What Is An Ultrasound?
Using sound waves to make a picture sounds weird, but it’s what happens with ultrasound. Medical professionals use ultrasound to create an image of the baby in your uterus with high-frequency sound waves. However, the imaging procedure works outside of your body. A Registered Nurse places a gel-like substance on your stomach, then uses an instrument (called a transducer) to record the echoes of the sound waves as they bounce back. You can’t hear the sound waves, but they create an image on a computer screen for you to see.
What Does An Ultrasound Do?
Different medical procedures use ultrasound. For an athlete, ultrasound helps detect and treat injuries. A doctor can use ultrasound to locate a specific area for a biopsy. For you, an ultrasound gives vital information.
- Determines if the pregnancy is developing. An ultrasound will confirm your pregnancy by locating a heartbeat. Even though you may have received a positive result on your pregnancy test, an ultrasound will verify if the baby is growing. It’s also essential to find out if you’ve had a miscarriage.
- Shows how far along you are. The ultrasound tells you the gestational age of your pregnancy. By measuring the size of the baby, the nurse will be able to determine the date of conception, as well as an expected due date.
- Locates the area of the pregnancy. It’s essential to know where the pregnancy is located in your body. If the baby has attached somewhere other than the uterus, it’s called an ectopic pregnancy. An untreated ectopic pregnancy can be a severe medical emergency.
Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?
Ultrasounds provide real-time information, so you’ll know exactly what is happening inside your body. To make any decision regarding your pregnancy, including choosing abortion, you need to have the information only an ultrasound can give. Once you’ve taken an in-clinic pregnancy test, your next step is to schedule an ultrasound.
When Should I Get An Ultrasound?
The time to get an ultrasound is shortly after receiving a positive pregnancy test at the Center. If you’re considering an abortion, you’ll need to know how far along your pregnancy is. The gestational age will determine what type of abortion you can have. At Wabash Life Center, we offer free ultrasound scanning. Plus, once we’ve reviewed your scans with you, we can discuss your options. Contact us to schedule an appointment, or just walk-in for a free ultrasound appointment today!