Ultrasounds

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Having an ultrasound is one of the most important steps you can take during pregnancy to protect your health. A first-trimester ultrasound provides essential information about your pregnancy. 

Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a crucial part of protecting your health regardless of your choice for the outcome of your pregnancy. Ultrasounds provide the following information to assist you and your doctor in understanding your unique pregnancy:

• Confirm: Around 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, and a woman can still receive a positive result from a pregnancy test for weeks after a miscarriage. The only way to confirm a pregnancy is by detecting a heartbeat on ultrasound. 
• Date: Knowing how long you have been pregnant is essential whether you carry your pregnancy to term or choose to terminate it. However, for women who don’t track their cycles or have irregular cycles, it can be challenging to know how far along they are. An ultrasound provides an estimated gestational age for the pregnancy.
  • Knowing the amount of time you have been pregnant for is essential if you carry your pregnancy to term because your providers will use the date to track the development of the fetus to ensure it is growing normally. 
  • If you are considering abortion, the date of your pregnancy is integral in choosing the appropriate procedure. For example, the FDA has only approved the abortion pill for pregnancies under 10 weeks. 
• Locate: An ultrasound helps identify ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening condition where the embryo implants outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies need immediate intervention to avoid potential complications for the woman’s health. An ultrasound is recommended before an abortion to rule out ectopic pregnancy since abortion will not effectively treat it.