You’re pregnant and unsure. You don’t have to do this alone. There are options to consider, and rights (link Patient Rights Brochure here) you’re medically entitled to. Regardless of whether you decide to keep the baby, there are a few things you, as a patient, need to know.
Visit a Clinic First!
Pregnancy is a medical condition. It warrants treatment by a licensed medical professional, and for that reason, the most important thing you can do for your health is visit a women’s health clinic before doing anything else.
Many clinics promise healthcare but with a high price tag. Open Arms offers no-cost, confidential early pregnancy care and other women’s health services. As with any decision, you want to have all of the information in front of you. Open Arms assists women and their partners by providing medical, scientific, evidence-based information to the patient so they can make informed decisions about their pregnancy.
We Offer No-Cost Ultrasounds
One of the most popular services we offer is a prenatal ultrasound. Other clinics charge anywhere from $250-$400 for this diagnostic procedure. Open Arms offers no-cost ultrasounds from as early as 5-6 weeks along. Ultrasounds are important at the early stages of pregnancy in order to:
- Confirm that there is a baby in the uterus
- Determine accurate gestational age
- Detect a fetal heartbeat
Our limited, obstetric ultrasounds can prevent major complications before they begin. For example, 30% of women miscarry before even knowing they’re pregnant. Home pregnancy tests can cause panic and confusion, but an ultrasound provides confirmation and information. Ours are read by a licensed medical doctor.
One risk identified by ultrasound is ectopic pregnancy, where the baby is not actually inside the uterus. Many clinics that do not offer ultrasounds miss this. It is imperative that you receive an ultrasound if you are pregnant and considering abortion. Without an ultrasound, the location of the baby is unknown. In the case of an ectopic pregnancy, which a chemical abortion would not terminate, complications from an attempted abortion could result in severe injury or even death to the mother.
Additionally, certain clinics charge women for an abortion after a false positive from a home pregnancy test – again – without an ultrasound. If there’s no baby in the uterus, there’s no medical procedure to bill for. No patient should pay for a service they aren’t getting.
Being Informed = Being Empowered
Open Arms Real Choices Women’s Health Clinic has been a true partner in wellness for over 20 years. We want to empower you to make an informed, evidence-based decision for your safety and health. There is time to decide your path forward, and that decision should not be rushed. Open Arms has licensed medical professionals and patient advocates to support you through the decision process.
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