Discovering you’re unexpectedly pregnant is difficult enough, but when you realize you then have to figure out what to do, it becomes even more stressful. A positive pregnancy test and a late period may not be enough information to determine your next steps.
You need the information that only an ultrasound can provide. You’ll get essential information to help you understand your options. Schedule a free and confidential appointment at SouthWest Options.
How Does a Pregnancy Ultrasound Work?
Ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of the inside of your body. An ultrasound technician (or sonographer) uses a device called a transducer to send the sound waves through your abdomen or vagina.
The sound waves bounce off structures in your body, transforming them into images that you can view on a computer screen. Usually, a woman has only one or two ultrasounds during her pregnancy.
Why Would an Ultrasound Help Me Decide?
You have three options for your pregnancy: get an abortion, make an adoption plan, or choose to parent. Let’s look closer at how an ultrasound can help you decide what action to take.
Have an Abortion
The FDA approves the use of the drugs used in the abortion pill method through 10 weeks of pregnancy only. The drugs become less effective the further along you are in your pregnancy.
If you are considering abortion, you need to know the gestational age (the number of weeks and days you have been pregnant). A later pregnancy may require a surgical procedure.
Many women are surprised to learn that the date they thought they got pregnant is different from what the ultrasound reveals. To protect your health and safety, get the exact date through ultrasound.
Ultrasound also reveals if the pregnancy is developing or if you have miscarried. Since more than one in four pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, you’ll want to know if you’ve miscarried before you pursue an abortion.
Make an Adoption Plan
Today’s adoption process lets the expectant mother choose the potential adoptive couple and the future she hopes her child will have. In addition, she decides how much and the type of communication she wishes to have with the adoptive family moving forward.
If you choose to make an adoption plan, you pay nothing for adoption services. Minnesota law allows an expectant mother to receive counseling, medical, and legal fees. Plus, you receive transportation, meals, and lodging related to those services. You are also entitled to some living expenses.
By confirming your pregnancy with an ultrasound and knowing your due date, you can begin making your adoption plans accordingly.
Choosing to Parent
If you choose to parent, SouthWest Options for Women offers free pregnancy services to assist you. We provide excellent parenting classes to set you on a firm foundation, and you earn material items upon completing each class.
Additionally, we provide one-on-one mentorships where you work closely with a support person who develops a unique life plan for you. Your partner can also take fatherhood classes if he’d like. Everything is free for both of you.
Once again, by confirming your pregnancy and knowing your due date, you can get a head start on planning for your child’s arrival.
Get a Free and Confidential Limited Ultrasound
Don’t skip this vital step. Get the clarification you need to help you decide your next step. If you receive a positive pregnancy test from us, we’ll provide a free limited obstetrical ultrasound.
Schedule a free and confidential appointment. We’re ready to help you find the best plan for your future.
SouthWest Options for Women does not perform or refer for abortion.
All abortion information sourced in this blog is based on accurate information at the time of writing.