Pregnancy ultrasound is the most important diagnostic tool available in antenatal care — the window through which we assess your baby's development, screen for structural and chromosomal concerns, evaluate the placenta and amniotic fluid, and monitor fetal wellbeing as your pregnancy progresses. But not all ultrasound is equal. The quality of what a scan detects — and what it means — depends entirely on the training and experience of the person performing and interpreting it.
At the Fetal & Genetic Clinic in Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi, all pregnancy ultrasound scans are performed and interpreted by Dr. Ashutosh Gupta — a specialist in fetal medicine with a DM in Medical Genetics from SGPGIMS, Lucknow, and over 15 years of dedicated experience in obstetric ultrasound. Dr. Gupta offers a complete range of pregnancy scans across all three trimesters — from the 12-week nuchal translucency scan to third-trimester biophysical profile studies and 3D/4D fetal imaging — all in a single accessible clinic location in South Delhi.
Why Pregnancy Ultrasound Matters — And Why Specialist Scanning Makes a Difference
Routine pregnancy ultrasound at a general diagnostic centre and a specialist fetal medicine scan are not the same thing — and for high-risk pregnancies, the difference is clinically significant. A fetal medicine specialist performs not just the scan but the complete diagnostic interpretation: what a finding means in the context of your gestational age, your screening results, your medical history, and the full picture of your pregnancy. Dr. Gupta's specialist training means he can correlate an anomaly scan finding with chromosomal risk, recommend the appropriate next step — whether that is NIPT, genetic counselling, fetal echocardiography, or an invasive diagnostic procedure — and provide the clinical context that turns a number on a screen into actionable medical guidance. For any pregnancy with identified risk factors, a previous abnormal result, advanced maternal age, or a family history of hereditary conditions, specialist ultrasound is not a luxury — it is the appropriate standard of care.
Our Pregnancy Ultrasound Services in Delhi — Full Trimester Coverage
We offer the complete range of obstetric ultrasound investigations across all three trimesters. Whether you are attending for a routine scheduled scan, have been referred following an abnormal result, or are managing a high-risk pregnancy, the following services are available at our Chittaranjan Park clinic.
Nuchal Translucency Scan (NT Scan) — 12 Weeks
The Nuchal Translucency scan is the cornerstone of first-trimester screening, performed between 11 weeks and 13 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. It measures the fluid-filled space at the back of the fetal neck — the nuchal translucency — which in normal pregnancies is small. When the measurement is elevated above the 95th centile for crown-rump length, it raises the probability of chromosomal abnormalities (particularly Trisomy 21, 18, and 13), structural cardiac defects, and certain genetic syndromes.
At the Fetal & Genetic Clinic, the NT scan is performed as part of the Combined First-Trimester Screen — integrating the NT measurement with maternal serum PAPP-A and free beta-hCG levels, maternal age, and nasal bone assessment to provide a single, comprehensive chromosomal risk figure. Detection rate for Trisomy 21 using combined first-trimester screening is approximately 85 to 90 percent at a 5 percent false positive rate — significantly superior to the NT measurement alone.
The same appointment also allows assessment of fetal anatomy, confirmation of gestational age, placental localisation, and first-trimester pre-eclampsia risk screening using uterine artery Doppler and maternal serum PlGF.
Early Detailed Pregnancy Ultrasound — 16 Weeks
The Early Detailed scan at 16 weeks provides a comprehensive structural assessment of the fetus in the mid-second trimester — earlier than the standard 19-week Level II anomaly scan. It is particularly recommended for high-risk pregnancies, cases where an abnormality was suspected on the NT scan, or where families benefit from earlier reassurance or earlier diagnosis.
At 16 weeks, most major structural anomalies of the brain, heart, spine, abdominal wall, kidneys, and limbs are visible to an experienced fetal medicine specialist. The early scan does not replace the 19-week Level II scan — it complements it by providing an earlier window for assessment in pregnancies that warrant closer monitoring.
