Each stage of pregnancy is fraught with several emotions, joys, and challenges – right from the first trimester, through the second trimester, to the third trimester till you hold your newborn in your secured arms. You have braved through the first two trimesters, and now the real countdown begins with the onset of the third one.
As a new mum-to-be, you are a now even more excited, nervous, and restless. Your baby is rapidly growing inside you and your due date is coming soon. By now, your doctor may have asked you to go for a third trimester pregnancy growth scan. Find out all about the growth scan, why it is important and what happens during the scan.

What is a third trimester growth scan during pregnancy?

As the name suggests, the third trimester growth scan is a routine scan that is performed to check if your baby is growing as expected. The third trimester scan usually measures your baby’s head, leg, and abdominal circumference.

What will the doctor examine at the third trimester growth scan?

A growth scan in the third trimester is performed so that your doctor has all the necessary information about the fetal growth and your pregnancy. The scan helps the doctor to do the following:

• Check the baby’s overall growth
• Check the amount of the amniotic fluid
• Determine the final position of the placenta
• Check the fetal position.This becomes more important as the due date comes closer
• Examine your baby’s weight close to the estimated delivery date
• Understand if there is a concern due to gestational diabetes

The doctor may ask you to get additional scans in your third trimester if:

• Your baby is not moving at all or as often as she should be
• She is in the breech, oblique or transverse position
• You are carrying twins or more
• A previous scan has shown the umbilical cord is around your baby’s neck
• The amount of amniotic fluid is not as much as expected

When should the third trimester scan be done?

A growth and fetal well-being scan is usually performed at around 36 weeks of pregnancy. Again, another growth scan and color Doppler studies are conducted between 36 and 40 weeks.

Can the growth scan harm me or my baby?

Ultrasound scans are considered safe for expectant and their babies. However, you should go for scanning only at the doctor’s recommendation.