Routine 3rd trimester ultrasound can reduce undetected breech pregnancy and improve new-born outcomes

A study published in open accessed PLOS Medicine examined the impact of routine third trimester ultrasound scans and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) on the diagnosis of breech presentation and related perinatal outcomes. Accurate knowledge of foetal presentation is important for proper antenatal and intrapartum care.

The study found that both routine third trimester ultrasound scans and POCUS were effective in reducing the proportion of undiagnosed breech presentations at term and improving neonatal outcomes. The use of routine ultrasound scans reduced undetected breech pregnancy rates by 71%, leading to better care before and during labour and improved outcomes for new-borns.

The study supports the policy of third trimester ultrasound scans for foetal presentation and suggests that future research should focus on exploring the cost-effectiveness of POCUS for foetal presentation.