“Seeing a blown up moving image of the embryo she is carrying can be distressing to a woman who is about to undergo an abortion. The screen should be turned away from the patient. Staff members also may be affected by the sonographic images and may need some opportunities for venting their feelings and reconfirming their priorities.” – Dr. Sally Dorfman, Ob/Gyn News
Those who advocate “freedom of choice” must be willing to accept that women desire the scientific and technological information to make “informed choices.” The abortion lobby is making it more difficult for women in crisis pregnancies to see the image of the ultrasound. They know that ultrasound is factual and the most effective agent for pre-natal bonding. It’s time to stop trying to strip women of their inherent need to protect their child and allow them to see the truth. We must give women the benefit of complete information and pre-natal care.
Since the Roe v. Wade decision 35 million abortions have been performed in the United States. That is 1.5 million every year. It is the most common surgical procedure and the only one protected by law that does not require the physician to divulge all the pertinent information of that procedure (Thornburg Vs American College, June 1986).
Teenage sexual activity will result in nearly one million pregnancies annually, leading to 406,000 abortions, 134,000 miscarriages and 409,000 live births. About 3 million teens will get a sexually transmitted disease. A survey done in 1994 revealed that 90% of adults feel unplanned pregnancy is a problem and that 87% feel that it is due to a lack of education. How can we decrease the number of unplanned pregnancies and abortions in this country? (1994 CDC Statistics)
There are presently over 4000 Pregnancy Care Centers (PCC’s) in our country that are providing a variety of volunteer support and referral services for individuals experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Some of these services include counseling, education, material needs, abstinence training, pre-natal care, adoption referrals, maternity care homes, post-abortion counseling and technical training for computer training classes. As a result of education, love and provision for the emotional and physical needs of these women, abortion and unplanned pregnancies have decreased.
To increase their effectiveness a growing number of these PCC’s are converting to licensed medical clinics to provide initial medical evaluation and services such as ultrasound, pregnancy diagnosis, laminaria removal, first trimester prenatal care and STD testing. The staff provides referrals for additional support services, emergency care, medical insurance and local prenatal health care providers.
To assist (PCC’s) in obtaining ultrasound imaging, medical referrals, and support for their clients, Sound Wave Images (SWI) has developed THE IMAGING NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL AND PROGRAM. The manual and course will assist and train medical professionals in providing medical care and ultrasound service to women dealing with unexpected pregnancies.
There are various medical indications for PCC’s to refer for a limited diagnostic ultrasound exam. A high percentage of clients seen at PCC’s have a history of dysfunctional behavior patterns that put them at high risk for possible miscarriages. Many are sexually active and have had previous abortions or contracted various STD’s that put them at even greater risk. For this reason ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool to determine the viability and progression of the pregnancy.
SWI has been keeping track of ultrasound statistics that were performed on 500 abortion minded clients. The results showed that 60% chose to parent or adopt, 30% experienced miscarriages and only 10% chose to have an abortion. A 90% decrease in abortion as a result of ultrasound! These powerful results prove the need for a diagnostic ultrasound exam in order to rule out a threatened or incomplete miscarriage and possibly save the mother the pain, expense, and need for the surgical intervention of an abortion. An ultrasound exam can determine the viability of a pregnancy as early as six weeks gestation. This is done by examining the size, shape and location of the uterus and gestational sac as well as the heartbeat. It is important to note that a limited ultrasound exam performed to determine the presence or absence of fetal heart tones is not always a detection of viability or threatened miscarriage. (i.e.-An ectopic pregnancy may have heart tones but it is a life threatening situation.) The exam must be performed by a trained ultrasound expert that has the knowledge and expertise of identifying normal and pathological female and gestational anatomy.
Ultrasound can also provide the gestational age and information on fetal development so that women can make an informed decision regarding choices concerning her pregnancy. When the ultrasound specialist provides the client with pictures and a video of her baby it becomes a powerful tool in the bonding process. Often when the family members view the images they encourage the mother to develop a healthier life-style and provide additional support.
Ask yourself this question. Could ultrasound be the unifying tool that brings the PCC’s and medical field together and enable them to educate our community, reduce teen pregnancy and abortions and most of all change hearts to respect life regardless of political views and laws? 90% decrease in abortion is our answer!
PCC’S Need to meet all guidelines for limited ultrasound
The FDA with the support of the AIUM, have required that only the diagnostic clinical use of ultrasound that is medically indicated, ordered by a physician and performed by a trained medical professional is acceptable. AWHONN & AGOG have recognized that certain clinical situations may be necessary for nurses and physicians to provide a limited ultrasound and have established guidelines and requirements for it’s use. Due to the high percentage of miscarriages ultrasound is medically indicated to determine the viability or risk of miscarriage for a woman who is pregnant and considering abortion. The information obtained will assist the client/patient to make an informed decision regarding her options. If the results of the ultrasound confirms a threatened miscarriage this information will save her the pain, expense and need for the surgical intervention of an abortion. An ultrasound exam can determine the viability of a pregnancy as early as six weeks gestation. This is done by determining the gestational age and examining the size, shape and location of the uterus, gestational sac, yolk sac, embryo as well as the heartbeat. It is important to note that a limited ultrasound exam performed to determine the presence or absence of fetal heart tones is not always a detection of viability or threatened miscarriage. (i.e. an ectopic pregnancy, threatened miscarriage or molar pregnancies may have heart tones but be life threatening to both the mother and unborn.) Assessing and documenting only fetal heart tones may be inconclusive. Nurses and physicians need to be properly educated to be able to recognize and document both the normal and abnormal appearance of the ultrasound exam in order to determine the viability, threatened miscarriage or need for referral. According to the AWHONN and AGOG guidelines for limited ultrasound: (AWHONN Lifelines, April 1998.) Nurses must know the minimal technical components of a limited obstetric uterine survey and possess the skills to image and interpret those components.”…. “Assessing only one component of the limited ultrasound is not appropriate or recommended. If the limited exam is technically difficult, the information gained is not conclusive or an earlier recommended ultrasound hasn’t been performed, the nurses responsibility is to consult with the woman’s care provider. This will allow the practitioner an opportunity to have the patient evaluated with a more comprehensive study.” In addition all medical professionals whose practice involves the use of limited ultrasound need formal and clinical education from professional skilled in ultrasound. They need to be aware that this advanced skill and expanded role will increase both their responsibility and liability. The educational objectives of The Imaging Network Diagnostic Ultrasound will meet the above guidelines and provide nurses and physicians with the education to recognize and evaluate both normal and abnormal early OB. This information will than enable the medical physicians of the PCC to evaluate the viability or risk of the pregnancy or indicate referrals and follow up ultrasound.
SWI is networking with registered sonographers and schools to provide a one week ultrasound course tailored specifically to train nurses and physicians who are working within Pregnancy Care Centers (PCC’s). The staff and associates will take a personal interest in each student. Our “one-on-one” instructor-led scanning sessions allow us to individualize training and concentration on specific problems when they arise. An even balance of didactic and clinical practice teaches students to systematically evaluate patients by correlating clinical history and data with sonographic findings. Special sessions help assist in developing interpretive skills. Simulators will be available at certain locations.