How Does an Ultrasound Work?

If you have just learned you are pregnant, you may be hearing about an ultrasound for the first time and wondering what to expect. 

Maybe you are weighing your options and are unsure whether an ultrasound scan is necessary before deciding on your next step.

An ultrasound is one of the most important first steps you can take after a positive pregnancy test. It provides you with accurate, personalized information about your health and pregnancy so you can make a confident choice. 

At Life Center, we offer free pregnancy testing and a referral for a free, confidential limited ultrasound if necessary. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

What Is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a safe, generally painless scan that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of your uterus and the surrounding tissue. 

A small handheld device sends sound waves into your body, and those waves bounce back to form a picture on a screen. 

From that picture, a trained medical professional can take measurements and answer some essential questions about your pregnancy.

What an Ultrasound Tells You

A first-trimester ultrasound focuses on three details that protect your health and shape the choices available to you.

Viability

The scan checks for a detectable heartbeat to confirm whether the pregnancy is progressing. 

A positive test result does not guarantee that the pregnancy is progressing. The Mayo Clinic estimates that up to 20% of known pregnancies end in natural miscarriage, and you can continue to test positive for days or weeks afterward. 

If you have miscarried, you may need follow-up care from a healthcare provider.

Location

A healthy pregnancy implants inside the uterus. When it implants somewhere else, often in a fallopian tube, it is called an ectopic pregnancy, and it can become a medical emergency without prompt treatment. 

An ultrasound is the most reliable way to confirm the location of your pregnancy.

Gestational Age

Ultrasound measurements estimate how far along you are, known as your gestational age.

Dating your pregnancy based on a missed period alone can be off by weeks, so an ultrasound scan gives you an accurate picture. 

Determining the actual gestational age of your pregnancy is very important if you are considering abortion, as the FDA only approves the abortion pill for use through 10 weeks of pregnancy.

How A Life Center Can Help

At Life Center, you can come in for a free, confidential pregnancy test and sit down with a caring counselor in a no-judgment space. 

If your test is positive, we can refer you for a free limited ultrasound, answer your questions, and walk through your pregnancy options together. During that appointment, we can also discuss what resources and financial assistance may be available to you.

Your choice matters, and you deserve the facts before you make it. 

Contact us today to schedule your free, confidential appointment.