Why An Ultrasound is an Important Part of Your Decision Making

Finding out you are pregnant can be an overwhelming experience, especially if being pregnant is the last thing you want to be. You may feel like your life is spinning out of control when you see those two lines or a plus sign on the pregnancy test. You may ask yourself, “How can this happen?” “Didn’t I just have my period?”

If you are considering abortion as an option, you may think, “I need to take care of this immediately. I don’t want anyone to find out I’m pregnant”; however, there are important reasons; for your health and safety, you need to have your pregnancy confirmed by a medical professional and obtain an ultrasound before you make ANY decision.

Let’s start with a pregnancy test. Medical clinics, like Pathway Health Clinic, use medical-grade pregnancy tests. Those tests are checked daily to ensure they have not expired, and every new box undergoes a control test to ensure the tests are accurate. Although buying a pregnancy test over the counter is common, you don’t know how long that test has been sitting on the shelf and if it’s still accurate. At Pathway Health Clinic, only licensed medical professionals administer and read the pregnancy tests. Sometimes a pregnancy test can show a very faint positive, which may be hard to see. There can be many reasons for this, and a medical professional will cover this with you. Additionally, pregnancy tests left sitting too long while testing can provide unreliable results. Our medical professionals are trained to deal with all of these scenarios.

Let’s move on to the importance of ultrasound. There are three critical reasons that it is in YOUR best interest to have an ultrasound before making ANY decision.

  1. Only an ultrasound can give you accurate dating for your pregnancy. An ultrasound determines how far along your pregnancy is. If you are considering abortion as an option, you need to know this information. RU486, the abortion pill, is only approved for use up to 10 weeks (72 days) gestation. If you are past that date and still considering abortion, you will have to undergo a surgical abortion.
  2. Only an ultrasound will show if your pregnancy is located in the uterus. Sometimes a pregnancy can implant in the fallopian tube, which is called a tubal ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical attention due to the risk of the fallopian tube rupturing and causing internal bleeding[1].
  3. An ultrasound will show if there is viability (a heartbeat). Approximately 20% of pregnancies end in miscarriage[2]. Many miscarriages occur before someone knows that they are pregnant. Depending on when the miscarriage happened, a pregnancy test will still show a positive. Ultrasound will reveal if there is a heartbeat. If you are considering abortion, and it appears you are going to miscarry, at that point, an abortion is not necessary. If we at Pathway, based on ultrasound findings, suspect a miscarriage; we will provide you with miscarriage precautions and advise you to seek medical attention.  

We get it; an unexpected pregnancy can be overwhelming, scary, and emotional. However, the patient care team at Pathway Health Clinic believes that YOUR health and safety are essential and that YOU deserve the most accurate information you can receive.

We believe you are smart and can make your own decisions, we want to give you all the information you need in that decision making process.

Our pregnancy services are always at no cost because your present finances should never get in the way of obtaining medical care.

*Pathway Health Clinic neither refers nor provides abortion services


[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20372088

[2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298#:~:text=About%2010%20to%2020%20percent,even%20know%20about%20a%20pregnancy.

Unplanned Pregnancy, Now what?

Your unplanned pregnancy might have you nervous and not knowing what to expect. While you are figuring out your pregnancy options, and possibly putting an abortion plan together you can schedule an appointment for a NO COST pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy and discuss your options with our licensed medical professionals. The information below can help you by answering some of the most frequently asked questions, women, like you have been searching about in the North County San Diego area.

  • Will Pathway Health Clinic tell anyone that I came in for a pregnancy test or information about abortion in California?

We are here for YOU. You do not have to worry about anyone finding out what options you are considering when you make an appointment with us. When you are here your privacy is protected and everything you share with us is completely confidential. Our staff will accommodate your specific needs for privacy and communication from the moment you contact us. We will never call, text, or email you anything without your consent.

  • I’m a minor- do I need to have an adult or parent with me if I am considering abortion in  California?

