Once you’ve received a positive pregnancy test, you may think that’s all you need to do before weighing your options. But receiving an obstetric ultrasound is the best way to protect your health and verify important pregnancy information prior to receiving options information.

Ultrasounds are performed at a variety of locations, including medical clinics and your local pregnancy resource center. They typically confirm the following information:

• Viability: Did you know that up to 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage? This means that it’s more common than you might think. Miscarriage management might involve waiting for the pregnancy tissue to pass or having a surgical procedure. Regardless, you should be monitored by a medical provider. Miscarriage is never the woman’s fault, so it’s important not to blame yourself if it happens. An ultrasound will detect whether the pregnancy is viable and has a heartbeat.
• Gestational age: Knowing how far along you are is vital to making a pregnancy decision. Depending on the laws in your state, you may not be able to have an abortion if you’re past a certain number of weeks. Or the gestational age will determine which type of abortion procedure is available to you.
• Location of pregnancy: This detail is crucial to knowing how to move forward. Sometimes, a condition called ectopic pregnancy, which is when the fertilized egg implants in a location other than the uterus, results. This condition doesn’t result in a viable pregnancy and always requires medical treatment. An ultrasound will determine whether you have a pregnancy located in the uterus.

Receive an Ultrasound at Our Center

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Cochise County offers first-trimester abdominal ultrasounds to confirm an in-utero pregnancy. We offer these to clients with pregnancies up to 14 weeks’ gestation and after a positive pregnancy test performed at our center.