After a grueling 36-hour labour, I was informed that my baby was in a breech position, resulting in an emergency caesarean section. Prior to this, a junior doctor had suspected my baby's position, but her concerns were dismissed by a midwife, leaving me under the impression that my baby was positioned correctly. This traumatic experience is a familiar story for many others who also faced unforeseen complications during labour due to undetected issues.

Currently, in the UK, beyond the 20-week anomaly scan, routine ultrasound scans are not administered during the third trimester. This lack of late-pregnancy monitoring can result in significant complications being overlooked, often leading to emergency caesarean sections, which can be a source of both physical and emotional trauma for mothers.

The statistics are worrying. According to the National Health Service (NHS), about one in five births in the UK are caesarean deliveries, with a significant portion being unplanned emergency procedures. This is significantly higher for many hospitals in the UK. The World Health Organization highlights that appropriate medical oversight and timely interventions can significantly reduce unnecessary emergency caesareans.

By introducing a standardised third-trimester scan, healthcare providers can timely identify and manage various complications such as breech presentation, stalled labor, and issues with the placenta. This proactive approach can vastly reduce the frequency and necessity of emergency caesarean deliveries, safeguarding both maternal and infant health and drastically reducing birth trauma.

Countries such as Sweden and Norway already incorporate third-trimester scans into their prenatal care with great success. Adopting similar protocols in the UK could mirror these results, thereby improving birth outcomes and maternal satisfaction.

We owe it to expectant mothers to offer them the safest birthing experience possible, with access to every necessary precaution to prevent unexpected complications. Routine third-trimester scans should be a part of every pregnant woman's right to comprehensive prenatal care.

We call upon the NHS and relevant healthcare authorities to implement routine third trimester scanning for pregnant women. Help ensure that no mother has to endure unnecessary trauma due to late-detected birth complications. Please sign this petition to advocate for safer pregnancies and births for all women in the UK.