What Is a Growth Scan and When Is It Done?

What a growth scan measures

• Head and abdomen size and thigh bone length: used to estimate the baby's weight.
• Amniotic fluid: too little or too much can matter.
• Placenta: position and health.
• [Doppler](/guides/growth-scan-doppler-pregnancy-fetal-growth-restriction) blood flow: shows how well blood is reaching the baby.
• Baby's position: head down, breech or sideways.

When Is It Done?

For a low-risk pregnancy, one scan in the third trimester may be enough, or none if growth is normal on clinical examination. In pregnancies with risk factors, scans may be repeated every two to four weeks, depending on what the doctor sees.

Who may need a growth scan

• High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia.
• Diabetes or gestational diabetes.
• Twin or multiple pregnancy.
• A previous baby who was small or large.
• A baby measuring small or large on examination.
• Reduced baby movements.
• Low or high amniotic fluid.

Is It Safe?

Yes. Ultrasound does not use radiation and has no known harm to mother or baby when done by trained professionals.

How to understand the report

The report gives the baby's estimated weight and a percentile, which compares the baby with others of the same age. A single measurement does not tell the whole story. Doctors look at the trend over time and at the Doppler findings.

The takeaway

A growth scan is a helpful way to make sure the baby is doing well in the later months. Dr Malathi G. Prasad at Trichy Fetal Medicine and Fertility Centre in Trichy can explain your report and guide the right timing of follow-up scans.

For appointments, the growth scan with Doppler page has the details, and our fetal medicine specialists can advise whether it fits your situation.

Related guides

• Why Is a Doppler Scan Done During Pregnancy?
• How Often Should Growth Scans Be Done in a High-Risk Pregnancy?
• Anomaly Scan in Pregnancy: Complete Guide to the 20-Week / TIFFA Scan