Your first ultrasound can make everything feel more “real.” Until this point, you may have been working with a positive pregnancy test and a lot of unanswered questions. Now you have an appointment that can provide new information about your pregnancy and help you determine your next steps.
It makes sense if you’re nervous about the scan or wondering how you’ll react to the results. Knowing what the appointment may involve can make it feel less unfamiliar.
Avenues Clinic offers pregnancy services, including no-cost limited ultrasound scans, to help you learn more about your pregnancy and health. Schedule an appointment today to get started.
Learn What Happens During an Ultrasound
An ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of structures inside your body. It does not use radiation.
Depending on how far along you are, your ultrasound may be abdominal or transvaginal. During an abdominal ultrasound, gel is placed on your abdomen, and a handheld device called a transducer is moved across your skin.
Early in pregnancy, a transvaginal ultrasound may provide clearer images. For this scan, a transducer is inserted into the vagina.
Don’t hesitate to ask what will happen before the scan begins or speak up if you’re uncomfortable during the exam. It’s natural to feel a little anxious, especially if you’ve never had an ultrasound before. The medical staff is there to answer your questions and help you feel more at ease.
Remember What You’re There to Find Out
It can be easy to focus on what you might see on the screen, but an ultrasound also provides important medical information.
A pregnancy test detects hCG, a pregnancy hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin, but it can’t tell you details like where the pregnancy is located or how far along you are. An ultrasound can help determine this information and whether the pregnancy is developing.
Location is particularly important because an ectopic pregnancy occurs when a pregnancy implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube. This condition requires immediate medical treatment, so receiving an ultrasound is vital to staying proactive and safeguarding your health.
Come With a Few Questions
Before leaving home, write down anything you want to ask. Pregnancy appointments can bring up nerves, and questions that seemed impossible to forget can disappear once you’re in the exam room.
You can also ask beforehand whether someone is allowed to accompany you. If so, decide whether having your partner, friend, or family member there would make you feel more comfortable.
Remember, there is no script for how you’re supposed to feel during your first ultrasound. You could also feel nervous, surprised, or unsure. If your pregnancy was unexpected, you may experience several emotions at once.
We can help you process these emotions and discuss whatever you are feeling.
Make the Appointment About Getting Information
Your first ultrasound doesn’t need to be something you have perfectly prepared for. Its purpose is to give you more information about your pregnancy and health.
If you are ready to learn more about how we can help, schedule complimentary lab-grade pregnancy testing with Avenues Clinic today. If your test is positive, we may be able to offer a limited ultrasound scan.
Come with your questions and give yourself time afterward to absorb what you’ve learned. We’re here to support you.