Why Do Ultrasounds Matter?
If you recently discovered you are unexpectedly pregnant, your next step is an ultrasound scan. These scans can reveal essential information you must know to protect your health and make educated pregnancy decisions.
Read on to learn how they work, what to expect, and the details they give you.
How Do Ultrasounds Work?
Ultrasounds use sound waves to generate an image of the inside of your uterus.
During an ultrasound scan, a nurse or sonographer will either slide a handheld device called a transducer over your abdomen or insert it in your vagina (for very early pregnancies). They will also apply a water-based gel on your abdomen or the transducer to reduce air pockets that could block the sound waves.
The transducer sends sound waves through your body, which bounce off the structures inside and return to the transducer. The information is translated into a picture on a screen so you and health professionals can see your pregnancy.
This type of diagnostic scan should not cause any pain. However, sometimes it can cause discomfort if you have a full bladder (often recommended for a better picture) or if the transducer is inserted into your vagina.
What Information Will an Ultrasound Reveal?
An ultrasound will tell you three key pieces of information.
1. Your Pregnancy’s Gestational Age
Gestational age is how far along you are in your pregnancy. You will want to know this information to understand your abortion options or learn your due date if you are considering parenting or adoption.
2. The Location of Your Pregnancy
In a normal pregnancy, the fertilized egg would implant inside your uterus. If your pregnancy has attached outside your uterus, typically in a fallopian tube, then you have an ectopic pregnancy.
Ectopic pregnancies are medical emergencies and require quick treatment to protect you from life-threatening bleeding.
3. Whether Your Pregnancy Is Progressing
An ultrasound will search for a heartbeat to verify that your pregnancy is progressing and likely to continue. About 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, which is when the pregnancy ends on its own.
If an ultrasound discovers a miscarriage, you will want to seek medical attention to make sure further treatment isn’t necessary.
Schedule a No-Cost Appointment
If you receive a positive pregnancy test result at our center, we will follow it up with an ultrasound to give you the critical health details you need to make a confident pregnancy choice.
Contact us to schedule a free and confidential appointment.
