In plain words
Leopold's maneuvers are a series of four hands-on exams of the belly. The clinician presses on the outside of the belly to feel the baby's head, back, and bottom, and to check whether the head is down low in the pelvis. The exam is named after Christian Leopold, a German doctor who described it in the 1890s. It is quick and costs nothing, but it is not always accurate. Palpation can miss a breech position or confuse one body part for another. Because of that, an ultrasound is usually used to confirm the baby's position before any decision about birth. Some people find the exam uncomfortable, and it is fine to say so. Ask your provider what they found and how they will check again.
The deeper version
Leopold's maneuvers are four sequential abdominal palpations: and contents, lateral palpation of the fetal back and small parts, identification of the presenting part above the pelvic inlet, and assessment of descent. Palpation has limited sensitivity for breech presentation compared with ultrasound, and accuracy varies with maternal body habitus, , and examiner experience. Ultrasound is the reference standard and is used to confirm presentation before external cephalic version or a planned for breech. ACOG Practice Bulletin 161 (2016) on external cephalic version describes the ultrasound-confirmed approach. The controversy concerns the value of routine third-trimester palpation compared with ultrasound alone in low-risk settings.
Where it comes up
- Breech baby and turning optionsPregnancy: Your Body
- Back labor and baby's positionGetting Ready for Birth
- Pushing and positions for birthGetting Ready for Birth
- Prenatal tests and ultrasounds: what each one isPregnancy: Your Body
What mothers here say about Leopold's maneuvers
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin No. 161: External Cephalic Version, 2016