Pregnancy Signs

Chadwick's sign (Jacquiemer's)

Chadwick's sign is a bluish discoloration of the cervix, vagina, and labia caused by the hormone estrogen which results in venous congestion. It can be observed as early as 6-8 weeks afterconception

Hegar's sign

Hegar's sign is a non-sensitive indication of pregnancy in women — its absence does not exclude pregnancy. It pertains to the features of the cervix and the uterine isthmus. It is demonstrated as softening of the uterine consistency and the possibility to palpate or compress the connection between the cervix and the fundus.

The sign is usually present from 4 to 6th week till 12 weeks of pregnancy. 

Piskacek's Sign


asymmetric enlargement of the body of the pregnant uterus as a result of its enlargement in the cornual region, usually over the site of implantation.


Piskacek's sign consists noting a palpable lateral bulge or soft prominence one of the locations where the uterine tube meets the uterus. Piskacek's sign can be noted in the seventh to eight week of gestation.

Goodell's sign

It is a significant softening of the vaginal portion of the cervix.

Ladin's sign

Ladin's sign is a clinical sign of pregnancy in which there is softening in the midline of the uterusanteriorly at the junction of the uterus and cervix. It occurs at about 6 weeks gestation.


Palmer's sign: 


uterine contractions felt during bimanual examination.


Osiander's sign


Increased pulsations felt through the lateral fornices.




Mc Donald sign


Uterus becomes flexible at uterocervical junction at 7-8 weeks.




Von Fernwald sign


Softening of fundus at 4-5 weeks




Weinberg's sign



On lateral view x- rays of pregnant abdomen, overlap of the fetal skull to the maternal

spine .

Gestational sac signs on USG

Sonographic Appearances of Normal Intrauterine G-sac:
It should be possible to visualize a normal G-sac via TVS between 4.5 to 5 weeks of MGA.
The threshold level identifies the earliest we can visualize the sac :- 4 weeks + 3 days.
The discriminatory level indicates when we should always see the sac :- 5 weeks + 2 days.
The earliest appearance of gestation on TVS is referred to as Intra Decidual Sign. It is seen as a small gestational sac within within the decidua.

 Diagram of the intradecidual sign. The gestational sac (circle) does not displace or deform the central cavity complex (straight black line). The white area represents thickened decidual tissue.

This is followed by the Double Decidual sign. It is seen as two distinct echogenic layers out of which the inner ring denotes the G-sac while the outer ring denotes the echogenic endometrial lining. This sign is helpful in differentiating it from a fluid filled decidual cast of an ectopic pregnancy.

Diagram of the double decidual sac sign. The gestational sac (circle) protrudes into and displaces the central cavity echo complex (curved line). The white area represents thickened decidual tissue.