Maha Ashtami Special Announcement

Every Navratri, homes across Varanasi fill with prayers to Maa. This year, on Maha Ashtami of the Sharadiya Navratri, we at Karauli Diagnostics are starting something we've wanted to do for a long time. We now bring to you - MAA: Mother & Antenatal Assessment.

MAA — हर माँ के साथ, हर कदम पर।

Every Mother Deserves Clear Answers

The idea is simple. No pregnant woman should leave our centre confused. Every day, at our centres in Varanasi, we meet mothers-to-be who have come for a pregnancy ultrasound or a blood test, holding a prescription and a dozen questions. Which scan is this? Why so many blood tests? Is my report normal? MAA is our effort to answer those questions properly, in words that make sense.

What MAA means

Understanding antenatal assessment, early detection, and coordinated pregnancy care in Varanasi

Antenatal means "before birth". Antenatal care covers the check-ups, sonography and blood tests a woman has while she is pregnant. Most problems in pregnancy are easier to manage when they're caught early, and that's what these checks are for.

At our centres in Varanasi, you can get the scans and the blood tests done in one place, and we can collect blood samples from home too. We don't decide which tests you need. Your doctor does. What we can do is run them carefully and make sure you understand what each one is for.

🩺 Check-ups & Sonography

State-of-the-art 3D/4D ultrasound systems providing crystal-clear imaging of your developing baby.

🩸 Blood Tests in One Place

NABL/NABH accredited automated pathology lab for timely, accurate hematology and hormonal profiles.

🏠 Home Sample Collection

Temperature-monitored doorstep blood collection across all residential colonies of Varanasi.

🤝 Compassionate Guidance

Clear explanations from our doctors so you feel confident and supported at every stage of pregnancy.

Pregnant woman at a sonography appointment at Karauli Diagnostics, Varanasi
Pregnant woman at a sonography appointment at Karauli Diagnostics, Varanasi

Your pregnancy ultrasound, scan by scan

Why doctors count in weeks and which four scans matter most during the 40 weeks of gestation

Doctors count pregnancy in weeks, starting from the first day of your last period rather than the day you conceived. So a woman who feels "two months pregnant" may hear her doctor say "nine weeks". The 40 weeks are split into three trimesters of roughly three months each. Four scans matter most, and each has its own window.

👶 Dating scan, 6 to 9 weeks

First Trimester · 6 to 9 Weeks

This is usually the first sonography. It confirms the pregnancy is in the womb, picks up the heartbeat, shows whether there's more than one baby and fixes your due date.

Optimal Window 6 weeks 0 days to 9 weeks 6 days
Key Clinical Focus Intrauterine confirmation, fetal viability & EDD

🔬 NT/NB scan, 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days

Strict Window · 11 to 13+6 Weeks

NT stands for nuchal translucency, a small pocket of fluid at the back of the baby's neck. NB is the nasal bone. Along with a blood test, these measurements help estimate the chance of conditions such as ‘Down syndrome’. It is a screening test, so it tells you about risk; it can't confirm a condition. The window is strict, so please don't leave it late.

Optimal Window 11 weeks 0 days to 13 weeks 6 days (Strict)
Key Clinical Focus Nuchal translucency, nasal bone & chromosomal screening

🩺 Level 2 anomaly scan, 18 to 22 weeks

Golden Window · 18 to 22 Weeks

You may also hear it called a Level 2 ultrasound or a TIFFA scan (targeted imaging for fetal anomalies). The doctor checks the baby from head to toe, organ by organ, along with the placenta and the fluid around the baby. Keep 30 to 45 minutes free for it because it decides years of a healthy future.

Optimal Window 18 weeks 0 days to 22 weeks 0 days
Key Clinical Focus Detailed fetal anatomy, heart, spine, brain & placenta

📈 Growth scan and colour Doppler, if your doctor asks for them

Third Trimester · 28 to 34 Weeks

A growth scan looks at the baby's size, position and fluid in the later months. Doppler shows how well blood is flowing through the cord and placenta.

