Ultrasounds
An ultrasound is an important next step to take if you are facing an unexpected pregnancy. An ultrasound will help you learn about your pregnancy and the options that may be available to you as you contemplate what to do next.
What is an ultrasound?
Why do I need an ultrasound?
An ultrasound scan…
- Confirms the pregnancy is located in the uterus
- Confirms the viability of the pregnancy
- Determines how far along you are in your pregnancy and the due date
How Are Images Seen?
Images are produced by the ultrasound device, which creates sound waves that will reflect off observed tissues.
Medical News Today states, “Ultrasound will travel through blood in the heart chamber, for example, but if it hits a heart valve, it will echo, or bounce back.”
In pregnancy, ultrasounds are used to confirm that your pregnancy is not ectopic (outside the uterus, which can pose a severe risk to a woman’s health), is viable, healthy, and growing. It can help physicians understand if there are any possible complications or abnormalities and that growth is continuing as usual.
According to Mayfair Diagnostics, “Ultrasound has been around for over sixty years and is considered safe since there are no known risks and it doesn’t use radiation. It’s one of the most commonly ordered imaging exams since it’s versatile, portable, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and can provide real-time information about the area of concern.”
A No-Cost Ultrasound
Make an appointment for a no-cost pregnancy test at Informed Choices. If your pregnancy test is positive, we will estimate how far along you are based on the date of your last period and assess if an ultrasound can be performed.