After getting a positive pregnancy test, an ultrasound is your next step. Here are three reasons an ultrasound is important after getting a positive pregnancy test:
- Confirm you have a viable pregnancy (healthy and growing)
- Know the location of your pregnancy (if it’s within the uterus or not)
- Learn how far along you are (gestational age)
How Does an Ultrasound Work?
Ultrasounds use high-frequency sound waves to receive information that can be seen as an image on a screen. An ultrasound does not use any radiation and is very safe.
Medical News Today shares, “Ultrasound will travel through the blood in the heart chamber, for example, but if it hits a heart valve, it will echo or bounce back.”
During an ultrasound, a handheld device called a transducer sends high-frequency sound waves into your body. The sound waves echo and bounce back. The transducer captures the echo and transmits it to the screen so the sonographer can see the inside of your uterus.
Do I Need An Ultrasound?
In pregnancy, ultrasounds are used to verify pregnancy is not ectopic (outside the uterus, which can pose a severe risk to a woman’s health), is viable, healthy, and growing. It can help physicians understand if there are any possible complications or abnormalities and that growth is continuing as usual.
An ultrasound is also safe and often used during pregnancy. According to Mayfair Diagnostics, “Ultrasound has been around for over sixty years and is considered safe since there are no known risks and it doesn’t use radiation. It’s one of the most commonly ordered imaging exams since it’s versatile, portable, relatively inexpensive, non-invasive, and can provide real-time information about the area of concern.”
Free Ultrasound Referrals
Here at Integra Pregnancy Services, we offer referrals for free limited obstetrical ultrasounds so you can get more clarity about your pregnancy.
Make a free appointment with us today so we can provide answers to your questions and offer the support you deserve. We look forward to serving you.