Optimal Window 28 weeks to 34+ weeks (as advised by doctor)
Key Clinical Focus Fetal weight, fluid index (AFI) & umbilical/uterine blood flow
High resolution Level 2 TIFFA anomaly ultrasound scan display at Karauli Diagnostics Varanasi
High-resolution Level 2 TIFFA detailed fetal anomaly scan on modern obstetric monitor at Karauli Diagnostics, Varanasi

For details and current prices of the NT/NB scan, Level 2 scan and colour Doppler, see our ultrasound page or give us a call.

pregnancy scan windows by week · 4 key scans

Visualizing the critical gestational windows across all 40 weeks of pregnancy

Pregnancy scan timeline: dating scan 6 to 9 weeks, NT/NB scan 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days, Level 2 anomaly (TIFFA) scan 18 to 22 weeks, growth scan 28 to 34 weeks
Pregnancy scan timeline: dating scan 6 to 9 weeks, NT/NB scan 11 weeks to 13 weeks 6 days, Level 2 anomaly (TIFFA) scan 18 to 22 weeks, growth scan 28 to 34 weeks

Interactive Tool: Pregnancy Scan Selector by Gestational Week

Click your current gestational stage to view recommended scan protocol, preparation guidelines, and WhatsApp booking:

Find Which Pregnancy Scan You Need

Select the gestational window that matches your current week of pregnancy:

Dating Scan (First Obstetric Sonography)

1st Trimester · 6 to 9 Weeks

This is usually your first pregnancy ultrasound. It confirms the pregnancy is situated safely inside the womb (excluding ectopic pregnancy), picks up the fetal heartbeat flicker, checks for multiple gestations (twins/triplets), and establishes your exact Estimated Due Date (EDD).

Primary Investigation: Transabdominal or TVS Sonography
Diagnostic Focus: Viability, Heartbeat, Gestational Sac & Due Date
Preparation: Moderately Full Bladder (Drink 2-3 glasses of water 1 hr prior)
Report Delivery: Same-Day (Report given immediately after scan)

The first blood tests, in plain words

Decoding the essential antenatal lab workups and our comprehensive Maatritva Suraksha package

Around the first visit, most doctors also ask for a set of blood and urine tests. We've put the usual ones together in a package called Maatritva Suraksha. Here's what each test is looking for.

Test What it checks Why it matters
Blood group and Rh factor Your blood type, and whether you are Rh-positive or Rh-negative An Rh-negative mother with an Rh-positive baby can make antibodies against the baby's blood. An injection (anti-D) at the right time prevents this.
CBC (complete blood count) Haemoglobin and blood cells Finds anaemia, which affects 52.2% of pregnant women in India (NFHS-5).
Beta hCG and urine pregnancy test hCG, the pregnancy hormone Confirms pregnancy. The blood level also helps your doctor in the early weeks.
Thyroid profile Thyroid hormone levels Thyroid problems are common and treatable, and treatment matters for mother and baby.
Fasting blood glucose Blood sugar A first look at sugar levels. India's national guideline also checks for pregnancy diabetes with a 75 g glucose drink at the first visit and again at 24–28 weeks (MoHFW). Ask your doctor about it.
Urine routine Infection, protein and sugar in urine Picks up urine infections and early warning signs your doctor watches for.
HIV, hepatitis B (HBsAg), hepatitis C, syphilis (VDRL) Infections that can pass from mother to baby For HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, treatment or care at birth greatly lowers the chance of passing them to the baby.
Experienced female doctor explaining antenatal test results to pregnant mother at Karauli Diagnostics Varanasi
Compassionate doctor consultation and antenatal blood report evaluation at Karauli Diagnostics, Varanasi

A few things we promise

Our commitment to clinical ethics, PCPNDT legal compliance, patient comfort, and transparency

⚖️ Strict Compliance With Indian Law: Zero Sex Determination

We will never tell you the baby's sex, so please don't ask us. It's against the law in India under the PCPNDT Act, 1994. More than that, it goes against the whole spirit of this campaign.

📝 Compulsory Form F & Photo ID

Before any pregnancy scan, you'll fill in and sign Form F. It's a government form, it's compulsory, and it only takes a few minutes. Any valid government photo ID will do. When you book, just send us your prescription. We'll check your ID at the centre.

👩‍⚕️ Female Sonologists Available

If you'd feel more comfortable with a woman doing your scan, tell us. Female sonologists, radiologist, and attendants are available on request at all our centres.

📑 Honest Report Interpretation

One last thing, about reports. No scan can pick up every problem. A normal report is good news, but it isn't a guarantee, which is why your doctor will always read it alongside your history and examination.

When you shouldn't wait

Critical red-flag symptoms that demand immediate same-day hospital emergency evaluation

Some symptoms can't wait for a booking. If you notice any of these, see a doctor the same day (danger signs in pregnancy):

🚨 Bleeding or Water Leaking

Bleeding, or water leaking from the vagina

⚠️ Sudden Belly Pain

Sudden or severe pain in the belly

👶 Reduced Fetal Movement

Baby moving less than usual, or not at all

👁️ Headache & Vision Changes

Severe headache, blurred vision or spots before the eyes

🩹 Sudden Swelling

Sudden swelling of the face, hands or legs

🔥 High Fever or Severe Vomiting

High fever, or vomiting that will not stop

🚑 Immediate Emergency Action

Go straight to the nearest hospital, or call 108 for a free ambulance in Uttar Pradesh.

