You may be wondering why you need an ultrasound if your pregnancy test is positive. An ultrasound provides much-needed information about your pregnancy. Don’t skip this critical step. You may find out you aren’t pregnant after all. Schedule a confidential, no-cost appointment today.
What Is An Ultrasound?
Doctors use ultrasound to diagnose many different things. Certified nurses and technicians perform our limited OB ultrasounds at Black Hills Pregnancy Center.
To begin an abdominal ultrasound, a technician applies a gel to your stomach. Then, the technician rubs a wand-like instrument called a transducer through the gel. The transducer picks up the echoes of soundwaves that bounce off your uterus.
The technician inserts the transducer in the vagina for a transvaginal ultrasound, which also picks up the echoes of sound waves.
From those sound waves, an image forms, and the technician learns three critical things about your pregnancy:
Is My Pregnancy Viable?
A viable pregnancy means it is developing with a detectable heartbeat. Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Most of those occur within the first 12 weeks.
It is possible to get a positive pregnancy test and no longer be pregnant because it takes a woman’s body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels. An ultrasound is a vital step in confirming your pregnancy.
How Far Along Am I?
Doctors take measurements in early pregnancy to determine the number of weeks and days a woman has been pregnant. Knowing exactly how far along you are is vital, especially if you are considering an abortion. You need an accurate date since the FDA only approves the use of abortion drugs through 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Where Is My Pregnancy Located?
This may seem like an odd question, but there is a slight possibility that the location of your pregnancy is outside your uterus. Although rare, this type of pregnancy is called ectopic. An ectopic pregnancy is extremely dangerous, even life-threatening.
Get a No-Cost Limited OB Ultrasound
To ensure your health and safety, our certified ultrasound technicians offer either an abdominal or vaginal ultrasound at no cost to you. Schedule an appointment for no-cost pregnancy testing. We’ll schedule you for a no-cost limited ultrasound if your test result is positive.
