Dr. Akanksha Bajpai
Radiologist
- MBBS, MD
- Ex. PGI Chandigarh
- Ex Consultant, Fortis Hospital, Mohali
Her profile supports diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, radiology and patient-focused interpretation.
Read her profilePregnancy Scans • Gomti Nagar
Fetal Ultrasound and Pregnancy Scans in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
Dating, NT/NB, anomaly (Level II or TIFFA), growth and BPP scans through pregnancy. Here is when each is done, how to prepare, and what a scan can and cannot tell you.
- Vijayant Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
- Mon to Sat 9 AM to 8 PM, Sun 10 AM to 2 PM
- Time
- Usually 20 to 45 minutes, some longer
- Preparation
- Bladder advice varies by week
- Radiation
- None, it uses sound waves
- Bring
- Prescription and antenatal records
Which pregnancy scan, and when?
Each pregnancy scan answers one question at one stage, so an early scan cannot stand in for a later one. The weeks below are the usual guide. Your obstetrician sets the exact timing from your dates and history.
- Dating and viability scan, from about 6 weeks: confirms that the pregnancy is in the womb, that the heart is beating, how many babies there are, and the due date.
- NT/NB scan, 11 to 13 weeks: NT is nuchal translucency, a small fluid space at the back of the baby's neck. NB is the nasal bone. Together with your age and a blood screen your doctor may order, they estimate the chance of certain chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome. It is a screening test, not a diagnosis.
- Anomaly scan (Level II, TIFFA), about 18 to 22 weeks: a detailed check of the baby's head, brain, spine, face, heart, abdomen, kidneys and limbs, and of the placenta, cord and fluid. TIFFA stands for Targeted Imaging for Fetal Anomalies.
- Growth scan, usually in the third trimester: measures the baby's size, the amount of fluid and the position of the placenta. Doctors ask for it when a baby seems small or large, or in raised blood pressure, diabetes or twins.
- BPP (biophysical profile), late in pregnancy: watches the baby for breathing movements, body movements and tone, and measures the fluid. Your obstetrician may ask for it when the due date has passed or the pregnancy is high risk. Reduced movements need to be checked by a doctor the same day, not booked as a scan.
- Obstetric Doppler: blood flow in the cord and the baby's vessels, for a growth question. It is explained on our Colour Doppler page.
In the first weeks a scan may be done with an internal probe for a clearer view. How that works is described on our gynae ultrasound page.
What a pregnancy scan can and cannot see
A scan can measure the baby, show the heartbeat and movements, check the major organs, and show where the placenta lies and how much fluid surrounds the baby. It finds many structural problems, but not all of them.
It cannot promise a healthy baby. Some conditions do not show on ultrasound at all, some are too small or too early to see, and some appear only later in pregnancy. The baby's position, the mother's build and the stage of pregnancy can hide parts of the picture. A scan that finds nothing means nothing was seen on that day.
A question raised by a scan is not a diagnosis. Your obstetrician may repeat the scan, refer you to a fetal medicine specialist, or advise further tests. Please let them explain the report rather than reading it alone.
The law on telling the baby's sex
Under the PC-PNDT Act, it is illegal in India to tell parents or relatives the sex of the baby, so our team cannot do it. The report will not mention it. This is the law and it applies to every ultrasound centre, so please do not ask the team.
The Act also requires a short declaration form to be signed before a pregnancy scan. The team will help you fill it in.
What happens at a pregnancy scan
-
1
Booking
Send the prescription and tell the team how many weeks you are, or the date your last period began. They confirm the scan, the timing and the bladder instructions.
-
2
Check-in
You sign the declaration form the law requires. Hand over your antenatal card and earlier scan reports.
-
3
The scan
You lie on a couch and warm gel is spread over the lower abdomen. The probe is moved across it with light pressure. A detailed scan can take longer, especially if the baby is not lying well. You may be asked to turn, move about or wait before the radiologist tries again.
-
4
If you feel unwell
Late in pregnancy, lying flat on your back can make you dizzy. Say so, and the radiologist can ask you to lie slightly on your side.
-
5
Your report
The radiologist records the measurements and findings in the report. The team will give you the timing when you book.
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6
Back to your obstetrician
Take the report and images to your obstetrician, who decides whether anything more is needed and when the next scan should be.
Preparation and aftercare
Before your visit
- First trimester scans, up to about 13 weeks: the team may ask for a comfortably full bladder, or may do an internal scan instead. They tell you when you book.
- From the second trimester: no fasting, and usually no full bladder. Eat and drink normally.
- Wear a loose two-piece outfit so that only the lower abdomen needs to be uncovered.
- Keep your antenatal card, earlier scans and blood reports with you.
Please bring
- Your obstetrician's prescription
- Your antenatal card and all earlier scan reports
- Blood or screening test results from this pregnancy
- The date your last period began
After your visit
- There is nothing to recover from. Eat and drink as usual.
- Keep every scan report in one folder and carry it to each antenatal visit.
- Take the report to your obstetrician. Measurements depend on dating, so they are best read by the doctor who knows your dates.
Pregnancy warning signs do not wait for a scan
Go to a hospital with an obstetric emergency service, or call 112, if you have:
- Heavy vaginal bleeding, or any bleeding with severe pain, dizziness or fainting.
- Sudden severe pain on one side of the lower abdomen, especially in early pregnancy.
- Much less baby movement than usual, or none, in the second half of pregnancy.
- A gush or steady leak of fluid from the vagina.
- Severe headache with blurred vision, or sudden swelling of the face and hands. These can be signs of high blood pressure in pregnancy.
Meet our radiologist
Fetal Ultrasound: common questions
When should I have the NT scan?
Between 11 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. The neck-fluid measurement is reliable only in that window. If you have missed it, tell your obstetrician, who may suggest other screening.
What is the difference between a Level II scan and a TIFFA scan?
In practice the two names are used for the same detailed anomaly scan at about 18 to 22 weeks. Use whichever name your prescription carries, and the team will book the right scan.
Can you tell me the baby's gender?
No. The PC-PNDT Act forbids anyone at an ultrasound centre from telling the parents or family the sex of the baby, and the report will not state it. It is an offence under the Act.
Do I need a full bladder for a pregnancy scan?
It depends on the week. Early scans often need a comfortably full bladder, and from the second trimester usually not. The team gives the exact instruction when you book, so please ask rather than guess.
How many ultrasounds are normal in pregnancy?
The number depends on your pregnancy. Many women have a dating scan, an NT scan, an anomaly scan and one or two later scans. A pregnancy with a higher risk, such as twins or raised blood pressure, usually needs more.
Can repeated scans harm the baby?
There is no evidence of harm from diagnostic ultrasound used properly for a medical reason. It uses sound waves, not radiation. A scan should still be done because a doctor has a question, not for extra pictures.
Can my family come into the scan room?
The team will tell you when you book who can come in with you. Rules depend on the type of scan, so please ask before the day.
Where can I get a pregnancy scan near Gomti Nagar Extension?
The centre is at 4/12, Vijayant Khand, near Kathauta Chauraha, Gomti Nagar, and you can reach it from Gomti Nagar Extension. When you send the prescription on WhatsApp (+91 70809 82920) or call 0522-3180995, say how many weeks pregnant you are so the team can book the right scan.
Related services
Tests and care that often go together
Appointments
Book Fetal Ultrasound in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
Message us on WhatsApp or call the centre. Tell us the test you need and your preferred day, and the team will confirm the details.
4/12, Vijayant Khand, Gomti Nagar · 0522-3180995
