Is it important to have growth scan in pregnancy? How is my baby’s growth measured?

Growth ultrasounds are scans that your obstetrician prescribes when they are worried about your baby’s growth or if your pregnancy is at increased risk of growth restriction. Sometimes you may be advised to have a growth scan as a routine to evaluate your baby’s growth.

A growth scan is generally done at 36 weeks in low-risk pregnancy. If your pregnancy is high risk (Like preeclampsia, previous growth disorder in pregnancy, diabetes etc) then you may have regular growth scans starting from 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.

Your baby’s growth is measured as an estimate. There are formulas that consider the baby’s femur length (thigh bone), abdomen circumference, and head measurements (head circumference as well as biparietal diameter). Your baby’s estimated weight is then plotted on a graph to understand how small or big your baby is in comparison to the rest of the population. If your baby’s growth is within the normal range, then it is reassuring. Along with growth we also check blood flow in various fetal and placental vessels as well the amniotic fluid to ascertain your baby’s well-being. Visit our website to know more about each type of scan that you may require in pregnancy.