Your pregnancy test is positive, the first appointment is booked, and then the scan slips start arriving. A dating scan. An NT scan. An anomaly scan. Maybe a growth scan with Doppler later on. Each one is a few thousand rupees, each centre quotes a different figure, and nobody has sat down with you to explain how many there will be in total or which ones are optional.
This post is a map of the whole nine months, written as a planning guide. It covers:
- Which scans are routine in most pregnancies, and when each one falls
- Which scans are advised only for a specific reason
- What each scan cost at two Chennai diagnostic chains on 4 November 2026
- How to plan the total, and where free scans are available
What each individual scan looks at is covered in detail in separate posts, linked in each section below, so this guide stays focused on timing and cost.
How Many Scans Does a Normal Pregnancy Need?
For a healthy pregnancy with no complications, most obstetricians in India plan three core scans:
- An early scan in the first trimester, to confirm the pregnancy is in the uterus, check the heartbeat, count the babies and date the pregnancy.
- The NT scan at 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days, as part of first-trimester screening.
- The anomaly scan at about 18 to 22 weeks, a detailed check of the baby’s structure.
There is good evidence behind the early scans. A Cochrane review of 11 trials and 37,505 women found that routine ultrasound before 24 weeks improved the detection of twins and of major fetal abnormalities compared with selective scanning (Whitworth M et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015, PMID 26171896).
After 24 weeks the picture is different. Another Cochrane review of 13 trials and 34,980 women concluded that routine late-pregnancy ultrasound in low-risk or unselected pregnancies did not confer benefit on mother or baby (Bricker L et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015, PMID 26121659). That is why third-trimester scans are best thought of as “advised for a reason” rather than automatic. Many women still have one, and in many pregnancies there is a good reason. The point is that you can ask what the reason is.
The Scan Schedule, Trimester by Trimester
| Scan | Usual timing | Routine or for a reason? | Detailed guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early pregnancy / viability / dating scan | 6 to 9 weeks | Routine (one scan; a repeat only if the first was too early to be clear) | Early pregnancy scan at 6 to 8 weeks |
| NT scan | 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days | Routine, offered to all | NT scan explained |
| Anomaly scan (TIFFA / Level 2) | 18 to 22 weeks | Routine, offered to all | Anomaly scan (TIFFA) |
| Growth scan, often with Doppler | Third trimester, usually from 28 weeks | Advised for a reason | Growth scan and Doppler |
| Fetal echocardiography | Around the anomaly scan or after it | Advised for a reason (for example a heart concern on the anomaly scan, or diabetes before pregnancy) | Discuss with your obstetrician |
First trimester: the early scan
The first scan is usually done between 6 and 9 weeks. In the very early weeks it is often a transvaginal scan, which gives a clearer picture than an abdominal one at that stage. If you are unsure what the internal scan involves, our guide to the transvaginal scan (TVS) walks through it.
If the scan is done very early, the heartbeat may not be visible yet, and a repeat scan a week or two later is a normal next step rather than a sign of a problem. Budget for the possibility of a second early scan, especially if your dates are uncertain.
End of the first trimester: the NT scan
The NT scan has a strict window, 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days, so book it as soon as your dating scan gives you a date. It is usually paired with the double marker blood test, and the two together give a combined screening result. Ask whether the price you are quoted covers only the scan or the combined risk report as well.
Second trimester: the anomaly scan
The anomaly scan, often written as TIFFA or Level 2 on the slip, is the longest and most detailed scan of the pregnancy, and the most expensive single scan in the schedule. It takes 30 to 45 minutes at Aarthi Scans, according to its own page. If the baby is lying in an awkward position, you may be asked to walk around and come back, or return another day. That is common and is usually included in the same fee, but check.
Third trimester: growth scans and Doppler
A growth scan measures the baby’s size and the fluid around the baby. A Doppler study adds blood flow readings in the umbilical cord and other vessels. These are commonly advised when:
- Your bump measures smaller or larger than expected for your dates
- You have high blood pressure or preeclampsia
- You have gestational or pre-existing diabetes
- You are carrying twins
- An earlier scan showed a low-lying placenta that needs rechecking
- Your baby’s movements have changed
When there is a reason like this, Doppler is worth having. A Cochrane review found that umbilical artery Doppler in high-risk pregnancies reduces the risk of perinatal death and may result in fewer obstetric interventions, with the caution that the evidence was not of high quality (Alfirevic Z et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2017, PMID 28613398).
💜 Not sure which scans your pregnancy needs, or why a growth scan was added? Message Dr. Suganya on WhatsApp to book a ₹399 video consultation. Share your scan reports so far and how many weeks along you are.
What Each Pregnancy Scan Costs
I checked the prices below on the diagnostic centres’ own websites on 4 November 2026. Both are chains with branches in Chennai and other South Indian cities. Prices change often and many centres run discounts, so treat these as a guide and confirm at booking.
Aarthi Scans and Labs (aarthiscan.com), Chennai
| Scan | Price shown | “Others” price the page compares against |
|---|---|---|
| Obstetric ultrasound | ₹1,300 | ₹1,500 |
| Antenatal ultrasound | ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Transvaginal ultrasound | ₹1,600 | ₹4,000 |
| Nuchal translucency (NT) scan | ₹1,750 | ₹3,250 |
| Anomaly ultrasound scan | ₹3,900 | ₹9,750 |
| Obstetric Doppler ultrasound | ₹1,600 | ₹4,000 |
Aarthi’s city tables listed the same NT, anomaly and obstetric Doppler prices for Chennai, Madurai and Bangalore. The “others” column is the centre’s own comparison figure, not a price I checked elsewhere.