Level II Anomaly Scan — 19 Weeks
The Level II Anomaly Scan at 18 to 20 weeks is the most comprehensive structural assessment available in pregnancy and the standard-of-care scan for all pregnancies. It provides a detailed, systematic evaluation of every major fetal organ system — and at this gestational age, the fetus is large enough for the full anatomy to be clearly assessed while still providing excellent ultrasound windows.
A Level II anomaly scan performed by Dr. Gupta includes detailed assessment of:
- Brain and skull — cerebral ventricles, posterior fossa, corpus callosum, cavum septum pellucidum
- Face — lips, palate, nose, orbits, and profile
- Spine — complete vertebral assessment in sagittal, coronal, and axial views
- Heart — four-chamber view, outflow tracts, great vessel relationships, cardiac axis
- Lungs and chest — lung volume, diaphragm integrity
- Abdominal wall — ruling out exomphalos and gastroschisis
- Abdominal organs — stomach, liver, kidneys, bowel, bladder
- Limbs — all four limbs, three bones per limb, hands and feet
- Placenta — site, morphology, cord insertion
- Amniotic fluid — quantitative assessment
- Cervical length — for pre-term risk assessment where indicated
When structural abnormalities are identified, Dr. Gupta's combined expertise in fetal medicine and medical genetics enables him to interpret findings in their full chromosomal and genetic context — and to advise on the appropriate next steps, whether that is additional imaging, genetic counselling, or an invasive diagnostic procedure.
Genetic Sonogram — Level II with Soft Markers for Chromosomal Risk Assessment
The Genetic Sonogram is a Level II ultrasound scan specifically designed to assess the probability of chromosomal abnormality — most commonly Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) — through the systematic evaluation of soft markers.
Soft markers are subtle ultrasound features that, when present in isolation, are generally of limited significance in low-risk pregnancies, but which substantially alter chromosomal risk probability when found in combination or in a patient already identified as high-risk by serum screening or NT measurement.
The soft markers assessed during a genetic sonogram include:
- Absent or hypoplastic nasal bone
- Shortened femur and/or humerus relative to expected length
- Echogenic intracardiac focus (EIF) — a bright spot in the heart
- Echogenic bowel — bowel appearing as bright as bone
- Mild pyelectasis — mild renal pelvic dilatation
- Sandal gap — widened first-second toe space
- Thickened nuchal fold — measured at the level of the cerebellum at 18–22 weeks
The Genetic Sonogram result is interpreted in the context of the patient's prior screening results, maternal age, and background population risk. It is most clinically useful when serum screening has returned an intermediate result and the family is deciding whether to proceed to NIPT or invasive testing.
Early Fetal Echocardiography — 16 Weeks
Early Fetal Echocardiography at 16 weeks is a detailed assessment of the fetal heart structure and function, performed using high-frequency transabdominal and/or transvaginal ultrasound. It is recommended for pregnancies at elevated risk of congenital heart disease — providing earlier diagnosis than the standard 24-week echo and giving families more time and more options in the event of a significant cardiac finding.
Early fetal echocardiography is indicated for:
- Increased nuchal translucency at the 12-week scan (NT above 3.5mm significantly elevates cardiac risk)
- A family history of congenital heart disease in a parent or sibling
- Pre-existing maternal conditions associated with fetal cardiac risk — including pre-gestational diabetes, lupus, phenylketonuria, and rubella
- Maternal use of medications with known cardiac teratogenicity
- Monochorionic twin pregnancies — at risk of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome affecting cardiac function
- Abnormal cardiac findings noted on the NT scan or routine first-trimester assessment
Fetal Echocardiography — 24 Weeks
The standard Fetal Echocardiography is performed at 22 to 24 weeks and provides the most comprehensive assessment of fetal cardiac anatomy available during pregnancy. Congenital heart disease is the most common major structural abnormality — affecting approximately 8 in 1,000 live births — and many forms are associated with chromosomal conditions or other structural anomalies that change clinical management.
