Should midwives learn to scan for presentation? Findings from a large survey of midwives in the UK

Abstract

Background Undiagnosed breech presentation in labour is associated with fetal morbidity and mortality, and may cause significant maternal anxiety. With increasing availability of scan machines, ultrasound is now widely used in UK maternity settings. Bedside presentation scans are usually undertaken by junior doctors, often leading to delays and frustration among staff and patients. Aims To assess local practices and attitudes towards midwives scanning for presentation. Methods A nine-question anonymous online survey was first disseminated by email locally, and then via social media. It was open to all UK non-sonographer midwives and midwifery students. A total of 870 responses were received between January and April 2018. Findings The survey highlighted significant variation in practice across the UK. Of those who did not scan for presentation, 85.2% felt that being able to do so would improve their practice, with the majority of respondents highlighting improvements in patient safety and satisfaction as well as workflow. Conclusions This demonstrates that demand exists for a postgraduate or accredited short course to teach midwives how to safely and accurately scan to assess fetal presentation.