At your appointment, you do NOT need to have an adult, parent, or guardian with you. Again, we are here for YOU. We are able to get you the information you need to assess the situation, make an informed decision, and decide your next steps. However, of course, you can bring someone with you to your appointment if that makes you more comfortable! Even if you are a minor we are still able to offer you a NO COST pregnancy test. At your appointment, you can talk to a licensed medical professional about your pregnancy options- including abortion. We can even accommodate your school schedule if you are a student, so please let us know when making an appointment. We are a safe place for you to gather all the information for your specific situation, so our staff will never pressure you into any decision regarding your pregnancy or abortion.

  • Will appointments show up on insurance paperwork that comes in the mail or email?

Our best asset, next to the compassionate and high-quality care we offer, is that all of our services are NO COST to you- meaning we don’t collect insurance information at all. Because of generous supporters in Vista, you have access to medical professionals that are here to help you navigate pregnancy and abortion decisions. We will never contact you without your consent.

We are here for YOU! So, what are you waiting for? You don’t have to do this alone. Our pro-woman services are for every woman facing an unplanned pregnancy who is considering abortion in the North County San Diego area. To have more of your questions answered, make an appointment or call us at 760-945-4673. We are here to help.

Pathway Health Clinic

Pathway Health Clinic, given the worsening situation with the Corona Virus, has decided to suspend normal operations. However, your care is extremely important to us. Please text 760-208-8811 to reach a trained Advocate who will assess your needs, and we will do everything in our power to accommodate you.

Your health and the health of our staff is of utmost importance. 
Thank you for trusting PHC with your care.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

We understand the growing concern surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) across our communities. Pathway Health Clinic is passionate about the care we provide our patients at our clinic. As well as our patient’s health and safety outside our clinic.

Standards Set

We want you to know we follow CDC guidelines regarding handwashing and cleaning. You are probably asking yourself what does this mean? The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) set cleaning and sanitation standards for our clinic that we use every day. As always, we provide hand sanitizer and masks for all our patients, visitors, and staff at our clinic. We also, work closely with our staff to ensure anyone who is not feeling well to stay home and rest for the safety and health of our patients, staff, and visitors of the clinic.

Our Services

At Pathway Health Clinic in Vista, California, we are available to offer you a safe place to discuss your unplanned pregnancy options with no-cost services that include all of the pregnancy tests and ultrasounds needed to make an informed decision on your unplanned pregnancy. For instance, your privacy is completely confidential and everything you share with us is private. While here, our staff will accommodate your specific needs for privacy and communication from the moment you contact us. We will never call, text, or email you without your consent.
Call (760)-945-4673  or schedule an appointment online today. We also offer services in English and Spanish.

Pathway Health Clinic will continue to monitor and refer to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and our local public health agency to determine the safest course of action for our staff and patients.

Wednesday, November 27th,       9 AM- 3 PM

November 28th 2019- December 1st 2019 we will be closed

Also, we will re open on Monday December 2nd 2019 at 9 AM- 4 PM

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Hours Of Operation    October 31, 2019

Halloween Hours of operation

October 31, 2019

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

If you need assistance after hours we are available through our text line at 760-208-8811

Money-Saving Tips for College Students

College is such an exciting time in a person’s life but it is no secret that college is expensive. Every expense for college students adds up- from books, tuition, room & board, food, healthcare. Most of the time having a job doesn’t always cover these expenses. But the essentials are not the only thing you need money for. So here are some ways to save money as a college student:

  • Attend Campus Events: Most colleges have a ton of events that have free giveaways and food for attending. Not only is this a great way to save some money on supplies and food. This is a great way to meet other college students in your community.
  • Apply for Scholarships and Grants: What is better than free money– NOTHING! Most scholarship applications are very simple to fill out and your college finance advisor is always happy to help. FASFA is a great way to receive assistance for paying for college tuition, books, and school supplies.
  • Use your School Library: The school library can be a great way to attend study sessions but also a way to connect to free wifi and check out free movies to watch in your dorm room.
  • Eat at the College Cafeteria: The college cafeteria is usually a great way to get a healthy meal and be able to meet up with your friends. Some college campuses incorporate the cost of meals with your tuition. Check into your school for specific meal options at your cafeteria. 
  • Stick to your Monthly Budget: Every penny counts! Make sure you are spending your money wisely so you are not racking up unwanted debt.
  • Re-sell Your Textbooks: Textbooks are expensive and you might only open the book a couple of times during the semester. Most libraries have a buyback program that can give you cash or credit for future purchases.

