Ultrasound machine assists pregnant women in making critical, life-affirming decisions

SALT LAKE CITY — Ultrasounds are a window to the womb and seeing the life they carry can change a woman’s mind about abortion.

"Visuals are very impactful," said Tamara Anderson, Salt Lake City Pregnancy Resource Center executive director, adding that 87 percent of women change their mind and make a life-decision concerning their pregnancy once they have experienced an ultrasound.

To aid this life-affirming decision, the Knights of Columbus and the Diocese of Salt Lake City Family Life Office are collaborating to buy an ultrasound machine for the Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) in Salt Lake City, so the PRC can donate its ultrasound machine to the CareNet Facility in Brigham City.

The national Knights of Columbus board of directors decided in 2008 to place ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers so that "every child would have a chance at life," said John Wainscott, Utah Knights of Columbus outgoing International Supreme director.

"The concept is that the Supreme Knights will fund 50 percent of the cost of the ultrasound machine so the local Knights, the diocese and PRCs will only have to pay 50 percent," Wainscott said. "To date we have placed 384 ultrasound machines throughout the world for a cost of $12.4 million."

The Utah Knights of Columbus are seeking $18,000, half of the cost needed to purchase the ultrasound machine and to train individuals to use it.

There were 134 abortions in Box Elder County in 2011, and the goal of CareNet is "to be one of the first steps in a woman’s pregnancy in providing information that she is carrying a life," said Terry Fuller, CareNet a registered nurse and wife of George Fuller, Saint Henry Parish Knights of Columbus Grand Knight.

CareNet assists six to 10 women a week.

"Some of the women come in for resources, while others come for a pregnancy test," said Fuller. "Once we receive the ultrasound machine, our facility will become a medical clinic, and we expect our numbers to triple."

At the Salt Lake PRC "we see over 800 women a year in our facility and a newer model ultrasound machine will help us keep our mission going," Anderson said.

During an ultrasound, the nurse checks for a heartbeat, the gestational age and a viable pregnancy, said Shawn Bauer, PRC nurse manager in Salt Lake City.

Before the procedure, Bauer tells each woman that the ultrasound is a service to confirm a pregnancy, she said. "I can tell how far along they are and for someone who is considering abortion, that is effective because they want medical information. We do fetal development teaching during the ultrasound, with a woman’s permission, because she has the option to refuse any information, and at that point, I let the ultrasound speak for itself.

"Our clients are always amazed at how developed babies are so early," said Bauer. "The earliest an ultrasound can be done is six weeks and our doctor recommends it be done by 12 weeks. However if someone is considering abortion, we will go beyond that. At six weeks they see a heartbeat, and the baby is actually smaller than its heart, and by eight weeks they see arms and legs, sometimes fingers, and babies move between seven and eight weeks.

"They often say ‘I didn’t know they were this developed, or that there is already a brain," said Bauer. "I don’t have to do much except tell them the facts."

Bauer said one woman who was considering abortion didn’t know how far along she was. "When I started the ultrasound, there was the baby’s head and I started explaining what I was seeing and she said she didn’t want any information so I continued doing what we medically do, by taking pictures of, and measuring the head and finding out how big the baby is."

The baby, which was about 17 weeks old, was moving during the ultrasound, Bauer said, and the mother got emotional; she could see its legs, arms and fingers and "I didn’t have to say a word except to tell her what I was going to do next," Bauer said. "By the time I got to the heartbeat she said she wanted to go and we thought she would proceed with the abortion. But three days later she returned after talking to her support person and said ‘That was a baby I saw on the screen.’"

To donate to the ultrasound project, send a check or money order to the Knights of Columbus, c/o Jerald Hanten, 13745 South 2200 West, Riverton, UT 84065, with ultrasound in the memo line; or on-line at www.utahknights.org/donate.html. The Knights will match all donations.