The Difference an Ultrasound Makes

“That’s a whole baby!”

In my second week of working at First Image, I had the opportunity to sit in on a patient appointment. When she arrived, I noticed how anxious she seemed. She had been feeling sick for a long time, and after finding out that she was pregnant, she was deeply concerned. Because she had been on and off various medications, she feared the baby might not be healthy.

Abortion felt like a real responsibilty to her if something was wrong. Along with her fear was a heavy sense of guilt. She worried she may have already harmed her baby. More than anything, she needed answers.

The greatest gift we could offer her in that moment was clarity.

We brought her back for an ultrasound. In early pregnancy, it often takes some maneuvering to find the right angle, to locate the yolk sac and catch that tiny “gummy bear” image of a life beginning to grow. This time it was different. The moment the ultrasound probe touched her abdomen, it was immediately clear; this was not an early pregnancy.

There was no searching, no adjustment. She wasn’t freshly pregnant. She was much further along. The patient stared at the screen in shock. “That’s a whole baby!” she exclaimed.

I sat beside her and held her hand. It was the first ultrasound I had ever witnessed, and together we sat in awe, taking in the image of a fully-formed baby in her womb. The nurse continued the scan, measuring and capturing images. As the patient saw the baby’s organs, bones, hands, and feet, her anxiety began to melt away. The fear that something was wrong was replaced with visible relief and wonder.

“I need to call my mom,” she said. “I’m 22 weeks pregnant! I need to go shopping.”

She came into our clinic feeling anxious and guilty. She left excited. That’s the difference an ultrasound can make.

– Makenzie, Operations Coordinator

Dear Partners,

Every day, women, just like the patient in the story, walk into our clinics carrying fear, uncertainty, and unanswered questions. But most importantly, they also carry life growing inside of them.

An ultrasound is one of our best tools for that moment.

It replaces fear with understanding and gives a woman the opportunity to see the reality of the life growing inside of her. Because of the faithful and generous support of our partner community, we can provide services like these ultrasounds at no cost.

But the need continues to grow.

Would you prayerfully consider making a financial gift to help provide ultrasounds for women facing unsupported pregnancies?

Your support creates an opportunity for life-changing moments–where anxiety can turn into hope, and where both mother and child are given the chance to thrive. Thank you for joining with us in this mission.

With gratitude,

Holly Lasha, Development Director