After a positive pregnancy test, an ultrasound may be an important next step to
determine whether your pregnancy is intrauterine [1] and viable [2], and to show how far along you are.

Blue Ridge Women's Center can provide limited obstetrical ultrasound for these purposes—free of charge—if you have a positive pregnancy test at the Center and are 7-12 weeks pregnant. If a full diagnostic ultrasound would be more appropriate for your situation, because you're further along in your pregnancy or experiencing medical problems, our staff will be happy to refer you to an OB-GYN who can offer that instead.

[1] About 2% of pregnancies implant in the fallopian tubes, where the embryo cannot safely continue to develop and the mother's life may be threatened without medical intervention. (See the Ectopic Pregnancy Patient Education Pamphlet from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/ bp155.cfm, accessed 1/4/07.)
[2] Around 15-20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage, usually during the first trimester. An ultrasound may detect fetal demise or other signs that your pregnancy is not progressing normally. (See the Early Pregnancy Loss Patient Education Pamphlet from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists at http://www.acog.org/ publications/patient_education/bp090.cfm, accessed 1/4/07.)