Free Ultrasounds
At North Care Women’s Clinic, we offer free, confidential ultrasound scanning. When you come in for an appointment, a nurse will do a health assessment to determine if you are eligible.
The time to get an ultrasound is shortly after receiving a positive pregnancy test at the clinic when you are at least 6 weeks from your last menstrual period.
Once we’ve reviewed your scans with you, we can discuss your options.
What is an ultrasound?
Our sonographer places a gel-like substance on your stomach and then uses an instrument (called a transducer) to rub through the gel. The transducer records the echoes of the sound waves as they bounce back. Depending on how far along you are, a vaginal transducer may be used.
The echoes create an image of the inside of your uterus on a computer screen. The sonographer will explain what you are seeing.
Why do I need an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is one of the most important tests you can have when you discover you are pregnant.
Because ultrasounds provide real-time information, you’ll know what is happening inside your body. To make any decision regarding your pregnancy, including choosing abortion, you need to have the information only an ultrasound can give.
For a pregnant woman, an ultrasound gives vital information about her pregnancy.
- An ultrasound verifies if your pregnancy is viable. Up to 20% of known pregnancies end in a miscarriage. Even though you received a positive result on your pregnancy test, it’s still possible you may be miscarrying. The ultrasound can be used to help detect a heartbeat in a viable pregnancy.
- The ultrasound tells you the estimated gestational age. In other words, you learn how far along you are in your pregnancy. This is especially important if you are considering abortion.
- Ultrasound can reveal if the pregnancy has attached somewhere other than the uterus. It’s called an ectopic (or tubal) pregnancy. An untreated ectopic pregnancy is extremely dangerous and may result in a trip to the ER.
How can I get an ultrasound?
Contact us today to schedule a free pregnancy test and find out if you are eligible for a free ultrasound.
