(RALEIGH) -- A federal judge has blocked part of North Carolina's new abortion law ruling that providers do not have to place an ultrasound image next to a pregnant woman so she can view it, nor do they have to describe the features and offer her the chance to listen to the heartbeat. Carrie Pope, Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina said she is encouraged by the decision.

"When a woman has chosen to have an abortion she had thought about this for many days, often weeks and we believe that it puts her through additional trauma to force her to view an image of the fetus after she's come to that decision," said Pope.

The judge did allow other parts of the law to be enforced, including a 24-hour waiting period to make information about abortion risks and alternatives available. The abortion providers did not specifically challenge the waiting period but Pope said this does place an additional burden on a woman.