Free Ultrasounds
At PLL, we offer free ultrasounds after confirming your pregnancy with a free pregnancy test. All exams are performed by a licensed nurse and are overseen by a medical doctor who has local hospital admitting privileges.
My pregnancy test was positive. Now what?
A pregnancy test gives you one kind of information about what’s going on inside your body – it shows whether your body is producing hCG, a hormone produced during pregnancy.
An ultrasound is also important because it will show a lot more about what is happening inside you. It’s the logical next step if you have a positive pregnancy test. At PLL, we can provide free first trimester ultrasounds. You can contact us here to schedule an appointment.
Important things to know:
As important as it is to know for sure if you are pregnant, it is equally as important to know whether it is a viable pregnancy. 10-15% of pregnancies end naturally through miscarriage. Nobody wants to go through the pain, cost, and risk of an abortion if it is not necessary.
An ultrasound is the fastest way to find out if your pregnancy is viable.
My pregnancy test was positive – doesn’t that mean I’m pregnant?
A pregnancy test will be positive even if you have an early pregnancy loss that occurs shortly after implantation or ectopic pregnancy. Neither of these are viable pregnancies, and an ectopic pregnancy can be a life-threatening situation.
Do I need an ultrasound?
An ultrasound will help to you know just what is going on inside your body. At PLL our licensed nurses perform free first trimester ultrasounds, and they are reviewed by a medical doctor who has local hospital admitting privileges.
A first trimester ultrasound takes a look inside the uterus to determine:
- if there is a viable pregnancy, including a fetal heartbeat
- roughly how far along you are in the pregnancy
- the location of the pregnancy (pregnancies developing outside the uterus may be life-threatening)
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a type of technology that uses sound waves to create images . During pregnancy, a transducer (or wand) is placed on top of your belly. It emits sound waves that bounce off of your baby’s tissues, fluids, and bones. As the sound waves bounce off of internal organs, fluids, and tissues, the sensitive microphone in the transducer records tiny changes in the sound’s pitch and direction. These signature waves are constantly measured and displayed by a computer, which in turn creates a real-time picture on the monitor.
What's the difference between a sonogram and an ultrasound?
Although the words sonogram and ultrasound are often used interchangeably, there is a distinction:
- Ultrasound is the term for an imaging test that uses sound to produce pictures.
- Sonogram is the picture produced by ultrasound technology.
Don't go through this alone!
Pregnancy can bring up a lot of questions, and there’s no need for you to seek those answers alone. We are here and happy to help. Give us a call at 417-272-5210, or schedule an appointment online to find out more.
Disclaimer: This website and blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content from this website and blog is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this website is intended for general understanding only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice.