When should I take a pregnancy test?

The best time to take a test is at least one week after your missed period. Maybe you’re wondering why you should wait so long. It takes time for your body to produce detectable amounts of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). This hormone doubles every two to three days when you’re pregnant. If you take a test too early, the test may not be able to detect hCG, and could give you a false-negative result.

What are the common pregnancy symptoms?

In the meantime, here are some of the most common pregnancy symptoms women have in their first trimester, according to Mayo Clinic. Note that some women will experience many or all of these and some none at all. A missed period is a symptom that every woman will have when pregnant. Here are some other pregnancy symptoms: Nausea with or without vomiting Moodiness Fatigue Tender, swollen breasts Increased urination Bloating

What kind of pregnancy test should I take?

This step is often the most confusing part of the process, especially if it’s your first time taking a pregnancy test. If you haven’t already, an at-home test is your first step and is 99 percent accurate when used correctly. A lab-quality pregnancy test can confirm the result of your at-home test, as there is still a slight chance for user error with the at-home tests. These tests are similar to the at-home test, most of the time a simple urine test, but they are administered by a professional. Receive free and confidential pregnancy testing at our center today to be sure.

What if my test comes back positive?

If you receive a positive pregnancy test, don’t panic. You are not alone in your pregnancy journey. Our compassionate team at Pregnancy Help Center of South County is here to walk alongside you with free and confidential pregnancy services, support, and resources. We can share more information about your pregnancy options as well.

Will Missouri medicaid pay for abortion?

In Missouri, public funding such as Medicaid is available for abortion only in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. Health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act can only cover abortion in cases of life endangerment.

Are You Considering the Abortion Pill?

The abortion pill method is a form of medical abortion. You are only eligible for a medical abortion if you’ve been pregnant less than 10 weeks and 0 days. After 10 weeks, you are required to have an in-clinic surgical abortion. The abortion pill isn’t just one pill and you’re done. It’s a combination of two very powerful drugs taken over a 24-48 hour period. The first drug blocks the hormone progesterone. This hormone is needed for the pregnancy to stay attached to the uterine wall and grow. The second drug causes your uterus to have contractions to expel the pregnancy. The abortion pill method in Missouri can cost anywhere from $200 to $700. There are several different methods for surgical abortions. They range from vacuum aspiration to dilation and evacuation (D&E). All of these use some form of suction, possible scraping of the uterine wall, and even forceps, if necessary, to remove larger tissue.

How Does Ultrasound Technology Work for Pregnancy?

When you hear the word “ultrasound,” pregnancy likely comes to mind. It is one of the most common uses of this imaging technology. During a fetal ultrasound, a sonographer will either place a transducer wand either on your belly or in your vagina (for very early pregnancy). The sonographer may apply a gel over your belly to help the sound waves move more easily. The transducer will then emit sound waves into your uterus. These will echo off of the fetus’ tissue, bones, and fluids and back to the transducer. Once received, the transducer will translate the echoes into images on the screen. You will see a black and white moving picture. This is a picture of the inside of your body!

What Does an Ultrasound Tell Me?

An ultrasound will tell you three things: Pregnancy Gestation – How far along is my pregnancy? Viability – Does my pregnancy have a heartbeat, and is it progressing? Pregnancy Location – Is the pregnancy ectopic? The answers to these questions will determine which pregnancy options are available to you. If you’re over ten weeks pregnant, you will no longer be eligible for the abortion pill. If you have a non-viable pregnancy, you will not need an abortion, but you might need medical attention. It’s critical to know these details before making any pregnancy decisions for your health and safety.

Medical Abortion: What Are the Risks?

Medical abortion, or the abortion pill, is a procedure performed at 10 weeks of pregnancy or less. It uses two powerful drugs to first end the pregnancy, and then expel it through the vagina with cramping and bleeding. Here are the main risks of medical abortion, according to Mayo Clinic: Incomplete abortion, which may need to be followed by surgical abortion An ongoing pregnancy if the procedure doesn’t work Digestive discomfort Heavy and prolonged bleeding Infection Fever

Surgical Abortion: What Are the Risks?

