Growth scans help identify babies that are struggling and that need to be born early to keep them safe (Gardosi et al 2018, NHS 2019, RCOG 2013). The person doing the scan (sonographer) will check your baby’s size by measuring: The circumference of your baby’s head (HC). The circumference of your baby’s tummy (AC).

A Growth Scan is normally done, between 28 – 40 weeks of pregnancy, to assess the growth of your baby and amount of liquor

Babies are diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) if they appear to be smaller than expected. This would happen if an ultrasound indicates that the baby’s weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age (weeks of pregnancy). It’s also called fetal growth restriction (FGR).

What does being small mean for my baby? If your baby is small but healthy, he or she is not at increased risk of complications. If your baby is growth restricted, there is an increased risk of stillbirth (the baby dying in the womb), serious illness and dying shortly after birth.

But most babies who are small for gestational age have growth problems that happen during pregnancy. Many of these babies have a condition called intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This happens when the unborn baby doesn’t get the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow and develop organs and tissues.

This is ultrasound after 28 weeks, commonly much later. It may also be referred to as a growth scan or late Pregnancy Ultrasound.

Growth scans are medical scans and should last no more than 30 minutes. In this scan we check for the following: Check fetal growth. Assess placental position (low lying placenta at 20 weeks)

But most babies who are small for gestational age have growth problems that happen during pregnancy. Many of these babies have a condition called intrauterine growth restriction. This happens when the unborn baby doesn’t get the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow and develop organs and tissues. your scan, but this does not go into the level of detail required during an abnormality scan, which by itself could take up the entire time that you appointment is planned for, and would leave no time for you to bond with your baby or see them in 3D/4D. As a result, the wellbeing check doesn’t cover all the things that your midwife needs to see and know so its best to still keep up with all of your NHS scans and appointments.

The simplest way to gauge a baby’s size in utero is to measure an expecting mom’s fundal height. Fundal height measures the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus in centimeters. Your health care practitioner will also palpate your abdomen to get an idea of your baby’s size

All scans fell within the accepted 15% margin of error, reassuringly 95% of scans gave an estimated fetal weight within 10% of the actual weight. Just under a third of scans estimated the fetal weight within 2% of the actual weight. Scans done at 40 weeks and beyond were more accurate than those done pretermnt

Strong abdominal muscles mean a growing uterus is going to stay closer to the core of the body, Kirkham explained, making a bump appear smaller. On the other hand, if core muscles have been stretched out from a previous pregnancy, a second or third pregnancy baby bump may look larger

In general, most women should start drinking approximately eight glasses of eight ounces of water each day for about a week before your ultrasound. If your doctor recommends a different amount, always follow your doctors instructions.

If your baby keeps gaining some weight, an early delivery (before the due date) may not be needed. But if your baby is not growing at all or has other problems, your doctor may decide that an early delivery could help. In this case, your doctor may want to induce labor.

An increased intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C at mid-pregnancy is associated with increased fetal growth and infant growth up to 6 months of age