Abstract
99 pregnant women, 5 to 11 weeks, were examined by a combined ultrasonic B-scan and Doppler method to detect fetal heart activity. The fetus was localized accurately by B-scanning and the heart activity was detected through the mother's abdominal wall with 100% certainty at eight weeks of pregnancy (menstrual age). The earliest fetal heart activity detected was in a pregnancy which dated 44 days from the last menstrual period. Positive findings were recorded on tape and photographed from the oscilloscope screen.