Once you find out you’re pregnant, you may wonder if you need an ultrasound and when. An ultrasound is needed to reveal essential details of your pregnancy that a pregnancy test simply cannot.
An ultrasound confirms…
- Viability (whether it’s healthy and growing)
- The location of your pregnancy (within your uterus or not)
- The gestational age (how far along you are)
- Heartbeat
All of these pregnancy details are vital to have before making any pregnancy decisions. Around 20% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage. Typically, the miscarriage takes place in the first several weeks. Take advantage of our free confirmation ultrasounds.
What Is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound, also called a sonogram, is a type of imaging tool that healthcare providers use to see an image of the inside of a patient’s body. At our clinic, we use it specifically for pregnancy.
In an ultrasound, an image is created by low-power sound waves. It’s a simple and safe medical procedure to visualize your pregnancy. There are currently no known risks to ultrasound.
How Does an Ultrasound Work?
During an ultrasound appointment, you lie down, expose your stomach, and a drape is tucked into your pants. Then a gel-like substance is placed on your abdomen. This gel helps prevent air pockets, which can block the sound waves that create images. It’s a water-based gel that’s easy to remove from the skin. This gel helps us get clear images!
A trained sonographer will use a hand-held device (transducer) and lightly press against the abdomen. The sonographer will move it as needed to capture the images, created by the low-power sound waves.
If your abdominal ultrasound pictures are still a little fuzzy, we will offer you a trans-vaginal ultrasound. This may be slightly uncomfortable, but we take every measure to keep you as covered and comfortable as possible. This exam typically is not painful and is relatively quick.
Schedule a Free Ultrasound
At Hands of Hope Pregnancy Services, we have all the pregnancy services you need to confirm your pregnancy.
Make a free and confidential appointment to get started. Once your pregnancy is confirmed through ultrasound, you can start thinking more about your pregnancy decisions.