Dr. Gupta's fetal echocardiography examinations assess the complete cardiac anatomy including the four-chamber view, left and right ventricular outflow tracts, great vessel relationships and size, ductal and aortic arches, pulmonary venous return, cardiac rhythm, and myocardial function. Colour Doppler and pulsed-wave Doppler imaging are used in addition to greyscale ultrasound to assess blood flow patterns and detect valvular abnormalities.
Fetal echocardiography is recommended for all pregnancies with:
- Increased nuchal translucency at first-trimester screening
- A soft marker for chromosomal abnormality identified on Level II scan
- Known or suspected chromosomal abnormality (Trisomy 21, 22q11 deletion, Turner syndrome)
- Maternal congenital heart disease
- Family history of hereditary cardiomyopathy or inherited cardiac condition
- Maternal type 1 or 2 diabetes
- A previous pregnancy affected by congenital heart disease
Colour Doppler Ultrasound in Pregnancy — 28 Weeks
Colour Doppler ultrasound measures blood flow velocities in fetal and maternal blood vessels — providing a non-invasive assessment of the fetal circulation, placental function, and overall fetal wellbeing that cannot be obtained from structural imaging alone.
The key vessels assessed in a pregnancy Doppler study include:
- Umbilical artery Doppler: Assesses the resistance to blood flow in the placenta. Abnormal waveforms — elevated pulsatility index, absent end-diastolic flow, or reversed end-diastolic flow — indicate progressive placental compromise and are used to guide the timing of delivery in fetal growth restriction.
- Middle Cerebral Artery (MCA) Doppler: Assesses fetal cerebral blood flow redistribution — the 'brain-sparing' response to placental insufficiency. The MCA peak systolic velocity is also the primary non-invasive tool for monitoring fetal anaemia in Rh-sensitised pregnancies, guiding the decision for intrauterine transfusion.
- Uterine Artery Doppler: Reflects uteroplacental blood flow resistance. Bilateral notching and elevated pulsatility index at 20 to 24 weeks is associated with increased risk of pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Ductus Venosus Doppler: Reflects right atrial pressure and is used in the surveillance of growth-restricted fetuses and as part of fetal wellbeing assessment in twin pregnancies.
Biophysical Profile Study — 32 Weeks
The Biophysical Profile (BPP) is a third-trimester assessment of fetal wellbeing that combines real-time ultrasound observation with cardiotocography (CTG) to evaluate five parameters of fetal health over a defined observation period. It is used in high-risk pregnancies, post-term pregnancies, and whenever there is clinical concern about fetal compromise.
The five components of the modified biophysical profile are:
- Fetal breathing movements: At least one episode of fetal breathing lasting 30 seconds or more in 30 minutes of observation
- Fetal gross body movements: Three or more discrete body or limb movements in 30 minutes
- Fetal tone: At least one episode of active limb extension with return to flexion, or opening and closing of the hand
- Amniotic fluid volume: At least one vertical pocket of amniotic fluid measuring 2 cm or more in two perpendicular planes
- Non-stress test (CTG): At least two accelerations of fetal heart rate of 15 beats per minute lasting 15 seconds in 20 minutes
Each component is scored 2 (present/normal) or 0 (absent/abnormal), giving a maximum score of 10 out of 10. A score of 8 or 10 with normal fluid is reassuring. A score of 6 is equivocal and requires repeat assessment within 24 hours. A score of 4 or less indicates significant concern and usually prompts consideration of delivery.
3D and 4D Fetal Imaging
Three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) fetal imaging use specialised ultrasound software to reconstruct volumetric images of the fetus from standard ultrasound data. While 2D ultrasound remains the primary diagnostic modality in pregnancy, 3D and 4D imaging provide complementary information in specific clinical situations — and offer families a more vivid, emotionally engaging visual experience of their baby.
