From Which Month Can Baby’s Weight Be Seen in a Scan?
🩺 When Can Baby’s Weight Be Measured?
Many expecting mothers are curious to know when their baby’s weight becomes visible on a scan.
Doctors can begin estimating fetal weight from around the 12th to 13th week of pregnancy.
At this stage, the fetus becomes more developed, allowing ultrasound machines to calculate estimated weight using key body measurements.
📘 Quick Fact
Baby’s weight can first be estimated around the 3-month scan (12–13 weeks).
Accuracy improves as pregnancy advances, especially during the 5th and 8th-month growth scans.
⚙️ How Doctors Estimate Baby’s Weight
Unlike adult weighing, the baby’s weight is not measured directly inside the womb.
Instead, modern ultrasound systems calculate it through four key biometric parameters:
- BPD (Biparietal Diameter): width of the baby’s head
- HC (Head Circumference): total head measurement
- AC (Abdominal Circumference): growth and nutrition indicator
- FL (Femur Length): thigh bone length
These values are automatically processed by the ultrasound software to generate the Estimated Fetal Weight (EFW) in grams.
Regular tracking of these parameters helps confirm whether the baby’s growth is consistent with gestational age.
📆 Scans That Show Baby’s Weight
Type of Scan | Time Period (Weeks) | What It Shows |
NT / Early Scan | 11–13 weeks | Initial signs of growth; early weight estimate begins |
Anomaly Scan | 18–22 weeks | Detailed view of organs and approximate fetal weight |
Growth Scan | 28–36 weeks | Accurate weight, blood flow, placenta condition, and position |
Each scan plays a unique role — from early growth confirmation to monitoring overall development before delivery.
🧠 Why Tracking Weight Matters
Monitoring fetal weight gives doctors valuable insights into the baby’s well-being.
- Helps identify Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) if the baby is smaller than normal.
- Detects large-for-gestational-age (LGA) babies, which may occur with gestational diabetes.
- Assists doctors in planning delivery timing and safety.
- Tracks placental health and blood circulation efficiency.
At Nisarga Diagnostics, every fetal growth scan in Bangalore is conducted using advanced ultrasound technology to ensure accurate results and complete comfort for the mother.
⚖️ Common Myths vs Facts
Myth | Fact |
Scans show the exact baby weight. | Scans only provide an estimated fetal weight with ±200g variation. |
More baby weight means better health. | Consistent, proportional growth matters more than total weight. |
Weight depends only on the mother’s diet. | It also depends on placental health, blood flow, and genetics. |
💬 Doctor’s Tip
Maintain a healthy, balanced diet with enough protein, iron, and hydration.
Attend all scheduled scans — especially the Anomaly and Growth Scans — as they give crucial insights into your baby’s progress and safety.
📍 Where to Get Expert Pregnancy Scans
At Nisarga Diagnostics, Sanjaynagar, our team provides comprehensive care from early pregnancy to delivery.
We specialize in:
- Pregnancy and Anomaly Scans
- 3D / 4D Ultrasound Imaging
- Fetal Growth and Doppler Scans
Contact Us:
+91 88677 57594 | +91 91025 97025
www.nisargadiagnostics.com
Watch Our Instagram Reel: How doctors estimate a baby’s weight during pregnancy scans?
🌼 Final Takeaway
The baby’s weight can first be estimated around the third month of pregnancy, but the most accurate readings come during later-stage scans.
Regular check-ups ensure your baby’s growth remains healthy and well-monitored.
Every scan is a reassuring step toward welcoming your little one safely into the world. 💖
Founder of Nisarga Diagnostics, is a renowned fetal ultrasound specialist with over 20 years of expertise. An alumnus of Government Medical Colleges in Mysore and Bangalore, he also holds a D.N.B. from the National Board of Examinations, Delhi, and certification from the Fetal Medicine Foundation, London. A former Professor and HOD, he has trained countless PG students and junior radiologists, shaping the future of fetal imaging in India.