Index
In pregnancy, the first thing to appear even before the baby is the gestational sac. Many women are faced with the empty bag seen on an ultrasound , especially when done in early pregnancy. This image can bring discomfort, fright and also concern for not being sure that the pregnancy is healthy. But really, what is a gestational sac and what is the ideal size in relation to weeks of gestation?
When does the Gestational Bag Appear?
The gestational sac appears when the beta HCG reaches an approximate value of 3 mIU in the blood or about 4 to 5 weeks. It is what initiates what will be the amniotic pouch and will grow with the pregnancy. Inside it, the baby will be formed, which is microscopic, the vitelline vesicle and also the accumulation of amniotic fluid . Therefore, it is only possible to view the gestational sac 6 weeks onwards using ultrasound.
It originates from part of the blastocyst that forms with fertilization and is divided into 2 parts. One part forms the baby and the other part will form the entire structure so that this pregnancy grows healthy as well as the placenta and the pouch.
The gestational sac is the first image that you have in a recent pregnancy.
In addition to supporting the baby initially until the 12th week , the gestational sac is also a parameter to know if the pregnancy is progressing as it should. When the pregnancy is healthy it will appear around the end of the fourth week in a small size that looks more like a spot in the uterus.
What to Evaluate in the Gestational Bag?
From the end of the fifth week, it is more visible and its format is also more centered and regular. The main characteristics to be studied to assess the health of the pregnancy are initially made by the gestational sac and through an ultrasound. In it the doctor will take into consideration: the format, the implantation, content and the size .
Usually the baby is seen inside the gestational sac at around the 6th week . Before that, only the vitelline vesicle can be visualized and it is advisable that the pregnant woman redo the ultrasound in a few weeks to find out how the evolution is going.
Most of the time, a smaller gestational sac, according to the gestational age, refers to a pregnancy resulting from late ovulation , that is, the woman will have less time than was calculated by menstruation.
Gestational Measures Table
Table of measures to establish a parameter for gestational time:
| GESTATIONAL AGE | DIAMETER (MM) | VARIANT (MM) |
| 4 | 5 | 2 a 8 |
| 5 | 10 | 6 a 16 |
| 6 | 16 | 9 a 23 |
| 7 | 23 | 15 a 31 |
| 8 | 30 | 22 a 38 |
| 9 | 37 | 28 a 16 |
| 10 | 43 | 35 a 51 |
| 11 | 51 | 42 a 60 |
| 12 | 60 | 51 a 69 |
Problems with the Gestational Bag
When everything is going well, a healthy gestational bag has regular contours as a reference, meaning it was well formed and is a healthy way for the baby to grow. But there are cases where the gestational sac forms with problems and shows an unviable pregnancy even before the baby appears. When the gestational sac has irregular and asymmetrical contours , a deciduous sac or a low implantation, the chances of pregnancy not evolving are great.
Is there a chance of correcting a problem in the gestational sac?
You can also have problems with a healthy gestational sac that suffers from a hematoma, better known as a detachment of the sac . If the detachment is greater than 50%, the chances of this pregnancy not evolving gain greater proportions, however the vast majority of cases are reestablished after rest and correct medication indicated by the doctor.
The doctor will evaluate the size of the gestational sac x the period of gestation. If the diameter is greater than 20mm and there is no embryo (empty gestational sac) , the doctor will probably give a diagnosis of anembryonic pregnancy . Together with the measurements of the gestational sac, the age of the pregnancy will be determined by the doctor CCN (head length buttocks).
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Questions from Readers:
How is the gestational sac?
The bag is a thin membrane that contains clear liquid inside. Its appearance is similar to that thin “skin” that surrounds the sausage and as sensitive and easy to tear as it is.
How is the gestational sac formed?
The sac is formed from the division of cells already formed for the baby, the blastocyst is divided into 2 where one part generates the bag and the other part the baby.
How to prevent the detachment of gestational sac?
Placental detachment is a problem feared by pregnant women, but unfortunately it is not an issue that can be predicted or avoided. Prenatal examinations and adequate follow-up can control problems that cause detachment, such as whether progesterone production is correct or even not gaining weight during pregnancy.
What is anembryonic gestational sac?
The anembryonic gestational sac or anembryonic pregnancy as it is known is when through ultrasound in the first trimester it is found that the gestational sac is empty without the presence of an embryo as it should. This happens when the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterus but the embryo does not develop.
See also: 5-Week Ultrasound – Didn’t See the Baby, Now What?
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
