellness/early-fetal-development/. Accessed Apr 10, 2022.
- Diagnostic Ultrasound in the First Trimester of Pregnancy. The Global Library of Women’s Medicine [Internet].
https://www.glowm.com/section-view/heading/Diagnostic%20Ultrasound%20in%20the%20First%20Trimester%20of%20Pregnancy/item/94#. Accessed Apr 12, 2022.
- Ectopic Pregnancy Ultrasound Imaging. Medscape[Internet].Â
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/104382-overview. Accessed April 15, 2022.
- Early Pregnancy. American College of Emergency Physicians [Internet].Â
https://www.acep.org/sonoguide/basic/early-pregnancy. Accessed April 16, 2022.
- Patience is key: Understanding the timing of early ultrasounds. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center [Internet].
https://utswmed.org/medblog/patience-key-understanding-timing-early-ultrasounds/. Accessed April 18, 2022.
- Fetal pole. Wikipedia [Internet]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_pole. Accessed April 20, 2022.
