Abortion: Why you need an ultrasound

​You found out you’re pregnant and find yourself considering an abortion. It’s important to get some facts about your pregnancy before scheduling that abortion appointment. Here are a few reasons why getting a free ultrasound from the CPC should be among your first steps from the perspective of a medical professional on staff.

What’s going on in there?
“Window to the womb” is a phrase often used to describe an ultrasound. It gives the nurse or sonographer and you as the client an opportunity to see what is happening inside your uterus, where the fetus is typically located. An ultrasound allows trained medical staff to gain valuable objective information that is vital to make an informed decision about terminating your pregnancy, carrying full-term, or placing your child for adoption. Our medical staff are trained to look for three things, to determine if the pregnancy is inside the uterus, to take measurements to estimate how far along you are in your pregnancy, and to look for a heartbeat. This is important to know before any decision is made for many reasons, but also because many pregnancies end in natural miscarriage. 

Is an abortion really necessary for me?
Many natural miscarriages occur without a woman even knowing she is pregnant. For those women who do know they are pregnant, about 10-15% end in natural miscarriage. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines miscarriage as a pregnancy within the uterus that is nonviable with either an empty gestational sac or a gestational sac containing an embryo or fetus without fetal heart activity within the first 12 weeks of development. Although rare, some pregnancies are ectopic pregnancies. This means the fetus is outside the uterus. An ectopic pregnancy is life-threatening, and should have immediate medical attention. An undiagnosed ectopic pregnancy can be dangerous for women seeking an abortion.

Making an informed decision
An ultrasound will empower you with answers to these questions: 

• Is there a fetus in my uterus? 
• How many weeks am I into this pregnancy? 
• Does the fetus have a heartbeat? 

After the ultrasound, our medical staff will go over all the ultrasound information with you and answer any questions you may have. There is also an opportunity to get valuable education about the development of the growing fetus from the nurse or sonographer. This is one more way for you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision. By having an ultrasound, you will learn if the pregnancy is progressing or not. If a non-progressing pregnancy is discovered, and you are considering an abortion, you are able to avoid the potential difficulties and risks of having an abortion as well as avoid the expense of an abortion procedure. 

Bottom line
You deserve to be informed before making such a big decision. At the CPC we are here to equip you with all of the necessary information to help you reach your decision. You have a right to know what is happening within your own body. Then, it is up to you to decide what to do with that knowledge. No one can force you into making a decision you do not feel comfortable with, that is why we are here to help you make an informed decision.

Cost of ultrasound in the Shreveport/Bossier City area

• Not with insurance-by a physician or medical professional-varies from $75 up to $400
• PeekatMe $95 and up depending on package
• Adorababy-$50-100 for 2D
• The CPC offers limited ultrasounds absolutely free, contact us for more information today!

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