Baby’s First Pictures: Decoding the First Trimester Ultrasound

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In this week’s episode of Taco Bout Fertility Tuesday, Dr. Mark Amols takes you on a guided tour of your baby’s very first pictures—the first trimester ultrasound. From the tiny gestational sac to the yolk sac (your baby’s first lunchbox), to the fetal pole and that reassuring flicker of a heartbeat, Dr. Amols explains what each step really means and when you should expect to see it. You’ll also learn:

• Why we stop checking hCG once we see the sac
• What it means if a yolk sac is missing or measures unusually small or large
• How to understand the fetal pole and when to expect a heartbeat
• Growth benchmarks from “grain of rice” to “strawberry”
• Why being 3–7 days behind may (or may not) be concerning
• How and why the placenta forms, and when we can actually see it
• What nuchal translucency is, what causes it, and what it does—and doesn’t—mean

One ultrasound is just a snapshot, but together they create the story of the first trimester. If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant—or you’re supporting someone who has—this episode will help you decode what’s on the screen and know what to expect in those exciting early weeks.

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Join us next Tuesday for more discussions on fertility, where we blend medical expertise with a touch of humor to make complex topics accessible and engaging. Until then, keep the conversation going and remember: understanding your fertility is a journey we're on together.