Gathering as much information as possible about your pregnancy not only gives you peace of mind but also helps protect your health. Health experts say an ultrasound checks for the following:
- It dates the pregnancy.
- Confirms that it’s not outside the uterus.
- Determines if the pregnancy is developing as it should.
Let’s take a closer look at why learning the above can protect your health and safety. Talk with a team member at The Center for Women to find out how you can get a free and confidential limited ultrasound.
Why Is It Necessary to Date the Pregnancy?
Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is especially important if you are considering having a medical abortion (the abortion pill method).
The FDA approves the abortion drugs used for a medical abortion through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The further along you are, the less effective the drugs are.
You also run a greater risk of complications such as an incomplete abortion. Incomplete means the pregnancy ended, but not all of the pregnancy tissue was expelled from the body. You also risk an infection.
How Can a Pregnancy Be Outside the Uterus?
A pregnancy that forms outside the uterus is known as ectopic. Although rare, some pregnancies implant in areas other than the uterus, such as a fallopian tube.
The uterus is the only place that can hold a growing pregnancy. If a pregnancy grows elsewhere, you run the risk of life-threatening bleeding.
Do All Pregnancies Develop Normally?
Health experts estimate that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and the majority of miscarriages occur in the first trimester. Your pregnancy may start normally, but for some reason, it is not able to continue.
If the ultrasound detects a heartbeat, your pregnancy is growing. If a heartbeat is not detected, it’s either too early in the pregnancy (before 6 weeks) or you may have miscarried.
It’s possible to still get a positive pregnancy test result days or weeks after a miscarriage because it takes your body time to expel the pregnancy hormone.
How Can The Center for Women Help Me?
Visit The Center for Women for free, medical-grade pregnancy testing. A medical professional administers the test, ensuring you receive accurate results. If your test result is positive, we’ll schedule you for a free limited ultrasound scan.
As you can see, an ultrasound is vital for your health and safety. Don’t skip this important step. Contact The Center for Women today. You can reach us online or call (828) 885-7885. If you need to speak with someone after hours, please call our 24/7 Helpline at (800) 395- HELP (4357).
We care about your health and safety, which is why we offer all of our services confidentially and at no cost. You matter to us.