ultrasound
If you are pregnant, we offer limited obstetrical ultrasound to prove the viability of pregnancy and help determine how far along you are.
All of our services are free and confidential.
Our limited obstetrical ultrasounds are performed to evaluate the presence and location of the pregnancy, and to estimate the age of the pregnancy.
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a simple and painless imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the inside of your uterus. Our medical technician applies a gel-like substance to your abdomen. The gel helps transmit sound waves. A hand-held device called a transducer is rubbed over the gel to record the echoes of the sound waves it picks up. It’s those echoes that create the image you’ll see on a monitor.
Depending on how early in your pregnancy you receive an ultrasound, different types of ultrasounds may be necessary to get a clear image. If it is very early in your pregnancy, your sonographer will need to perform a transvaginal ultrasound to get a better image of the pregnancy.
Why do I need an ultrasound?
Ultrasounds are used to confirm your pregnancy after a positive pregnancy test. During your ultrasound, your sonographer will locate the pregnancy and ensure that it has implanted in the uterus. If the pregnancy is located outside of the uterus, it is considered an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies cannot be safely carried to term and can be life-threatening. Your sonographer will also try to determine how far along the pregnancy is and if there is a detectable heartbeat. If no heartbeat can be detected, then it is still very early in the pregnancy and it is possible you may still naturally miscarry.
What You Will Learn From An Ultrasound
If you’re considering different options for your pregnancy, you’ll need to know valuable information that is discovered during an ultrasound. Regardless of whether or not you’re sure of your last known menstrual cycle or date of conception, an ultrasound uses measurements to help date your pregnancy and estimated due date. An ultrasound can also be used to assess fetal cardiac activity and measure the heartbeat.
An ultrasound can be used to determine if a pregnancy has ended in a miscarriage. Some fetuses develop outside of the uterus in the fallopian tubes, which is known as an ectopic pregnancy. There are also chromosomal abnormalities that could lead to a pregnancy that is not viable such as in the case of a blighted ovum or molar pregnancy.
We do not provide ultrasounds for the purpose of determining gender or diagnosing any medical conditions or abnormalities.