First-time mothers always have many questions about pregnancy, especially about what a gestational sac is, what it is for, how it works and the main problems.
First-time mothers always have many questions about pregnancy, especially about what a gestational sac is, what it is for, how it works and the main problems.
And that’s totally normal. Many women have this doubt.
When a woman discovers she is pregnant, several changes occur in her body, as several hormones begin to influence the changes in her body, which will now carry another life.
This is why so many doubts arise, as there are many transformations that the body undergoes during this period.
To clarify your doubts about the gestational sac, stay with us.
This article will help you a lot.
What is a gestational sac
The gestational sac is a new structure that appears in the female body during pregnancy.
This structure is formed at the beginning of pregnancy and is responsible for housing the baby, forming the placenta (a new organ that is created during pregnancy) and also the amniotic sac.
This entire construction aims to offer safety and health to the baby during the months of pregnancy.
The gestational sac is present in the woman’s body until the 12th week of pregnancy and increases in size as the pregnancy progresses.
This structure appears even before the fetus is visible through ultrasound and is formed when cell division occurs following fertilization.
Gestational sac sizes at each period
The gestational sac varies in size from the beginning of pregnancy until 12th week of pregnancy.
Check the sizes and their variations according to evolution and the passage of time:
4 weeks: 5mm in diameter, variable from 2 to 8mm
5 weeks: 10mm in diameter, variable from 6 to 16mm
6 weeks: 16mm in diameter, variable from 9 to 23mm
7 weeks: 23mm in diameter, variable from 15 to 31mm
8 weeks: 30mm in diameter, variable from 22 to 38mm
9 weeks: 37mm in diameter, variable from 28 to 16mm
10 weeks: 43mm in diameter, variable from 35 to 51mm
11 weeks: 51mm in diameter, variable from 42 to 60mm
12 weeks: 60mm in diameter, variable from 51 to 69mm
Main problems
The gestational sac is essential for a healthy pregnancy for both the mother and the baby and prenatal care throughout the pregnancy is essential for everything to go well until the end of the pregnancy.
The gestational sac is generally symmetrical and has regular contours.
Therefore, when identifying any irregularities, the doctor will need to take the necessary measures to avoid further problems and even an abortion.
Therefore, some problems may occur in this structure.
Therefore, it is very important to know what the gestational sac is and what are the main problems it can suffer from.
Check out the main problems with the gestational sac.
Empty gestational sac
This type of occurrence is known as anembryonic pregnancy and happens when the egg, when fertilized, is implanted in the uterus, however, the embryo is not developed.
Therefore, the gestational sac is born empty, that is, without a fetus.
Cases of empty gestational sac are the biggest cause of miscarriage in a pregnancy, especially during the third month of pregnancy.
There is no apparent cause for this to happen, but it is possible that it occurs due to chromosomal abnormalities in the fertilized egg.
In these cases, the woman usually has pregnancy symptoms, but they soon stop when the embryo stops growing.
Bleeding and abdominal cramps are also common in these cases.
The most important thing is to see your doctor immediately when you notice symptoms.
The doctor will request an ultrasound and through it it will be possible to visualize the empty gestational sac, the placenta and the lifeless fetus.
Normally, abortion is spontaneous, however, medications may also be indicated to cause it.
Having this type of problem in the gestational sac does not normally cause major problems for the woman and she will be able to get pregnant again in the future.
Displacement of the gestational sac
This type of problem can arise as a result of a hematoma in the gestational sac caused by physical exertion, hormonal changes and even an accident that the woman may have suffered.
The use of drugs and alcohol can also cause the gestational sac to detach.
Some signs, such as heavy red or brown bleeding and abdominal cramps, may be signs of displacement.
If you notice these symptoms, see your doctor immediately.
Typically, miscarriages in this case happen when the displacement reaches the level of 50% or more.
When the gestational sac displaces itself, however, there are ways to treat it and maintain the pregnancy until the end, however, some care and medications must be taken.
Normally, the doctor will request absolute rest for a while and in some more serious cases, hospitalization may also be an option.
Ectopic pregnancy
Many women have already heard about ectopic pregnancy, but if you still have questions about this topic, continue following this article.
Ectopic pregnancy happens when the fertilized egg settles outside the uterus. Normally, it is placed in the tubes or even in other locations, such as an abdominal cavity, the ovary or the cervix.
In these cases, the pregnancy is considered risky for both the woman and the baby and is normally carried to term.
As the embryo will not be able to develop correctly if it is outside the usual place of gestation and several dangers can still affect the woman, the doctor will terminate the pregnancy.
In this case, valuing women’s health.
Ectopic pregnancy can have some symptoms, such as pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding and pain related to movements of the cervix.
This type of pregnancy is considered common, as two out of every 100 women usually have an ectopic pregnancy.
This is why it is so important to carry out pregnancy monitoring with a doctor, as this way, it is possible to avoid serious problems and, in case of problems discovered early on, provide early treatment.
Want to know more about pregnancy? So, also check out Main mandatory and complementary pregnancy tests