There are two types of surgical abortion: Dilation & Curettage (D&C) and Dilation & Evacuation (D&E). In both procedures, the physician will dilate the cervix and use a combination of tools and suction to surgically remove the pregnancy. A D&E abortion typically takes more time and requires more tools. Here are the main risks of surgical abortion, according to Mayo Clinic: Perforation of the uterus Damage to the cervix Scar tissue on the uterine wall Infection Incomplete abortion can also happen after surgical abortion, but it’s much more rare.

What Raises the Risk of Abortion Complications?

If you begin an abortion procedure with an existing, untreated STD, you raise the risk of spreading the STD further up your reproductive system, leading to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID). Additionally, if you don’t have a preliminary ultrasound to determine how far along you are and take the abortion pill, you increase the chance of complications. This method is only FDA-approved for use up to ten weeks of pregnancy.

What is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

The definition of the word ectopic is “an abnormal place or position.” An ectopic pregnancy occurs when a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus. More than 90% of ectopic pregnancies occur within a fallopian tube. The danger of the fertilized egg implanting in a fallopian tube is that the tube cannot expand like the uterus to accommodate the growing embryo, so it is in danger of bursting. Ectopic pregnancies are more common than you’d think. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, they occur in about 1 out of every 50 pregnancies (20 out of 1,000).

What Are the Symptoms of an Ectopic Pregnancy?

Symptoms usually occur within the first few weeks of pregnancy, although some women never show any symptoms. The earliest warning signs of ectopic pregnancy are: Light vaginal bleeding Pelvic pain Abdominal pain Shoulder pain Heavy bleeding Extreme Lightheadedness The unusual shoulder pain is associated with ectopic pregnancies because the blood leaking from the fallopian tube into the abdomen is thought to irritate the phrenic nerve, which is found in your diaphragm.

3 Things Needed Before Abortion - Pregnancy Help Center

When thinking of having an abortion, taking steps to protect your health is vital. Three things needed before abortion are a pregnancy test, ultrasound, and STD test. These steps will determine what options you have. You are not alone in your unexpected pregnancy.

Before moving forward with an abortion, it’s important to understand abortion risks and side effects. To learn more about this option and all your pregnancy options, contact us today.

What is Abortion?

Abortion, in basic terms, is a procedure that works to terminate an existing pregnancy. There are two major types of abortion: medical and surgical. Each one comes with unique risks and side effects. Before making a decision about abortion, it’s imperative to verify your pregnancy details.

Here are three pregnancy confirmation steps to do so:

1. Receive Clinical Pregnancy Testing

Confirm your at-home pregnancy test with clinical pregnancy testing at our center to be sure. Some women take a pregnancy test incorrectly or at the wrong time so it’s essential to verify the test result to determine what’s next.

If you think you might be pregnant, schedule no-cost clinical pregnancy testing at the Pregnancy Help Center of South County, and we can verify the results for you.

2. Get An Ultrasound

Once you’ve verified your pregnancy test result, an ultrasound is next. Our no-cost ultrasound scan gives you vital information, especially if you’re considering abortion. An ultrasound confirms three things:

If you have a viable pregnancy (has a heartbeat and is growing)
How far along you are in your pregnancy (the gestational age)
The location of your pregnancy (not an ectopic pregnancy)

Determining how far along you are will help you understand which pregnancy options you’re eligible for. Medication abortion (the abortion pill) is only available for women who are 10 weeks pregnant or less.

An ultrasound also alerts you to any pregnancy complications. If your pregnancy isn’t viable or you have an ectopic pregnancy, we can help make sure you get the medical care you need.

3. Know Your Options

At the Pregnancy Help Center, we believe the more knowledge you have, the more confidence you can have in your decision. Get as much information as you can regarding your pregnancy and your options. Our peer counselors are here to help with this step.

Receive education about your three options: abortion, adoption, and parenting. Together, we can talk about which option is for you and your future.

Make Your Decision

After learning the steps to take before an abortion, only you can make the final decision for your future. We are here to listen and support you. Our services are offered at no cost and are completely private.
Schedule an appointment to learn more and confirm your pregnancy.

3 Things Needed Before Abortion

What is Abortion?

1. Receive Clinical Pregnancy Testing

2. Get An Ultrasound

3. Know Your Options

Make Your Decision

Contact Us Today