Fetal Growth Scan

Fetal Growth Scan

To assess the health and progress of the fetus inside the mother's womb, fetal growth and doppler scans are performed in the last trimester of pregnancy. The crucial aspect of prenatal treatment that is directly related to perinatal morbidity and stillbirth is determined by the fetal growth ultrasonography at week 32. The recommendations offer a precise roadmap from the third trimester through the due date.

The first fetal scan is advised between weeks 28 and 32 of pregnancy so that early medical intervention can improve the infant's prognosis. Soundwaves are used in growth and doppler scans to identify blood vessel movement which investigates the uterus, placenta, and baby's blood flow. It really is a helpful screening tool for determining undesired actions and their negative effects. An accurate technique to improve outcomes for both mother and child is through routine fetal growth scans and doppler ultrasonography of the blood arteries in the placenta and uterus.

Weekly growth scans and doppler tests are carried out on newborns to keep a close eye on their development. The growth scan and doppler test might be utilized by a woman who has previously had pregnancy problems, has health conditions (such as high blood pressure or diabetes), or is expecting twins to identify any anomalies brought on by fetal growth limits.

Why is Fetal Growth Scan conducted in the Third Trimester?

The third-trimester fetal growth ultrasound scan is beneficial for a number of reasons. It enables:

  • Keeping an eye on the fetal heartbeat.
  • Determine the fetal's appearance and location.
  • Determine the size and development of the fetus.
  • Check the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding the infant.
  • View the placenta's location.
  • Verify the baby's blood flow through the umbilical cord.
  • Look at the baby's movements and activity.
  • Measure the cervix's length.
  • Examine where the uterine fibroids are located.

All of these parameters enable the evaluation of the infant's development and well-being. As part of the obstetric fetal growth scan, it also enables the generation of estimated fetal weight and height. Exact numbers are included in the measurement charts to determine the average growth rate for each stage. The following fetal measures are obtained during a growth scan:

  • Abdominal Circumference (AC), an analysis of the abdomen area.
  • Head Circumference (HC), an analysis of the head area.
  • Femur Length (FL), an analysis of thigh bone area.
  • Biparietal diameter (BPD), an analysis of the head area.


Doppler ultrasounds, which are conducted between 10 and 20 weeks of gestation, screen for major fetal abnormalities whereas serial growth scans check for anomalies during pregnancy.

Process of Fetal Growth Scan

During the fetal growth scan an ultrasound transducer is placed on the abdomen and gel is spread which helps to move the object. Contrary to a standard ultrasound, the bladder does not have to be completely full. It ought to be somewhere between full and empty instead. A prenatal growth scan lasts for 20 to 30 minutes in total.

A transvaginal scan is done in an empty bladder at the end of the examination to provide a more accurate reading of the placenta's bottom border and to determine the precise length of the cervix. As a result, the doctor advises using an ultrasound to measure the baby's development throughout the third trimester of pregnancy accurately.

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