when can a fetal heartbeat be detected
Fetal development is monitored closely throughout the pregnancy to ensure that everything is progressing well. Ultrasounds are performed between 5 and 9 weeks, and at 20 weeks to assess growth and fetal heart sounds are detected at most visits to insure that the pregnancy is viable. The fetal heart begins beating at about 5 weeks and can be detected by transvaginal ultrasound shortly after this.