Our Centres in Varanasi

Convenient, state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities across 5 key locations in Varanasi

Bhojubeer Branch (Main Flagship)

S.2/326 E-3A, Plot No. 18/1, Gilat Bazar, Bhojubeer, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221002

Google Maps Directions

Sankat Mochan Branch

B. 36/4-27, Ramapuri Colony, Near Sankat Mochan Temple, Saket Nagar Colony, Varanasi – 221005

Google Maps Directions

Manduadih Branch

Shop No. 1, MS Commercial Complex, Manduadih, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221005

Google Maps Directions

Maldhaiya Branch

C21/30, A1-A2 Pishachmochan Road Near Ganga Palace Maldhaiya, Varanasi – 221002

Google Maps Directions

Awaleshpur Branch

Amra Chauraha, Above Grihasthi Supermarket, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – 221106

Google Maps Directions

Book with us

Schedule your pregnancy ultrasound or book home blood collection with our friendly team

If your doctor has given you a prescription, call or WhatsApp us on 70689 70689 and we'll book your pregnancy ultrasound or blood tests at your nearest centre of Karauli Diagnostics, Varanasi.

In Part 2, we'll go through each scan and test in more detail: when to book it, how to prepare, and how to read the report without panicking. Until then, our guide Pregnancy Scans: Which One, When, and Why covers the basics.

Note: This article is general information. It does not replace advice from your obstetrician. Please take steps in accordance with the prescription and advice of your appointed doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear medical answers to common questions asked by mothers-to-be in Varanasi

For the early Dating scan (6 to 9 weeks), a moderately full bladder is helpful because it lifts the uterus into a clearer acoustic window. For the Level 2 anomaly scan (18 to 22 weeks) and later growth scans, a full bladder is usually not required as the amniotic fluid around the baby provides natural acoustic clarity. Follow any specific instructions provided when you book.
Yes, absolutely. We respect your comfort and privacy. Female sonologists, radiologists, and caring female attendants are available on request across our centres in Varanasi. Just let us know when scheduling your appointment.
The nuchal translucency (NT) thickness can only be accurately measured when the fetal crown-rump length (CRL) is between 45 mm and 84 mm. Before 11 weeks, the baby is too small for accurate calibration; after 14 weeks, excess lymphatic fluid is absorbed into the developing lymphatic system, rendering the measurement scientifically invalid.
Maatritva Suraksha brings together all standard first-trimester evaluations: Blood Group & Rh factor, Complete Blood Count (CBC) to screen for maternal anemia, Thyroid Profile (TSH/T3/T4), Fasting Blood Glucose, Urine Routine & Microscopy, and infectious screening (HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis/VDRL).
Yes! We understand that pregnancy fatigue and morning sickness make travel uncomfortable. Our trained phlebotomist visits your home anywhere in Varanasi with sterile vacuum tubes and temperature-regulated cold boxes to collect blood and urine samples safely at your convenience.
In strict compliance with the PCPNDT Act 1994, every patient must bring an original valid Government Photo ID (Aadhaar Card, Voter ID, Passport, or Driving License) along with a valid prescription from their registered medical practitioner / obstetrician. You will sign Form F before the scan begins.

Medical & Research Sources

Peer-reviewed clinical guidelines, national frameworks, and medical authorities referenced in this guide:

  • FMF (Fetal Medicine Foundation): First Trimester Screening & 11–13+6 Weeks Ultrasound Protocol — FMF Clinical Protocols
  • ISUOG (International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology): Practice Guidelines for Performance of the Routine Mid-Trimester Fetal Ultrasound Scan — ISUOG Practice Guidelines
  • MoHFW (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India): National Guidelines on Antenatal Care and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Screening — MoHFW Maternal Health Division
  • NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey-5, India): Maternal Health & Anaemia Prevalence Among Pregnant Women in India (52.2%) — NFHS-5 Demographic Data
  • UCLH (University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust): Antenatal Ultrasound Screening and Fetal Medicine Guidelines — UCLH Maternity Care Protocols
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Medically Reviewed by Karauli Diagnostics Clinical Radiology & Fetal Medicine Board

NABL / NABH Quality Standards · Karauli Diagnostics Varanasi · Published: Maha Ashtami, 18 October 2026

Part of the MAA Campaign (Mother & Antenatal Assessment). Dedicated to ethical, transparent, and empathetic diagnostic healthcare for every mother and child in Varanasi and Purvanchal.