Ultrasounds
Get more information about your pregnancy to make a confident decision.
Free and Confidential Ultrasounds
Are you wondering why you need an ultrasound? There’s so much more to know about your pregnancy that only an ultrasound can reveal. Our nurses use ultrasound to answer several essential questions.
The Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center provides free first-trimester ultrasounds to women who receive a positive pregnancy result at our center. Appointments are scheduled based on specific criteria determined by pregnancy center medical staff.
What is an Ultrasound?
An ultrasound is an imaging procedure using echoes from high-frequency sound waves to produce a picture of the inside of your uterus. Our technician applies a gel-like substance to your abdomen and rubs a wand-like instrument called a transducer through the gel.
An image forms on a computer screen from the echoes of the sound waves revealed on the ultrasound. The nurse will point out what you’re seeing, date the pregnancy, and look for evidence of a fetal heartbeat.
The Purpose of an Ultrasound
You learn three essential facts about your pregnancy with an ultrasound.
- You find out how far along you are in your pregnancy. Only an ultrasound can closely determine gestational age.
- Ultrasound detects a fetal heartbeat. If no heartbeat is detected, it could be too early in your pregnancy, or you have possibly miscarried.
- Discover the location of the pregnancy. An ultrasound scan tests health conditions like an ectopic pregnancy that grows outside the uterus. Ectopic pregnancies can have serious health consequences and can even be life-threatening.
Have You Miscarried?
Ultrasounds may identify that you have miscarried or are in the process of miscarrying the pregnancy. According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately 10 to 20 percent of known pregnancies end in miscarriage. The number could be higher because many women miscarry before realizing they’re pregnant.
Schedule a No-Cost Ultrasound
After a positive in-clinic pregnancy test, your next step is to schedule a free and confidential ultrasound. Getting an ultrasound will help determine your options.
