Ultrasonic diagnosis of fetal life in early pregnancy.

Ultrasound methods for detecting fetal life during early pregnancy are reviewed. By using recently developed techniques, fetal heart function can be detected as early as the 44th to 45th day of amenorrhea. Fetal movements in the amniotic cavity can be visualized from the 10th week on. If no signs of fetal life can be detected by ultrasound examination by the 10th week, the pregnancy is in jeopardy. However, the prognosis is favorable in over 90% of those cases of threatened abortion in which fetal life has been confirmed by ultrasound.