Why Do You Need an Ultrasound During Pregnancy?

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Going through your pregnancy and making decisions without an ultrasound is like driving with your eyes closed. How do you know you won’t crash or hit a hazard? What if you make a wrong turn? An ultrasound shows what’s going on inside your body so you can make choices that do not jeopardize your life, health, or safety. Continue reading for more details.

What Does an Ultrasound Tell You?

A limited, first-trimester ultrasound will reveal three key details:

Location: In the Uterus or Outside?

In about 2% of all pregnancies (1 in 50), a fertilized egg implants and grows outside the uterus. This condition is a non-viable pregnancy known as an ectopic pregnancy. Most often occurring in a fallopian tube, the ectopic pregnancy can grow in structures that are not suited to carry pregnancies. As the pregnancy grows inside a fallopian tube, the tube can rupture or burst, leading to pain and life-threatening bleeding. An early ultrasound will screen for ectopic pregnancy so you can get early medical intervention. If you seek the abortion pill with an ectopic pregnancy, which triggers symptoms like vaginal bleeding regardless of your pregnancy type, you may not know you have one. An undetected ectopic pregnancy can turn into a surprising and extreme medical emergency.

Heartbeat: Progressing or Miscarried?

Around six weeks gestation, an ultrasound can typically detect a heartbeat, indicating that the pregnancy is growing and progressing. If no heartbeat is found, it means it’s either too early to detect one or you have miscarried. Miscarriage treatment is not the same as an abortion. In those cases, the pregnancy has already ended naturally, and the body may or may not pass the pregnancy in part or completely. A miscarriage may mean medical treatment is necessary to prevent infection.

Gestational Age: How Far Along Are You?

Knowing your gestational age also reveals your pregnancy options. Even if you have a normal, progressing pregnancy inside the uterus, that doesn’t mean every option is safe.

The abortion pill is only approved through ten weeks of gestation. Beyond this timeframe, another form of abortion may be considered less risky for you. Additionally, if you want to carry to term, you’ll learn your estimated due date, which helps you plan for the future.

Get the Full Picture

Going through pregnancy without an ultrasound could lead to undetected medical issues, or making a decision that isn’t safe, considering your situation.

Get the full picture of your pregnancy and situation with a free appointment at Liberty Women’s Clinic. We’re here to help you understand your options and protect your health. 

Schedule your free and confidential appointment today.