What happens in the

Sono-breech study?

For this study, midwives have been provided with handheld PoCUS devices and have undergone special training on how to use them.

At a routine 36-week antenatal appointment the midwife will perform a scan to check the baby’s position using the PoCUS device, in addition to feeling (palpating) the woman’s abdomen.

They will then have a further conventional ultrasound scan with a sonographer or doctor, so that we can compare the findings with those from the handheld ultrasound scan.

Who can take part?

  •         Live, singleton (one baby) pregnancy

  •        35+0-36+6 weeks gestation

  •         Ability to give valid, informed consent

  •         Commitment to attend second scan before the end of the next day

Handheld PoCUS devices

GE Vscan Air

Philips Lumify

Clarius C3HD3

The devices are not being compared. Each one will be connected to an e-tablet (such as an iPad) or mobile phone by Bluetooth or a small wire.

All the devices are safe for both you and your baby.

Birth data

Information about the birth, including the type of delivery and how mother and baby are doing initially after birth, will be recorded in the same secure database. This data will be collected for up to 28 days following the birth.

Questionnaire

Around six weeks after the birth, two online questionnaires will be sent to participants via email.

The questionnaires will ask some questions about the pregnancy and how the mother and baby are doing. If a participant does not have access to email, a paper questionnaire will be posted.  

Interview

Between 6-12 weeks after the birth, some women (randomly selected) will be invited to take part in a short interview, where a member of the research team will ask some questions about how they felt about the study and the use of the handheld ultrasound devices.

We will also interview some women who choose not to take part in the study, to explore why they preferred not to have the scan.

Participants can decline to take part in the interview. The interview will be recorded for transcription (carried out by a member of the research team) and the recording will be deleted once this is complete. 

Some midwives will also take part in interviews and/or focus groups to find out what they think about the PoCUS scans.