Ultrasounds

What Is An Ultrasound?

A limited obstetrical ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time pictures of the inside of your body. To perform an ultrasound, a member of our trained medical staff applies a gel to the skin over the abdomen, and a transducer wand is then moved over the skin to capture images.  The transducer picks up the echoes from sound waves in your body and creates a 2-D image that can be viewed on a monitor.

Why Do I Need An Ultrasound?

There are three critical questions that only an ultrasound can answer:

1. Is My Pregnancy Developing, or Have I Miscarried?

Experts estimate as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in a natural miscarriage. Most miscarriages occur in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. It is possible to get a positive pregnancy test result after a miscarriage because it takes a woman’s body time to return to pre-pregnancy hormone levels. 

By detecting a fetal heartbeat, an ultrasound can determine if your pregnancy is developing or if you have miscarried. 

2. Where Is My Pregnancy Located?

Although rare, a pregnancy can form and begin developing outside of the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it can be extremely dangerous to your health. 

Ectopic pregnancies often form in the fallopian tube, which leads to the uterus. The fallopian tube can’t support the growth of the pregnancy, making ectopic pregnancies life-threatening. Only an ultrasound can determine the location of your pregnancy.

3. How Far Along Am I?

Determining the exact date you became pregnant isn’t easy. Knowing how far along you are in your pregnancy is especially important if you are considering abortion. The type of abortion method available is determined by the number of weeks of your pregnancy. An ultrasound can accurately date your pregnancy.

Get a Free Ultrasound

At Crossroads Care Center, we offer limited obstetric ultrasounds free of charge to most patients who receive a positive pregnancy test from our center. Regardless of your pregnancy decision, guard your health and safety with an ultrasound.

Schedule your confidential appointment for a pregnancy test today. If the test is positive, let’s protect your health and verify your pregnancy with a limited ultrasound scan.