Pregnancy Scan Schedule by Week India: When to Book Each Ultrasound
Pregnancy ultrasounds in India are recommended at specific windows — and some of them cannot be rescheduled if missed. The NT scan must happen before 14 weeks. The anomaly scan must be completed before 22 weeks, because of India's Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act limit of 24 weeks. Missing these windows is not just inconvenient — it removes clinical options.
This guide gives you the full week-by-week schedule, what each scan checks, and a personalized calculator so you know exactly what is coming up in your pregnancy.
Key Takeaways:
- FOGSI and the Government of India recommend a minimum of 3–4 ultrasound scans for a normal, low-risk pregnancy
- The most time-sensitive scans are: NT scan (before 14 weeks) and anomaly scan (before 22 weeks)
- High-risk pregnancies (twins, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure) need more frequent scans
- Sex determination by ultrasound is illegal in India under the PC-PNDT Act
- Most pregnancy scans use safe sound waves, not radiation — no evidence of harm to the baby at diagnostic levels
Get Your Personalised Scan Schedule
Enter how many weeks pregnant you are today to see which scans are upcoming, which are due now, and which timing windows you need to protect.
Note: This schedule is for a normal, low-risk singleton pregnancy following FOGSI guidelines. Your gynaecologist may recommend additional or different scans based on your specific health history. Always follow your doctor's advice over any general schedule.
Complete Pregnancy Scan Schedule — Week by Week
Scan 1: Dating Scan / Early Viability Scan — 6 to 10 Weeks
What it checks:
- Confirms the pregnancy is in the uterus (rules out ectopic pregnancy)
- Detects fetal heartbeat (normal: 110–160 bpm at this stage)
- Measures crown-rump length (CRL) to calculate gestational age and due date
- Counts embryos (identifies twins or triplets)
- Assesses ovaries for cysts
When to book: As soon as you confirm pregnancy, ideally between 7–9 weeks. If booked before 6 weeks, the heartbeat may not yet be visible.
Type: May be transvaginal (TVS) in early weeks for clearer imaging, then transabdominal. TVS is safe.
Cost in India: ₹500–₹1,500 (government hospitals: ₹100–₹300)
Scan 2: NT Scan (Nuchal Translucency) — 11 to 13 Weeks + 6 Days
This is one of the most time-critical scans in pregnancy. It cannot be performed after 14 weeks.
What it checks:
- Measures the fluid-filled space at the back of the baby's neck (nuchal translucency)
- When combined with the Double Marker blood test (PAPP-A and Beta-hCG), screens for chromosomal conditions including Down syndrome (Trisomy 21), Edwards syndrome (Trisomy 18), and Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13)
- Also checks nasal bone (present in most chromosomally normal babies)
- Can detect some heart defects early
FOGSI recommendation: All pregnant women should be offered first-trimester combined screening (NT scan + Double Marker blood test) between 11 and 13+6 weeks.
The Double Marker blood test is a blood draw done at the same time — not a separate appointment. Labs usually do it together.
What the results mean: NT is reported in millimetres. NT < 3.0 mm is generally considered normal; above 3.5 mm warrants further investigation. The result is combined with blood test values and maternal age to give a risk ratio, not a diagnosis.
Cost in India:
- NT scan alone: ₹1,000–₹2,500
- Combined NT scan + Double Marker: ₹3,500–₹6,000
Scan 3: Anomaly Scan / TIFFA Scan — 18 to 22 Weeks
This is the most comprehensive scan of pregnancy. It must be completed before 22 weeks.
The clinical reason for the 22-week deadline: If a significant abnormality is found, parents need time for a second opinion, genetic counselling, and decision-making before India's MTP (Medical Termination of Pregnancy) legal limit of 24 weeks.
What it checks:
- Complete fetal anatomy: brain, face, spine, heart (4 chambers), lungs, abdomen, kidneys, bladder, limbs, and fingers
- Placenta position (rules out placenta previa early)
- Amniotic fluid levels
- Umbilical cord (number of vessels)
- Soft markers for chromosomal abnormalities
TIFFA stands for Targeted Imaging for Fetal Anomalies — this is the standard name used in India for the 18–22 week detailed anomaly scan. It is the same test internationally known as the "morphology scan" or "level 2 ultrasound."
What "soft markers" means: The radiologist may mention findings like an echogenic focus in the heart or a choroid plexus cyst. In isolation, most soft markers are not clinically significant — but your gynaecologist will advise if further testing is needed.
Fetal Echocardiography (detailed heart scan): May be ordered separately between 18–24 weeks if family history of congenital heart disease, or if the routine anomaly scan raises questions about the heart.
Cost in India:
- Government hospital: ₹200–₹500
- Private diagnostic centre: ₹2,000–₹4,500
- Fetal echo (separate): ₹3,000–₹8,000
Scan 4: Growth Scan — 28 to 32 Weeks
What it checks:
- Fetal growth parameters: BPD (biparietal diameter), head circumference, abdominal circumference, femur length
- Estimated fetal weight plotted on growth chart
- Amniotic fluid index (AFI)
- Placenta grade and position
Why it matters: This scan identifies intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) — where the baby is not growing at the expected rate — or macrosomia (large for gestational age, often seen in gestational diabetes). Both affect delivery planning.