Medall (medall.in)
| Scan | Price shown | MRP shown |
|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy ultrasound | ₹800 | ₹1,000 |
| NT ultrasound | ₹1,200 | ₹1,500 |
Medall’s pages note that prices may vary by city and centre. I could not find anomaly, growth or Doppler scan prices on Medall’s site on the day of checking, so they are left out rather than guessed.
What the tables show:
- The three core scans came to ₹6,950 at Aarthi (₹1,300 for an obstetric ultrasound, ₹1,750 for the NT scan and ₹3,900 for the anomaly scan).
- The anomaly scan is the largest single cost. It is also the scan where the sonologist’s experience matters most, so it is not the one to choose on price alone.
- Third-trimester scans add to the total only if they are advised. One obstetric Doppler at Aarthi was ₹1,600. If your doctor wants serial scans every two to three weeks, multiply accordingly.
- Hospital prices can differ from standalone diagnostic centres, so ask your hospital for its own rate. If your obstetrician works with a particular scan centre, there may be a good reason, such as continuity in how the reports are written.
I could not load current pregnancy scan prices from other national chains on the day of checking, so they are not included. A quick call to two or three centres near you, asking for the exact scan name on your slip, is the most reliable way to compare.
Free scans under the government programme
Under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare offers a minimum package of antenatal care free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month at identified public health facilities, and that package includes one ultrasound during the second trimester (pmsma.mohfw.gov.in, checked 4 November 2026). Government hospitals also offer antenatal scans at low or no cost. Ask at your nearest primary health centre or district hospital which scans are available and on which days.
Planning Your Scan Budget
A simple way to plan:
- Core budget: early scan + NT scan + anomaly scan. Add the double marker blood test if your doctor orders it with the NT scan.
- Buffer: one extra early scan (in case the first is too early) and one third-trimester growth scan.
- If your pregnancy has a specific risk such as diabetes, high blood pressure, twins or a previous small baby, ask your obstetrician early how many growth or Doppler scans they usually plan, so the cost is not a surprise at 32 weeks.
A few practical tips:
- Ask what the price includes. Some quotes include the report and printed images; some add a fee for a “3D/4D” image, which is optional and not needed for the medical check.
- Carry your previous reports to every scan. The sonologist compares growth over time.
- Book the time-sensitive scans early. The NT window and the 18 to 22 week anomaly window are short, and good centres fill up.
- Fasting is not usually needed for pregnancy scans. For an early abdominal scan you may be asked to come with a full bladder. Check when you book.
If you are also planning the blood tests that go alongside these scans, our guide to first-trimester symptoms and tests covers the early workup.
Scans and Your Peace of Mind
Every scan can bring a wave of worry the night before. It helps to remember what the schedule is designed to do: most scans in most pregnancies simply confirm that things are on track, and when something does need a closer look, finding it early gives you and your doctor time to plan. I’m Dr. Suganya Venkat, and in more than 15 years as an OB-GYN, with over a thousand pregnancies in my care, I have found that women feel calmer when they know the whole plan at the start rather than one slip at a time.
At Fertilia, our pregnancy program works alongside your obstetrician. Your scans stay with your doctor and scan centre; we help with understanding reports, nutrition, movement and the questions that come up between appointments. You can read more on our pregnancy care program page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scans are done in a normal pregnancy in India?
Most low-risk pregnancies have three core scans: an early scan at 6 to 9 weeks, the NT scan at 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days, and the anomaly scan at about 18 to 22 weeks. A third-trimester growth scan is common too, and is most useful when there is a specific reason for it.
What is the price of a pregnancy scan in India?
It depends on the scan and the city. On 4 November 2026, published Chennai prices ranged from ₹800 for a basic pregnancy ultrasound at Medall to ₹3,900 for an anomaly scan at Aarthi Scans. NT scans were ₹1,200 to ₹1,750 at these two chains.
Pregnancy scan kitne ka hota hai? Is it the same everywhere?
No. Prices vary by centre and city, and even the two chains checked here priced the NT scan differently (₹1,200 and ₹1,750). Standalone centres in the tables above charged ₹800 to ₹3,900 per scan. Government facilities offer at least one second-trimester ultrasound free under PMSMA.
Is a growth scan with Doppler necessary for everyone?
Not always. Evidence from a Cochrane review suggests routine late scans in low-risk pregnancies do not improve outcomes for mother or baby. When there is a reason, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, twins or a bump measuring small, Doppler is valuable. It is reasonable to ask your doctor what the reason is.
Are 3D or 4D scans needed?
No. The medical information comes from the standard 2D scan. 3D and 4D images are an optional extra some centres offer for keepsake pictures, usually at extra cost.
Are pregnancy scans safe for the baby?
Diagnostic ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation. The Cochrane review of early pregnancy ultrasound found that long-term follow-up of children exposed to scans in the womb did not indicate a harmful effect on their physical or cognitive development (Whitworth M et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2015, PMID 26171896).
Talking It Through
A scan slip with three new names on it can feel like a lot to take in, especially when the costs add up across nine months. If you would like someone to go through your scan plan and reports with you, you do not have to work it out alone.
💜 Have a scan report or a scan plan you would like to understand? Message Dr. Suganya on WhatsApp to book a ₹399 video consultation, available online across India. You can also download our free pregnancy guide for a trimester-by-trimester look at what to expect.
