How long does a growth scan take to work for twin and multiple pregnancy?

The scan uses ultrasound to measure each baby, look at their movements and heartbeat, assess amniotic fluid, and review placental position and blood flow when needed. With twins or higher-order multiples, the appointment can take longer because each baby is assessed separately and the babies may be in positions that make measurements less straightforward.

A growth scan gives a picture of growth at that visit; it does not make the babies grow or instantly change the pregnancy. Your maternity team may compare measurements with earlier scans and arrange follow-up checks at an interval suited to your pregnancy.

Wear comfortable clothing that allows access to your abdomen and arrive with any previous scan reports your team has asked you to bring. Ask whether you need a full bladder; this depends on the stage of pregnancy and the type of scan. Afterward, ask which measurements were reassuring, whether the babies are growing at a similar pace, and when the next review is planned.

Contact your maternity unit promptly for vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, regular painful contractions, severe abdominal pain, or a clear reduction in your babies’ movements. Do not wait for a planned growth scan to report these changes, because a scan appointment is not an emergency assessment.

You could ask how each baby’s growth will be tracked, whether the placentas and fluid levels need separate monitoring, what findings would bring the next scan forward, and who to contact outside clinic hours.