Ultrasounds
A pregnancy test is only an indication of pregnancy. You need an ultrasound to verify your pregnancy's viability (development).
Before moving forward with your unplanned pregnancy, getting as much information as possible is essential. We know how overwhelmed you must feel. If your pregnancy test from us is positive, visit with one of our Client Advocates to discuss the possibility of receiving a limited first-trimester ultrasound.
What Is An Ultrasound?
The ultrasound process uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of your uterus. Our nurse sonographer puts a gel-like substance on your abdomen and rubs a device called a transducer over the gel.
The echoes of the sound waves the transducer picks up are converted into images on a screen for the sonographer to review. These images tell you specific details about your pregnancy.
Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
You’d think a positive pregnancy test result would be all you need to determine what to do about your unplanned pregnancy. But it isn’t. There is more information you need that only an ultrasound scan can provide.
1. How long have you been pregnant?
Are you considering abortion? The number of weeks you’ve been pregnant (the gestational age) determines the abortion procedure you receive. Do you feel confident you know the date your pregnancy started?
In Texas, choosing abortion (whether using the abortion pill method or having a surgical abortion) means traveling out of state. The FDA has approved the use of the abortion pill method 70 days or less since the first day of a woman’s last menstrual period. Be prepared by knowing how long you have been pregnant.
2. Is the pregnancy viable?
A viable pregnancy continues growing and developing. If the ultrasound does not identify cardiac activity, you may have had a miscarriage. The only way to be confident is with an ultrasound.
3. Where is the pregnancy located?
When a pregnancy attaches somewhere outside the uterus, it’s an ectopic pregnancy. This type of pregnancy is a serious medical issue. Only ultrasound detects an ectopic pregnancy.
Visit Hope Pregnancy Center for a free and confidential pregnancy test. If positive, our nurse determines if an ultrasound is your next step.
