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Services
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UltrasoundIt has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but for a woman who gets to see an ultrasound picture of her baby, that picture is priceless.  Mothers who see their babies choose lifeFACT: Among women at risk for abortion the combined provision of counseling and ultrasound results in nearly 60% more stated decisions for life than with counseling alone. The ultrasound services provided by our center are offered to any of our clients free of charge. We use a state-of-the-art imaging machine to perform the scans. While most of the women we see visit us in the early stages of their pregnancies (the first trimester), we also scan women in the later stages of pregnancy. Some of these women are facing an unplanned or unexpected situation, while others are excited but without insurance and in need of a conclusive ultrasound to apply for Medicaid. All of the ultrasound examinations, regardless of the stage of pregnancy, include a general overview of the pelvic area. This is done to assure that the pregnancy has implanted in the uterus and not in any adjoining area (a medical emergency known as an ectopic pregnancy). Then the developing baby itself is examined to determine if the pregnancy is viable. A very important component of this part of the exam is measuring the heartbeat. As early as three and a half weeks after conception, the beating heart is able to be visualized and accurately measured using ultrasound.It can also be heard by our clients. Once the exams have been completed, each woman receives copies of selected ultrasound images to take home and is told the age of her baby and her approximate date of delivery. Our licensed sonographer writes down the results of the exam, including any abnormalities that have been onserved. The exams and results are then read by a perinatologist. Within a few days, the clients will receive a follow-up call. If we have a signed release form on record, the ultrasound record can be faxed to the client's healthcare provider when necessary.
Being able to see the developing babies for the first time, and hearing that early heart beat, is often the first opportunity these new mothers and fathers have to bond with the tiny life forming within them. Prior to this, an unexpected or unplanned pregnancy may seem surreal. By offering this service free of charge, these women who may be considering abortion are able to view their baby as a living being, rather than a simple tissue mass. This is much more impactful and personal than a pamphlet or a positive home pregnancy test alone. An ultrasound makes the pregnancy real, the baby real. After their ultrasounds, our clients meet with our wonderful and caring nursing staff. The nurses provide them with nutritional information, prescriptions for prenatal vitamins, and positive proofs of pregnancy for Medicaid applications. They also talk with the women about the future of their pregnancies. Having just seen first-hand the developing child within them, clients are often much more receptive to hearing about alternatives to abortion. |