You’ve taken a home test, and now you know. A positive result on a pregnancy test can bring about a flood of different feelings: happiness, fright, confusion, or possibly any combination of the three. Once you absorb the news, the next impulse will be to try to decide on the next steps. Before you start searching for what comes next, getting an ultrasound is the one thing you can do for real answers.
Why ultrasound is crucial for you right now
You can’t rely on a home test for much more than the fact that hCG appears in urine. It doesn’t provide any information regarding how healthy the pregnancy is, if it is in the right place, or how old the fetus is. An ultrasound is a better source that can offer these specific details about your health. It is far more important than it seems and is vital to your health and available options.
If you’re thinking about taking the steps for an abortion, knowing how far along you are is critical. While some methods are effective at specific points of time, other procedures may not be effective for you once you reach certain weeks in your pregnancy. As the Mayo Clinic points out, ultrasound is the usual way to check on how far along you are. Without that info, you would be guessing.
Ultrasound can also determine whether there is actually a heartbeat. This is an important consideration that will affect your decision-making process. It can confirm or rule out an ectopic pregnancy, where an embryo attaches outside the uterus. This is a serious medical emergency. We are not trying to scare you, but we want you to understand that, as ACOG notes, an untreated ectopic pregnancy can be life-threatening. An ultrasound is a quick way to find out.
A few easy steps to your free ultrasound at Lilies of Hope
We provide free ultrasounds for you here at Lilies of Hope. You may walk in with or without a pregnancy test. (We can give you one at no cost.) The procedure is completely non-invasive. A trained sonographer or nurse will use a handheld device over your abdomen where the imaging of the pregnancy will be done. The ultrasound will take about 15-20 minutes. You will be able to see the image as it comes up on the monitor while the nurse explains it to you.
You will not need any referrals or insurance. Come to our center at Grafton during walk-in hours. Or you may schedule an appointment to be seen sooner.
(We know visiting a pregnancy center can feel nerve-wracking, but most women tell us afterward that the ultrasound was easy and stress-free. You’re not alone.)
Are there any costs or pressure involved?
Everything that we do is free. No hidden charges or need for an insurance form. And we do not push anything on anyone. Afterwards we will inform you of all your choices related to parenting, adoption, and abortion, but at your own pace. Some people just want the medical info first and sort through feelings later.
We know it can be quite scary for you to walk into a pregnancy center. You might be worried about being convinced to make certain decisions. But we do not do that. Our counselors are trained to inform you, not to persuade you on anything. You will get everything you need to make an informed decision.
Making a smart next step
An ultrasound is the first important step for you. From there, choices get clearer. You’ll have a better sense of timing, what your body needs, and what options are realistic.
We’re here to help.
Call us at (262) 274-6304. Or stop by 1416 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton, WI 53024. Walk-ins welcome during open hours. No pressure. Just answers.