Ten weeks. It is a weird, transitional milestone. You’re technically still in the first trimester, but the "embryo" label is officially gone. Your doctor is now calling it a fetus. If you are looking at images of a fetus at 10 weeks, you might expect to see a vague, shadowy blob, but the reality is actually pretty jarring in how "human" things are starting to look.
The tail is gone. That’s usually the first thing people notice.
By this point, the little tail at the bottom of the spinal cord has been completely absorbed. What’s left is a tiny being about the size of a kumquat or a large strawberry. We’re talking roughly 1.2 to 1.5 inches long. It weighs about a quarter of an ounce. It’s light, but the complexity packed into that half-ounce is staggering. Honestly, when you look at a high-resolution ultrasound from this stage, the most striking thing isn't the size; it's the fact that the forehead is huge and bulging. This isn't a deformity. It's just because the brain is growing at a rate that would be terrifying in any other context.
The anatomy of 10-week ultrasound images
When you go in for a dating scan or a first-trimester screening, the technician is looking for specific markers. But for you, the parent, you're looking for signs of life. At 10 weeks, the "C-shape" of the earlier weeks starts to straighten out.
You’ll see the profile.
The nose is a tiny bump. The eyelids are fused shut—they won't open for months—but the eyes are positioned on the front of the face now rather than the sides. If the tech catches the right angle, you might even see the jawline. It’s fascinating because the bones are just starting to ossify, meaning they are turning from soft cartilage into actual bone. This shows up on the ultrasound as bright white spots.
Those tiny, frantic movements
If you’re lucky during the scan, you won't just see a static image. You’ll see movement. At 10 weeks, the fetus is a literal gymnast, though you can’t feel a thing yet because it’s cushioned by a relatively massive amount of amniotic fluid. It’s like a tiny diver in a giant swimming pool.
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They jerk. They kick. They might even suck their thumb.
The limbs have jointed elbows and knees. This is a massive jump from just two weeks prior. In images of a fetus at 10 weeks, you can often discern the hands and feet. The "paddles" have split into distinct fingers and toes. They aren't fully elongated yet, but the webbing is mostly gone. It is a biological miracle happening in a space smaller than your palm.
What the 10-week heart looks like on Doppler
The heart is the star of the show during these early appointments. By week 10, the heart is fully formed and functional. It has four chambers. It’s beating incredibly fast—usually between 140 and 170 beats per minute.
To a first-time parent, that sound—thump-thump-thump-thump—sounds like a galloping horse. It’s nearly twice as fast as your own heart rate. On a color Doppler ultrasound, you’ll see flashes of red and blue. This isn't just a light show; it represents the blood being pumped through the umbilical cord and into the tiny, developing organs. The liver, kidneys, and intestines are all starting to function, though the intestines are actually still tucked inside the umbilical cord because there isn't quite enough room in the abdomen yet.
They'll migrate back into the belly in a week or two.
Real talk: 2D vs. 3D ultrasound images
Most medical offices still use 2D ultrasounds for standard checkups. These are the grainy, black-and-white images that look like a weather map to the untrained eye. 2D is actually superior for looking at internal organs and measuring the Crown-Rump Length (CRL), which is how doctors verify your due date.
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3D images are different. They use sound waves at different angles to create a surface render.
At 10 weeks, a 3D image can look a little... alien. Because there is very little "baby fat" at this stage, the skin is translucent. You’re basically looking at a tiny skeleton covered in a thin veil. While 3D is cool for seeing the exterior shape of the ears or the tip of the nose, doctors like Dr. Amos Grunebaum often point out that 2D provides better diagnostic data for the actual health of the fetus at this specific stage.
Don't be disappointed if your "picture" is a bit blurry. The tech is looking for the nuchal translucency (the fluid at the back of the neck) and the presence of a nasal bone, both of which are key indicators used in screenings for chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome.
Why the brain is so prominent in these photos
If you look at images of a fetus at 10 weeks and think, "Wow, that's a big head," you're right. The head accounts for nearly half the length of the entire body. The brain is producing about 250,000 new neurons every single minute.
It’s an industrial construction site in there.
This lopsidedness is why the fetus often looks like it’s leaning forward in the womb. The neck is strengthening, but it’s got a heavy load to carry. This is also when the "vital" organs—the ones you can't live without—are finishing their basic setup. The stomach is producing digestive juices. The kidneys are starting to produce urine. Yes, the fetus is already starting to pee into the amniotic fluid, which it then swallows. It’s a closed-loop system that sounds gross but is actually essential for lung development.
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Misconceptions about 10-week images
A lot of people think they can tell the gender at 10 weeks.
Kinda. But mostly no.
Technically, the external genitalia are forming, but they look almost identical in boys and girls at this exact moment. Both have a small protrusion called a genital tubercle. Unless you’re doing a Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT), which looks at fetal DNA in the mother's blood, you usually have to wait until the 18-20 week anatomy scan to be sure. Any "nub theory" guesses at 10 weeks are basically a coin flip, regardless of how clear the image looks.
Another misconception is that the fetus is "resting" if it's not moving during the scan. In reality, fetuses have sleep-wake cycles even this early. If the images of a fetus at 10 weeks show a very still baby, it might just be nap time.
What to do if your images look different
It is so easy to spiral if your ultrasound image doesn't look exactly like the ones you see on Pinterest or in medical textbooks.
Remember: Positioning is everything. If the fetus is tucked into a corner of the uterus or facing toward your spine, the image will be "shadowy." If you have a tilted uterus, the technician might have to use a transvaginal probe instead of the abdominal one to get a clear shot. This is totally normal.
Also, your BMI can affect image clarity. More tissue between the probe and the fetus means the sound waves have further to travel, which can result in a fuzzier picture. It doesn’t mean anything is wrong with the development; it’s just physics.
Actionable steps for your 10-week scan
- Hydrate like it’s your job. A full bladder acts as a window, pushing the uterus up and making it easier to see the fetus during an abdominal ultrasound. Drink 16–24 ounces of water an hour before.
- Ask for the CRL. The Crown-Rump Length is the most accurate way to date a pregnancy in the first trimester. If that number matches your LMP (Last Menstrual Period) dates, you're in great shape.
- Request a printout or digital file. Most clinics now use apps like Tricefy to send images directly to your phone.
- Don't obsess over the "nub." If you see something between the legs, don't go buy blue or pink paint yet. The "angle of the dangle" is notoriously unreliable at 10 weeks.
- Prepare for the NIPT. If you want to know the sex and check for genetic health, this is the week most doctors offer the blood draw. It’s way more accurate than any image you’ll see on a screen right now.
The 10-week mark is a milestone of "becoming." You are moving out of the high-risk zone of the early weeks and into a period of rapid growth. The images you take home from this appointment are the first real "baby photos" you'll have, showing a person who is small enough to fit inside a walnut but already possesses every organ they’ll have at birth. It’s a lot to take in. Just breathe and enjoy the fact that the tail is officially a thing of the past.