Clinically, 3D ultrasound is most useful for:
- Assessment of fetal facial features — particularly useful in suspected cleft lip and palate, where the surface-rendered 3D image can confirm the extent of the defect
- Evaluation of neural tube defects and vertebral anomalies — where multiplanar reconstruction provides better anatomical detail than 2D alone
- Assessment of fetal extremities — particularly in suspected skeletal dysplasias
- Uterine and placental morphology — 3D rendering of uterine contour and placental architecture
- Fetal medicine specialist — not a radiologist or sonographer: Every scan at the Fetal & Genetic Clinic is performed and interpreted by Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, a specialist in fetal medicine with a DM in Medical Genetics from SGPGIMS. This is a different level of clinical expertise — particularly relevant when an abnormality is identified or a finding needs interpretation in a genetic context.
- Integrated genetic expertise: If a scan identifies a chromosomal marker, a structural concern, or an increased nuchal translucency, Dr. Gupta can immediately interpret the finding in its genetic context, advise on appropriate testing (NIPT, CVS, amniocentesis), and provide genetic counselling in the same consultation — without referral to a separate specialist.
- Over 3,000 invasive fetal procedures performed: For patients where a scan finding leads to a recommendation for an invasive diagnostic procedure, Dr. Gupta performs all procedures himself with an extensive safety record. There is no handover to a different clinician.
- Comprehensive scan range under one roof: All nine scan types — from the 12-week NT scan to third-trimester biophysical profiles and fetal echocardiography — are available at a single clinic location in Chittaranjan Park. There is no need to attend different centres for different investigations.
- South Delhi location with easy access: E-874, Basement, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi — accessible from Greater Kailash, Kalkaji, Saket, Lajpat Nagar, Nehru Place, and nearby areas. Patients also travel from Noida and Gurugram for specialist scans.
- Unhurried, specialist-focused appointments: Scan appointments with Dr. Gupta are not time-pressured. If a finding requires explanation, counselling, or discussion of next steps, that conversation happens at the same appointment.
4D ultrasound adds the dimension of real-time motion to the 3D image, allowing observation of fetal facial expressions, limb movements, and swallowing — providing both clinical information about fetal neurobehaviour and a memorable experience for expectant parents.
Why Choose Dr. Ashutosh Gupta for Pregnancy Scans in Delhi?
There are hundreds of diagnostic centres in Delhi offering pregnancy ultrasound. Here is what distinguishes a scan at the Fetal & Genetic Clinic:
Frequently Asked Questions
Level 1 (NT scan) is done at 11–13 weeks and focuses on early risk screening and nuchal translucency measurement. Level 2 (TIFFA / anomaly scan) is done at 18–20 weeks and provides a detailed structural evaluation of all fetal organs. Both are essential and complementary.
NT scan measures fluid at the back of the fetal neck. Increased NT may indicate higher risk of chromosomal or structural abnormalities but does not confirm a diagnosis.
The anomaly scan is recommended between 18–20 weeks to evaluate fetal brain, heart, spine, kidneys, limbs, placenta, and amniotic fluid.
It is recommended in high-risk cases such as increased NT, diabetes, autoimmune disease, or family history of heart defects.
BPP is a third-trimester test assessing fetal wellbeing using breathing, movements, tone, fluid, and CTG scoring out of 10.
Yes, 3D/4D ultrasound is safe and uses the same sound wave technology as standard ultrasound with no radiation exposure.
No referral is required. You can directly book your pregnancy scan at the clinic.
The clinic is located at E-874, Basement, Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi. Call +91 99537 28760 or email dr_ashutosh75@rediffmail.com for appointment.
Book a Pregnancy Ultrasound in Delhi
Whether you need a routine NT scan, a detailed Level II anomaly scan, fetal echocardiography, a Doppler assessment, or a specialist scan for a high-risk pregnancy, all services are available at the Fetal & Genetic Clinic, Chittaranjan Park — performed and interpreted by Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, specialist in fetal medicine and medical genetics.