Ultrasounds - Upstate Pregnancy Center

Did you receive a positive result on a pregnancy test? If so, did you know that getting an ultrasound is the next step for confirming your pregnancy?

How Does Ultrasound Work?

Ultrasound is a simple scan that uses sound waves to create a picture of your internal organs. During pregnancy, ultrasound is used to confirm that you’re, in fact, pregnant (it’s possible to have miscarried since your positive pregnancy test result) as well as determine the other key details about your pregnancy you need to stay safe.

Two different types of ultrasound are used during pregnancy: transvaginal and abdominal. Transvaginal is used earlier in pregnancy because it offers a clearer picture of the pregnancy, while abdominal is used later on in pregnancy. Both types of ultrasound use a transducer (the wand-like part of the ultrasound machine that emits the sound waves); during a transvaginal ultrasound, the transducer is placed gently in the vagina, while the transducer is moved along the abdomen during an abdominal scan.

Why Do I Need an Ultrasound During Pregnancy?

Getting an ultrasound during pregnancy is essential, as it will help reveal the key details about your pregnancy you need to know to stay safe, including:

Location: Most pregnancies develop inside the uterus, but sometimes, a pregnancy will attach and grow outside the uterus. This is known as an ectopic pregnancy, and it’s a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical intervention.
Viability: Did you know that roughly 26% of pregnancies end in miscarriage? And it’s possible to have miscarried since you received a positive pregnancy test result. Ultrasound will look for signs of life (like a heartbeat), but if you’ve miscarried, you will need medical follow-up to ensure you don’t face complications.
Gestational age: It’s important to know your pregnancy’s gestational age, as this information will determine what options are available (for example, medical abortion is only FDA-approved if your pregnancy is under 10 weeks gestation).

Where Can I Get an Ultrasound for Free?

At Upstate Pregnancy Center, we offer free, limited ultrasounds because we believe that every woman deserves to have access to the information she needs to stay safe.