If you’ve found out you’re pregnant, and you’ve never had an ultrasound before, you may be wondering what actually happens during one and how it works.
During pregnancy, an ultrasound can provide a closer look at the uterus and how the pregnancy is progressing, making it a vital tool to safeguard your health.
Her Hope Pregnancy Center provides free medical-grade pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasounds to help you better understand your pregnancy. Our team is also here to provide a confidential, supportive place to ask questions and learn more about your options.
Schedule an appointment at our center today.
What Is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of what’s going on inside your body. Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds do not use radiation.
A handheld device called a transducer sends sound waves into the body. Those sound waves bounce back (echo) when they hit internal structures, including the uterus. A computer then converts those echoes into live images displayed on a screen.
What Are the Different Types of Ultrasound?
The type of ultrasound performed depends on what information is needed and how far along your pregnancy is.
An abdominal ultrasound uses a handheld transducer that moves across the abdomen. A clear gel is applied to the skin to help the transducer transmit and receive sound waves.
A transvaginal ultrasound can be used as early as around 4.5-5 weeks gestation and uses a wand-like transducer that is inserted into the vagina. This approach can provide clearer images in early pregnancy because the transducer is closer to the uterus.
At Her Hope Pregnancy Center, we can offer a limited obstetrical ultrasound to clients following a positive pregnancy test taken at our center, performed by our trained technicians.
Why Is an Ultrasound Important?
A pregnancy test detects human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), but it cannot show important details about the pregnancy. An ultrasound may provide information about:
- The estimated gestational age (how far along you are)
- The location of the pregnancy
- Whether the pregnancy is progressing
This information is important because it affects your health and options. For example, an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy develops outside the uterus. It may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages and most often occurs in a fallopian tube.
An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally and requires immediate treatment to prevent life-threatening complications.
Additionally, around 10-20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. A pregnancy test can still be positive even if you have already had a miscarriage due to elevated hormone levels of hCG. An ultrasound can detect cardiac activity, depending on how far along you are.
Get a Free Limited Ultrasound at Her Hope Pregnancy Center
You do not have to navigate this pregnancy alone. Her Hope Pregnancy Center offers free pregnancy services and options consultations so you can have all the information you need to feel confident about your next steps.
We also provide parenting classes, material support, and referrals for STD testing and treatment.
Contact us to make your appointment.