If you’ve seen our display at an event, picked up one of our cards or clicked through the services on our website you probably noticed that we offer Limited OB Ultrasounds. But if you’re like many, you may be wondering what exactly a Limited OB Ultrasound is and why you might need to have one.
Why Would I Need an Limited OB Ultrasound from Sira?
If you think you’re pregnant, you may have already taken a pregnancy test by the time you call Sira, or maybe not. Either way, a pregnancy test is the first indication that you’re pregnant. But a pregnancy test can’t really tell you much beyond that. After a positive test, it’s important to take the next step and confirm that it’s a viable pregnancy and not an ectopic pregnancy. You need to make sure that the pregnancy is developing in your uterus and isn’t going to endanger your life.
How is a Sira Limited OB Ultrasound Different Than What I Would Get at My Doctor’s Office?
During a pregnancy ultrasound at your OB-GYN, the doctor is looking for and evaluating several things such as the baby’s position, the size, the level of amniotic fluid, the health of the placenta and many other things. There are a number of questions they are looking to answer and they are trained to examine all aspects of an OB ultrasound. They are qualified to assess and diagnose all things pertaining to your reproductive system and the baby.
At Sira, we perform Limited OB Ultrasounds. By limited, we mean we are not seeking to answer all the questions your OB-GYN would. Our ultrasound nurses are limited in the scope of the questions they are trying to answer and the information they can share. The three primary things they are looking for are:
- Is the baby in the uterus or is there an immediate risk of an ectopic pregnancy?
- How far along the pregnancy is?
- Is there a heartbeat?
As you can see, these services aren’t designed to be a full medical evaluation, but a tool to help you better understand your situation, to rule out immediate health risks and to help you make an informed decision about your pregnancy.
What Happens if the Ultrasound Indicates an Ectopic Pregnancy?
If our ultrasound nurses find something during your appointment that concerns them, they will share that information with you at that time. Then, after your in-office scan, we send our ultrasound results to the doctor who oversees our medical services for review. If the doctor detects an ectopic pregnancy or anything else of concern during this secondary review, we will be notified and we’ll contact with you with the results. Your health is our chief concern.
If you have any additional questions about our ultrasounds or any of our other services, please give us a call.