At Clarity, we offer ultrasounds to our clients who have had a positive pregnancy test with us and are in their first trimester of pregnancy, provided they haven’t already established a relationship with an OB doctor.
“Ultrasonography is an important tool used to confirm the viability of a pregnancy,” says Miranda Voils, RDMS, Staff Sonographer. “It is the only way to confirm that the pregnancy is in the uterus.”
Ultrasound technology gives us ‘a window to the womb’. During the ultrasound, we check for viability by viewing the heartbeat, confirm the baby is in the uterus, take measurements to confirm how far along the baby is and provide an accurate due date. Depending on the client’s circumstances and needs we can be somewhat flexible with the timing of the exam.
At an ultrasound appointment, a nurse or staff person will bring the client to a room and do a brief medical history, then take her to the ultrasound room where our sonographer will attempt the ultrasound abdominally. A little gel is applied to the abdomen and then a transducer is pressed against the abdomen to get a picture of the embryo or fetus. If we aren’t able to get a good view of the baby through an abdominal ultrasound, the client is offered a transvaginal ultrasound. If the client does not wish to have a transvaginal ultrasound, we will typically schedule her for a repeat ultrasound in a couple of weeks.
During the scan, the client is able to see the baby on a television screen. We have a large screen in a private area where family or friends can view the baby as well, with the client’s permission. Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to produce pictures of what is happening inside the body.
Many clients wish to know the gender of their baby; however, we do not provide gender identification. Typically gender is determined by the doctor in a second trimester ultrasound.
Clients under 18 years of age seeking an ultrasound must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. And due to the limited nature of our ultrasound policy, Clarity cannot perform ultrasounds on clients who are actively bleeding or in significant pain, have a history of ectopic pregnancy, have an IUD, or who have undergone a tubal ligation.
All of Clarity’s services are confidential and provided at no cost because of generous community members who make it possible.