Third routine scan during pregnancy reduces risk of dangerous breech births.
Pregnant women should be offered a routine scan at 36 to 37 weeks to reduce breech births and complications during labour, according to research. The addition of a third routine scan would reduce the number of babies born breech by 70%. Currently, women are given routine scans at 12 and 20 weeks, with only those at high risk offered further screening. Unexpected breech births put babies at increased risk of brain injury or death due to a lack of oxygen. The study found that third trimester ultrasound scans dramatically reduced the rate of unexpected breech births and improved the health of newborns.