College is expensive and too often we’re left with not enough money in our pockets to cover all the extra things we might want or need after the essentials are taken care of. These are just a few tips to help you keep a little more of your hard-earned dollars in your wallet!

Bullying. It’s something that is talked a lot about in today’s world. We are constantly hearing about how it is bad or not right. Many of us experience bullying on a regular basis may it be at school, at work, maybe just in the course of everyday life. We might find ourselves asking, Why should I care about bullying? It doesn’t affect me. However, maybe we don’t realize the facts surrounding bullying. A journal published in American Psychologist says this:

“There is compelling evidence of anxiety as an outcome of victimization, impacting young adults” (Copeland et al., 2013, p.7). “Consistent with media reports, childhood peer victimization has been tied to greater risk for suicidal behavior (attempts and completions)” (Mcdougall, Vaillancourt, 2015, p.304).

If you are bullying someone there is a real possibility that you could be contributing to anxiety or suicidal behavior (attempts and completions). Maybe still it is not enough to know what it might be doing to someone else, but it may not just be a problem for someone else to deal with:

According to the National Center for Education Statistics “Students who are both targets of bullying and engage in bullying behavior are at greater risk for both mental health and behavior problems than students who only bully or are only bullied” (Center for Disease Control, 2016, p. 1).

What does it look like in today’s world?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics “More than one out of every five (20.8%) students report being bullied” (Pacers National Bullying Prevention Center, 2016, p. 1).

It’s not just about what other people are doing anymore. It’s about what you are doing and what people are saying to you. I imagine every person can think of a time that they or someone that they know has been bullied. So it’s important to be informed.

People can talk about anything or anyone in school or online. Some of the most common things that are talked about amongst young adults are who is pregnant or thinks they might be pregnant, what someone’s sexual identification is, or who is sleeping with who. All these things are big parts of our world today and they are easy to get caught up in.

It is very common for us at the Pregnancy Resource Center to see young women who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. As a result, one of the things that these women might be worried about is how their peers will react. For instance, will they be pushed away by their friends? What will happen to their reputation? Will they be bullied by family as well to make decisions they are not comfortable with? In any case, it’s important that young women find comfort in some type of support system even if that’s only in their peer groups. Put yourself in their shoes and imagine how different your life would be if you were her… Choose today to see situations such as teen pregnancy, in a different light. Offer hope to those in unique situations and learn to stand out among those who only live to tear down others.

Whether it’s online to their face bullying has the same kind of effects. Sites like Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, and other social media create places where it’s easy for young adults to talk about others while remaining “anonymous”. While these sites are great for connecting with peers and family they often breed hate because of the anonymity they offer. Be careful not to be dragged into that lifestyle.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics “More than half of bullying situations (57%) stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied” (Hawkins, Pepler, Craig, 2001, p. 519).

It may not seem like speaking up for someone will do much, but imagine what it would feel like to have someone in your corner? You can make a difference.

If you or someone you know is struggling with being a bully or being bullied call us (760) 945-4673 or come by. We would love to talk out these situations with you.

References

Bullying Statistics. Pacers National Bullying Prevention Center (2016). http://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/stats.asp

Center for Disease Control. (2016). Understanding Bullying: Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv/bullying-factsheet508.pdf

Psychiatric Outcomes of Bullying and Being Bullied by Peers in Childhood and Adolescence. JAMA Psychiatry,70(4), 425.

Hawkins, D. L., Pepler, D. J., & Craig, W. M. (2001). Naturalistic Observations of Peer Interventions in Bullying. Social Development,10(4), 519.

Mcdougall, P., & Vaillancourt, T. (2015). Long-term adult outcomes of peer victimization in childhood and adolescence: Pathways to adjustment and maladjustment. American Psychologist,70(4), 300-310.