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An unexpected pregnancy can feel overwhelming. Knowing what steps to take next is important. One way to make an informed decision is to determine whether your pregnancy is viable.
Making a decision with confidence starts with gathering all the facts. Let’s look at why it’s important to know if your pregnancy is viable (even if you’re considering abortion), what pregnancy viability is, how to know if you have one, and what to do if you don’t.
Please note: this article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical concerns or emergencies.
What is pregnancy viability?
A viable pregnancy means the pregnancy is likely to continue progressing until it is able to survive birth.
A nonviable pregnancy means there is no chance of survival. This can include:
- Ectopic pregnancy – when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus.
- Miscarriage – when the pregnancy ends naturally before birth.
Regardless of whether you plan to continue or terminate your pregnancy, knowing viability is essential for determining your safest options.
When can I confirm pregnancy viability?
A pregnancy’s viability can often be confirmed between 6 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. At 6 weeks, a healthy embryo should have a heartbeat and able to be visualized through an ultrasound.
If an ultrasound is done too early and the fetus can’t be seen clearly or a heartbeat isn’t detected, you should make a follow-up ultrasound appointment in about 1-2 weeks, even if you plan to have an abortion.
If you have a nonviable pregnancy, medical professionals will help determine the safest next steps.
How does an ultrasound confirm pregnancy viability?
An ultrasound looks at several things when confirming a viable pregnancy:
- Location of pregnancy: to make sure it is inside the uterus
- Healthy fetal heartbeat: at 6 weeks it should have a healthy heart rate of 110 beats a minute or higher
- Gestational Age: to estimate how far along you are and give you a more accurate estimated due date
What if I have a nonviable pregnancy?
If your pregnancy is nonviable due to miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, different treatments are needed. Schedule an appointment with your doctor as they might want to do further tests to make sure the pregnancy is indeed nonviable. It’s never a bad idea to get a second opinion.
Keep in mind, an abortion will not treat an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. Having an abortion with an untreated ectopic pregnancy can be extremely dangerous, as the ectopic pregnancy can cause your fallopian tube to rupture and be fatal. If your pregnancy has ended naturally by miscarriage, an abortion is not needed. Instead, a medication or procedure might be needed to remove all of the tissue.
Get Info About Pregnancy Viability
Our licensed medical professionals at Harmony Women’s Care provide no-cost pregnancy testing and limited ultrasounds to give you important early information about your pregnancy. We can help estimate how far along you are and talk through your options and next steps. While this is not a full diagnostic exam, it’s a helpful first step as you make informed decisions about your care.