If you have recently found out you are pregnant, you may be wondering why you should get an early ultrasound.
An early ultrasound can provide information that a pregnancy test cannot, including where your pregnancy is developing, an estimate of how far along you are, and where your pregnancy is located.
First Care Clinic provides free medical-grade pregnancy testing and limited obstetrical ultrasounds in a confidential and supportive environment so you can get the information you need.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more about your pregnancy.
The Location of Your Pregnancy
One important thing an ultrasound can help determine is where your pregnancy is developing.
Most pregnancies develop inside the uterus. However, an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy implants outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy cannot develop normally and can become a medical emergency if it ruptures.
Ectopic pregnancies may not cause obvious symptoms early on, and early symptoms can sometimes feel similar to those of a typical pregnancy. This is one reason an ultrasound can be important.
How Far Along You Are
An ultrasound can provide an estimate of how far along your pregnancy is based on what can be seen during the examination. Knowing your gestational age can help you understand what to expect as your pregnancy progresses and provide important information as you consider your options.
You may be able to estimate your gestational age based on the first day of your last menstrual period, but this is not always accurate. Your dates may be uncertain, especially if your periods are irregular.
Whether the Pregnancy Is Developing
An ultrasound can also look for signs that your pregnancy is developing.
Depending on how far along you are, an ultrasound may show cardiac activity. What can be seen depends on the timing of your pregnancy and the type of ultrasound performed.
If an ultrasound is performed very early and not enough can be seen, that does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Sometimes it is too early to see certain structures clearly, and your healthcare provider may recommend follow-up imaging.
This is important as 10 to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. A pregnancy test can remain positive for some time after pregnancy loss because levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) can remain in the body.
How Early Can You Get an Ultrasound?
A transvaginal ultrasound can sometimes detect a gestational sac as early as 4.5 to 5 weeks of pregnancy. However, many early ultrasounds are performed around 6 weeks, when a pregnancy can be measured.
If you have an ultrasound very early in pregnancy, you may be asked to return for a follow-up ultrasound if there is not yet enough information to determine if the pregnancy is developing.
Get a Free Limited Ultrasound at First Care Clinic
At First Care Clinic, our free limited obstetrical ultrasounds are performed by nurse sonographers who are licensed medical providers.
After learning more about your pregnancy, we will give you accurate information about your options, and you can ask us any questions you have. We also have a mobile clinic for your convenience.
Contact us to make an appointment. You are not alone, and we’re here to help you gather more details.