How to Read Your Pregnancy Scan Report: What Do All Those Abbreviations Mean?

ByHemali Ramchandani
Updated: 8 Sept 2025, 9:30 pm
Reviewed by Anjali Taneja

Pregnancy scan reports in India often look like a mix of numbers, codes, and abbreviations (CRL, AFI, BPD, EFW), leaving many mothers anxious. While doctors usually explain the key findings, time is short, and families often turn to search engines or family groups for answers, which can create more confusion than clarity. Learning what these abbreviations mean and why they matter at each stage of pregnancy can help you understand your baby’s growth without unnecessary panic.

Pregatips
Your ultrasound report is not written for patients. It is written for doctors. That’s why it looks technical, with medical shorthand, measurements in millimetres, and terms like “single live intrauterine gestation.” But behind each abbreviation is a simple check: how your baby is growing, whether the heartbeat is normal, and if the environment inside the womb is safe.

Understanding the basics will help you follow along in consultations and know which terms are routine and which may need more attention.
In this article:

Why Pregnancy Scan Reports Look So Technical

Radiologists in India follow standardised global formats, but each clinic may present results slightly differently. Some government hospitals give only essential numbers like gestational age, estimated due date, and foetal heartbeat, while private centres may provide detailed tables with dozens of abbreviations. This isn’t about hiding information. It’s about giving doctors quick, precise data to compare over time.

Still, for many expecting parents, especially first-time mothers, these codes can feel alien. Let’s decode the most common ones by trimester.

First Trimester: What Early Scan Terms Mean

In the first three months, the focus is on confirming pregnancy, estimating due date, and ruling out early complications.
  • CRL (Crown-Rump Length): Measurement from the baby’s head to the bottom. It is the most reliable way to calculate your due date.
  • GS (Gestational Sac): The earliest sign of pregnancy on ultrasound.
  • Yolk Sac: Provides nutrition to the embryo in the early weeks. Presence indicates a healthy early pregnancy.
  • NT (Nuchal Translucency): Fluid space at the back of the baby’s neck, checked between 11–14 weeks, important for screening chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome.
  • EDD (Estimated Due Date): Calculated from CRL or your last period date (LMP).
Many women panic if the EDD changes from what their relatives calculated based on LMP. Doctors rely more on CRL because it is more accurate than counting from periods, especially if your cycles are irregular.

Second Trimester: Growth and Anatomy in Focus

The “anomaly scan” at 18–22 weeks is one of the most detailed checks. Abbreviations here tell doctors if the baby’s growth and organs are developing normally.
  • BPD (Biparietal Diameter): Width of your baby’s head.
  • HC (Head Circumference): Full measurement around the baby’s head.
  • AC (Abdominal Circumference): Size of the baby’s tummy—important in detecting growth restriction or diabetes-related overgrowth.
  • FL (Femur Length): Length of the thigh bone, used to estimate the baby’s overall height and growth.
  • Placenta Position: Described as anterior (front wall), posterior (back wall), fundal (top), or low-lying. A low placenta needs follow-up later.
  • Liquor/AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index): Measures the protective fluid around your baby.
Many women worry if the report says “low-lying placenta.” In most cases, this moves up naturally as pregnancy progresses, but follow-up scans are essential.

Third Trimester: Safety and Preparation for Birth

In the last three months, the scans check whether the baby is ready for safe delivery and if the womb environment is still supportive.
  • EFW (Estimated Foetal Weight): Calculated from head, tummy, and thigh bone measurements.
  • AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index): Fluid levels are checked closely, as both low (oligohydramnios) and high (polyhydramnios) are common in Indian pregnancies due to dehydration, anaemia, or diabetes.
  • FHR (Foetal Heart Rate): Normally between 110–160 beats per minute.
  • Doppler Indices (S/D ratio, RI, PI): Blood flow studies of the umbilical cord and placenta to ensure the baby is getting enough oxygen and nutrients.
  • Presentation: Whether your baby is head-down (cephalic), bottom-down (breech), or lying sideways (transverse).
Families often panic if the report says “breech.” Remember, the baby can change position until the last month. Doctors only consider intervention if the breech persists near delivery.

Why These Abbreviations Matter

Each measurement isn’t random. It helps detect:
  • Growth problems like foetal growth restriction (IUGR/FGR) or excessive growth (macrosomia).
  • Complications such as low fluid, placental problems, or delayed development.
  • Timing of delivery in high-risk cases like diabetes, hypertension, or twins.
In India, where anaemia, gestational diabetes, and hypertension are more common, these numbers guide your doctor’s advice on rest, medication, or sometimes early delivery.

Words That May Need Extra Attention

While most terms are routine, a few are worth clarifying immediately with your doctor:
  • Placenta previa / low-lying placenta – may cause bleeding risks later.
  • IUGR / FGR – foetus smaller than expected; may need extra monitoring.
  • Oligohydramnios / Polyhydramnios – abnormal fluid levels.
  • Absent or reversed end-diastolic flow – Doppler finding suggesting urgent medical care.

Practical Tips for Reading Reports in India

  • Always carry old reports so doctors can compare growth over time.
  • Don’t panic if dates don’t match—growth scans are more reliable than LMP.
  • Insist on explanations in simple Hindi, English, or your local language—doctors are used to breaking it down.
  • Focus on the summary line. The final impression (“single live intrauterine pregnancy, growth adequate for gestation”) is what matters most.
Your scan report may look like a puzzle of letters and numbers, but each code reflects a simple question: Is your baby safe, growing, and getting enough support? Instead of worrying over each abbreviation, use it as a starting point for a conversation with your doctor. In India, where medical explanations can sometimes feel rushed, being familiar with these terms helps you ask clearer questions—and walk out of the consultation less anxious and more informed.
Whether you’re pregnant, a new mom, or navigating postpartum, you don’t have to do it alone. Join our support group to connect, share, and support one another.

FAQs on How to Read Your Pregnancy Scan Report: What Do All Those Abbreviations Mean?


  1. Why does my report say I’m 22 weeks when I thought I was 23?
    Small variations are normal. Ultrasounds measure the baby’s size, not exact age.
  2. Is it dangerous if my report says breech at 30 weeks?
    Not at this stage. Babies often turn their heads down closer to delivery.
  3. What does “grade 3 placenta” mean?
    It shows the placenta is maturing. Near term, grade 3 is normal. Earlier in pregnancy, it may need monitoring.
  4. Should I worry if my baby’s weight is below average?
    Slight differences are common. Doctors track the trend across multiple scans before deciding if it’s a concern.
How we reviewed this article
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