36 week midwife appointment

I'm guessing just an internal vaginal scan seems like the most likely. Most can just tell by feeling around the top of your pubic line.

Thanks I need the answers too for next week. I had no idea about the v scan. I better get my waxing ready soon.

Is this standard for everyone do you know? Xx

To me this seems strange they wouldn't offer standard ultrasound first.

From my own experience, I did have a 30 week scan because of increased BMI but that showed the baby as head down and then at today's 34 week appointment the midwife felt my tummy and said yep head down (bare in mind it's claimed a high BMI may make this hard but it was fine). I can also feel his head pushing down due to pressure/increased need to wee. This has been enough to confirm his position for my midwife etc.

Ultimately, if you're not comfortable with it ask more questions on why and what the alternatives are, i.e. can they do a tummy feel and normal ultrasound first.

If you look on here it's not standard for a 36 week appointment: https://www.northamptonshirematernityservices.co.uk/your-pregnancy/late-pregnancy-third-trimester/appointments-scans-and-tests

Also remember the BRAIN acronym:
https://www.sarawickham.com/questions-and-answers/what-is-the-bran-analysis/

And also your birthing rights: https://birthrights.org.uk/

This definitely isn't standard practice, do they have concerns about your delivery? Or did you have a previous pregnancy that was malpresented? I've requested a scan to check baby's position once I'm confirmed to be in labour because my son was brow presenting and couldn't be born naturally last time, but I've had to actually request this. Also a trained midwife can easily tell if your baby is breech or not just by feeling your bump, so I think it might be an idea to query this. I would recommend that any suggested vaginal interventions at this stage are queried as it can leave you open to infection x

I've found this so depending on where you live it might be one of the places now offering this, but it's not standard practice yet:

https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/blogs-and-stories/im-pregnant/pregnancy-news-and-blogs/ultrasound-36-weeks-could-avoid-birth-complications#:~:text=New%20research%20suggests%20that%20offering,of%20breech%20deliveries%20and%20caesareans.

If it were me I'd ask the question of why a vaginal scan and not a normal ultrasound, but you could be completely comfortable with that especially if you knew more behind what it is and why it's being offered! 😊

My pregnancy is low risk and my midwife said baby is head down but that they will do a 36 week scan (external, ultrasound) to confirm his position because I am planning a home birth so they want to make sure

I did a bit of research on it and apparently it’s standard practice in some areas for everyone and there’s really positive research around it ☺️