More than Just a Positive: The Power of Ultrasound

Diana was walking to the Septa station when she spotted our Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in her neighborhood. She needed to get some answers – she had already put it off too long. She grabbed her phone and tapped in AlphaCare’s number.

Later on that day, when Diana found a quiet moment, she called our office and spoke with Helen, our receptionist. “I saw a bus with this number on the side. Can you help me?” Helen was able to schedule Diana for a pregnancy test on our MMU.

When she arrived for her appointment, it became clear to our staff that Diana was overwhelmed with her life circumstances. She was single, working a full-time job that didn’t pay enough and had recently lost her mother. The grief from this loss had been consuming her thoughts, preventing her from seeking help sooner.

After confirming that Diana was indeed pregnant, the AlphaCare nurse began her ultrasound. Diana could not believe what she was seeing. Instead of a tiny little bean on the screen, a sweet baby with fingers, toes and a perfect profile was there. While she had been suspicious of pregnancy for a little while, she had no idea a baby like this could be living inside her. Diana was more than halfway through her pregnancy. Although shocked, the sight of the ultrasound images helped her understand the reality of her situation.

Being so far along in her pregnancy (which we only knew thanks to our ultrasound services), and having received no prenatal care meant that our staff had to jump into action. They quickly and sensitively guided her through the process of applying for insurance and referred her to a prenatal care provider. Then they were able to encourage her and pray with her. Diana left the MMU that afternoon with the surprising realization that she was a mother, and the assurance that she’d have AlphaCare’s help to equip her to care for her baby when the time came.