Ultrasounds
Once you receive the results of your pregnancy test, a licensed medical professional will conduct a medical consultation to determine whether or not it is medically advisable for you to receive an ultrasound. An ultrasound is required to confirm your pregnancy and determine how far along you are. This ultrasound is confidential and at no cost to you.
An ultrasound acts to confirm your pregnancy and rule out complications, such as a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. It will tell you how far along you are in pregnancy, if the pregnancy is located where it should be (inside the uterus), and if the pregnancy is viable (detection of a heartbeat). These things are important for you to know before making a decision regarding your pregnancy.
Reasons to get an ultrasound...
I want to know how far along I am
I want to know if my pregnancy is viable
I want an abortion
I want to know if I have an ectopic pregnancy
Why Do I Need an Ultrasound?
While a positive pregnancy test can indicate that you are pregnant, the only way to confirm you are pregnant is by ultrasound. This information is critical for you making a decision concerning your pregnancy, no matter which option you are leaning towards.
Ultrasound answers three important questions:
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Is my pregnancy viable? Is the pregnancy developing with a notable fetal heartbeat? 1 in 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage.
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What is the gestational age? Ultrasound can tell you how many weeks pregnant you are. You will need to know how far along you are in pregnancy before scheduling an abortion.
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Is the pregnancy located within the uterus? If it is not, this could mean it is an ectopic pregnancy which can be life-threatening.