ultrasound for pregnancy

Birth Choice, in cooperation with Pregnancy Resource Center Vista, offers free limited pregnancy services to the local community in a private and convenient manner aboard a modified RV. Obstetrical limited ultrasounds are available to those early in their pregnancy who have not yet begun regular medical care and this free community service is provided once per client pregnancy, usually during the first several months of pregnancy. The ultrasounds are used to:

• Confirm pregnancy
• Detect fetal heart motion
• Determine fetal age in weeks
• Determine estimated due date

As many as 30 percent of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, half of them before the woman even realizes she is pregnant. Fortunately, most women who miscarry, even more than once, can become pregnant again and give birth to a healthy baby. The ultrasound examination is not intended to diagnose any abnormalities and/or problems you or your baby may have at this early stage.

Preparation for Testing

Our staff will provide you with pre-instructions for your exam. In preparation for the ultrasound testing, you should wear a loose-fitting two-piece outfit to your appointment. This will prevent you from having to re-adjust your clothing during the exam.

The exam typically takes about 20 minutes. During the exam you will lie on your back. A film gel is applied to the abdomen to improve the conduction of sound. A transducer is then moved slowly over the abdomen and the instruments record echoes of sound waves as they bounce off parts of the baby and translates them into pictures. An ob/gyn will then analyze the images that were produced during the ultrasound. You may be able to differentiate the beating heart, the curve of the spine, or the head, arms and legs.

Risks and Benefits of Ultrasound

Ultrasound is safe for you and your baby because it does not use x-rays to produce an image. Using sound waves so high they can't be heard by the human ear, ultrasound allows visualization and "examination" of the fetus without X-rays. Studies show that low-risk women who have routine ultrasound exams are no more likely to have healthy babies than low-risk women how don't have the test.

A mobile ultrasound van increases our ability to provide pregnancy testing services throughout North County San Diego.