The Growth Scan

The Growth Scan, usually done between 28 to 34 weeks, is much more than just seeing your baby's face. Think of your placenta as a factory and your baby as the product. Earlier scans checked the "design" (like the Anomaly Scan); this scan checks the "production line" to ensure everything is running efficiently. It helps us understand if your baby is getting enough nutrition and growing as expected. Your doctor uses four main measurements to calculate the **Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW)**. These are the **BPD** (head width), **HC** (head circumference), **AC** (abdominal circumference), and **FL** (thigh bone length). The most important of these is the **AC**, or abdominal circumference. This measurement tells us about your baby's nutrition because the tummy is where they store fat and glycogen. If the AC is lagging, it's often the first sign that the baby isn't getting enough food from the placenta. We don't just look at the weight in grams; we use **percentiles**. If your baby is in the 50th percentile, their weight is exactly average for their age. If they are in the 10th percentile, they are smaller than 90 out of 100 babies. What truly matters is the **growth velocity** – is your baby following their own growth curve, or has their percentile suddenly dropped significantly? This helps us identify if there's a concern like **Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)**, meaning the baby isn't growing as expected, or **Macrosomia**, meaning the baby is growing larger than average. * **Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW):** The overall estimated weight of your baby. * **Biometric Markers (BPD, HC, AC, FL):** Measurements of your baby's head, tummy, and thigh bone to track growth. * **Percentile Ranking:** Where your baby's weight falls compared to other babies of the same age. * **Growth Velocity:** Whether your baby is maintaining their own growth curve or if there's a sudden change in percentile. * **Brain Sparing Effect:** If the head measurements are normal but the tummy is small, it indicates the baby is prioritizing blood flow to the brain, a sign of placental insufficiency. * **Doppler Scan (if needed):** Measures blood flow resistance in the umbilical artery ("pipes") to check placental function, especially if growth is lagging. * **Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Link:** Checking for signs of macrosomia (large baby) which can be linked to uncontrolled blood sugar. * **Maternal Protein Intake:** Assessing if your diet provides enough protein for optimal fetal growth. * **Maternal Resting Position:** Encouraging left-side lying to improve blood flow to the placenta. * **Daily Fetal Movement Count (DFMC):** Your report of your baby's kick counts as a vital sign of their well-being.