It’s understandable if you’re unexpectedly pregnant and wondering why you’ve been told to receive an ultrasound. However, this scan is an important first step to understanding your situation.
Ultrasounds view the structures inside your body. During pregnancy, they provide valuable details and can detect certain conditions you may need medical treatment for.
Continue reading to learn more. You can also make a free, confidential appointment to learn more about our limited ultrasounds and other pregnancy services.
“Seeing” Inside Your Body
Ultrasounds use low-power sound waves to create pictures of your body. A transducer (a wand-like device) emits these sound waves. They bounce off structures inside your body and transform into images.
An obstetric ultrasound determines whether your pregnancy is progressing and if there is a heartbeat (its viability), its location, and how far along you are (your gestational age).
Depending on your gestational age, you may have a transvaginal ultrasound (where the transducer is inserted gently into your vagina) to produce the clearest images.
Or, if you are further along, you’ll have an abdominal ultrasound. A gel is applied to your abdomen, and the transducer is moved over that area.
Why Else is an Ultrasound Important?
Even if you’re unsure of a pregnancy decision, you should still receive an ultrasound. In addition to telling you your pregnancy’s viability, location, and gestational age, the scan can protect your health.
As many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, and some women don’t have immediate signs that this has occurred. Ultrasound can detect a miscarriage, and your healthcare provider determines whether you need monitoring or treatment.
Some women also experience ectopic pregnancies. This life-threatening condition occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted in the wrong location (i.e., a fallopian tube) instead of in the uterus.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot survive, and immediate treatment can prevent severe bleeding, shock, and more. Ultrasound can identify this condition.
Crossroads Care Clinic will help you gather essential information about your pregnancy to help you safely make educated next steps.
Free Limited Ultrasounds
You will be offered a free limited ultrasound at Crossroads Care Clinic to confirm the date and location of your pregnancy if you receive a positive test with us.
We’re here for you. Learning crucial details about your pregnancy and health is more straightforward than you think.