Cost in India: ₹1,000–₹2,500 (private); ₹150–₹300 (government)
Scan 5: Third Trimester / Late Growth Scan — 34 to 36 Weeks
What it checks:
- Continued growth monitoring
- Amniotic fluid levels
- Fetal movements and breathing patterns (biophysical profile, if ordered)
- Placenta grading
Scan 6: Term Scan / Position Check — 36 to 38 Weeks
What it checks:
- Baby's position: cephalic (head down, ideal for vaginal delivery) vs breech vs transverse
- Placenta position confirmation (if placenta previa was noted earlier, this confirms whether it has moved up)
- Amniotic fluid assessment
- Umbilical artery Doppler (blood flow from placenta to baby) — often added at term
This is particularly important for planning delivery mode. If the baby remains breech at 37–38 weeks, your gynaecologist will discuss external cephalic version (ECV) or elective caesarean section options.
Optional Scans (Ordered When Clinically Indicated)
| Scan | When | Why Ordered |
|---|---|---|
| Triple / Quad Marker blood test | 15–20 weeks | Second-trimester chromosomal screening, especially if NT/Double Marker was borderline |
| NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test) | 10+ weeks | High-sensitivity chromosomal screening, recommended for advanced maternal age (>35) or high-risk results |
| Cervical length scan | 18–24 weeks | If risk of preterm birth (previous preterm, symptoms of cervical incompetence) |
| Doppler scan | Any trimester | Blood flow assessment if IUGR suspected or high blood pressure in mother |
| 3D / 4D scan | 26–32 weeks | Mainly for parental bonding; occasionally for anatomical evaluation of specific concerns |
| Biophysical Profile (BPP) | Third trimester | Fetal well-being assessment in high-risk pregnancies |
High-Risk Pregnancy — More Frequent Scans
You may need additional scans if you have:
- Twins or multiples — growth monitoring every 2–4 weeks from mid-trimester
- Gestational diabetes — growth scans more frequently (macrosomia risk)
- Hypertension or preeclampsia — Doppler monitoring
- Previous pregnancy loss or preterm birth — cervical length monitoring
- Placenta previa found earlier — serial scans to track position
- Advanced maternal age (35+) — closer monitoring, more frequent growth checks
PC-PNDT Act — What You Need to Know
The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, prohibits ultrasound imaging for sex determination. Every registered ultrasound centre in India requires you to:
- Sign a Declaration Form (Form F) before every scan
- Provide your name, husband's name, and address
- Confirm that you are not asking for sex determination
This is a legal requirement and applies to every pregnancy scan. Centres that do not follow this procedure are operating illegally.
Full Scan Summary Table
| Scan | Weeks | Time-Critical? | India Cost (Private) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dating / Viability scan | 6–10 weeks | Book early | ₹500–₹1,500 |
| NT scan + Double Marker | 11–13+6 weeks | Must be before 14 weeks | ₹3,500–₹6,000 |
| Anomaly scan (TIFFA) | 18–22 weeks | Must be before 22 weeks | ₹2,000–₹4,500 |
| Fetal echo (if needed) | 18–24 weeks | If indicated | ₹3,000–₹8,000 |
| Growth scan | 28–32 weeks | Book in time | ₹1,000–₹2,500 |
| Third trimester scan | 34–36 weeks | Routine | ₹1,000–₹2,500 |
| Term / position check | 36–38 weeks | Routine | ₹1,000–₹2,500 |
People Also Ask — Pregnancy Scan Questions
When is the NT scan done in India?
The NT scan must be done between 11 weeks and 13 weeks + 6 days of pregnancy. After 14 weeks, the nuchal translucency measurement is no longer reliable and the scan cannot be performed for this purpose. Book it as soon as you approach 11 weeks.
What happens if I miss the anomaly scan window?
The anomaly scan should be completed before 22 weeks. After 22 weeks, the scan can still provide useful information but loses its screening value for conditions where early decisions matter under India's MTP Act. If you are approaching 22 weeks without having had the anomaly scan, contact your gynaecologist immediately to book the earliest possible appointment.
Can ultrasounds harm the baby?
Diagnostic ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation. There is no ionising radiation involved. Decades of use and research have found no evidence of harm to the fetus from diagnostic ultrasound at standard power levels. However, avoid unnecessary scans done solely for keepsake 3D/4D videos without a clinical indication — the FOGSI recommends limiting scans to medically indicated ones.
How many scans does a normal pregnancy need in India?
FOGSI recommends a minimum of 3–4 ultrasound scans for a low-risk singleton pregnancy. In practice, most private gynaecologists in India schedule 5–7 scans across the pregnancy.
Is the NT scan compulsory in India?
The NT scan is not legally mandatory but is strongly recommended by FOGSI guidelines. It is one of the best available tools for early detection of chromosomal conditions. Most private gynaecologists in urban India routinely include it in antenatal care.
Conclusion
The pregnancy scan schedule is not just administrative — each scan fills a specific clinical gap in monitoring the health of both mother and baby. The two non-negotiable time windows are the NT scan (before 14 weeks) and the anomaly scan (before 22 weeks). Every other scan is important, but these two have hard deadlines.
Photograph and store every scan report in Ayu from your first appointment. When your doctor asks about your 12-week NT measurement at a 28-week growth scan appointment, you will have the number in 10 seconds.
Medical Disclaimer
This schedule is based on FOGSI guidelines for a normal, low-risk singleton pregnancy. Individual care requirements vary. Always follow the advice of your obstetrician or gynaecologist regarding scan timing, frequency, and additional investigations for your specific pregnancy.
